Picture=1000 Words

Rosemary did me the favor of making this sign after Sylvia tore into the dust jackets of my favorite cookbook: No ripping books, thank you! Notice that paper though? Also ripped, subsequently. That pretty much says it all. Both girls are currently incorrigible in this regard, but Sylvia in particular is a boundary-tester, or really more of just-don't-give-a-dim-dammer. Consequences are of no consequence to her. We joke that this is her theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqY

Sylvia just doesn't care. We love this about her but obviously it's a liability.

If you're not paying full attention to her and she is quiet, she's probably doing something naughty. The other day, the girls were trying on new yellow saltwater sandals. Sylvia had hers on and I let her walk around for a bit to try them out while I put on Maggie's. Sylvia dashed away, threw open the back door and went hurtling in the wading pool. She doesn't care.

Yesterday, Jason went down to get Sylvia out of the crib and discovered she had proudly ripped off her diaper.

A few things about Sylvia that are germaine to this story:
1) she loves to go on/in anything that moves: boats, subways, trains, planes, cars. Except after planes take off, when she feels bored and contained. (This is the opposite of Maggie, who is terrified and clutchy on plane take off, or on our short boat ride to Governors Island the other day. She doesn't like the feeling of unpredictable movement. "Up and down, up and down!" she said, freaking out.
2) Sylvia has no interest in potty training.
3) She likes a good time.

"Diaper off!" she said to him happily.

"Anne!" he called up the stairs. "She took off her diaper."

"Maybe it's time to potty train, then," I called back down.

"Sylvia, what do you think, is it time to potty train?"

"Party train? Party train!" Begins jumping up and down in her crib. "PARTY TRAIN! PARTY TRAIN! PARTY TRAIN!"

People all over the world, join hands,
Start a party train, party train.