Based in Rancho Mirage, CA, Yolande is a single French mother with a daughter, Sophie, of whom she shares custody with Sophie’s father. Because Sophie’s father can afford to send her to French school in San Diego (where he lives), that is where Sophie lives from Monday to Friday. On Friday afternoons, Yolande drives up the mountain roads one hour and a half to Perris, the halfway point between Rancho Mirage and San Diego, where she meets with Sophie’s father, and makes the exchange of custody, only to return back on Sunday evenings to pass Sophie back to her father. Yolande runs tours for French tourists across the mid-west and pacific U.S., and is gone for two weeks at a time once every two months. Her and her daughter’s relationship is a special one for it is less about work and more about fun. Yolande communicates very little with Sophie’s father, therefore she doesn’t know much about what goes on at home for Sophie during the week, nor about his parenting style. What she does know however, is that Sophie’s father is very strict when it comes to academics, and he puts a lot of pressure on 7-year-old Sophie to do well in school. Fearing that Sophie will rebel under the stress she receives 5 days a week, Yolande focuses on balancing Sophie when she is with her. They go on nature walks, they swim, she takes her horseback riding, and to the desert hot springs. Yolande is very spiritual and in tune with nature, and she is hoping to pass this on to her daughter. Despite Yolande being French, she does not wish to return to France.