I'm told my cousin Astrid was barely allowed out as a child without a protective layer of SPF-25; schoolkids all have standard-issue neck-shaded caps, like recruits to some French Foreign Legion child army. To be seen out on a sunny day with a bare-headed child makes middle-class parents feel as socially awkward as if they were caught offering their toddler a cigar.
That's all very well, but Anya has other ideas. She doesn't much like having her face touched, so she'll scream blue murder as you try to put sunscreen on her; and while we're not sure she actively dislikes wearing hats and the baby sunglasses we've bought for her, we're quite sure she actively loves taking them off. A hat will remain on her head for about three seconds before she doffs it, plays with it for a while, and throws it idly to the ground. Put her in her stroller and roll the shade overhead, and she'll lean forward until her face is in the sun again, the copper glints in her hair glowing in the light.
Her one exception to this rule is our hats and sunglasses, which she absolutely loves wearing. So we're going to lead by example this summer: wearing hats and sunnies until she gets envious, and decides to join in.
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