Ayo means joy. I took my daughter, not quite 2, to a gym playgroup for the first time this week. She’s never been to daycare, but is always eager to engage with other littles when we encounter them in the wild. I assumed this meant she’d be excited for the chance to be social and climb and jump and fall somewhere soft. But the moment we walked into the play space her energy contracted. She drew in close to me the way she does when unknown men are near. The class began with music and noise-mak...

Ayo means joy. I took my daughter, not quite 2, to a gym playgroup for the first time this week. She’s never been to daycare, but is always eager to engage with other littles when we encounter them in the wild. I assumed this meant she’d be excited for the chance to be social and climb and jump and fall somewhere soft. But the moment we walked into the play space her energy contracted. She drew in close to me the way she does when unknown men are near. The class began with music and noise-mak...