After months of trying to convince Kina to let her father participate in nightly bath and bedtime rituals, I came up with the brilliant idea to impersonate the only person in Kina’s life whom she unconditionally idolizes—her stylist, Christina. Now, for nearly a week, she has demanded baths “from Christina”, to have her hair brushed “by Christina”, and to brush her teeth “with Christina”.

There is no meaningful transformation involved in this charade—I mostly speak in a considerate and quiet voice, asking Kina loads of probing questions about her family and classmates. The effect is as calming for me as it is for her, and baths have gone on without a hitch for both of us.

While I am pleased with the improvement this has made in the balance of my parenting responsibilities with Laurea, it has had an even more appreciable effect on the gossip I get from my child, because as everybody knows, you tell all your best secrets to your stylist.

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