Sylvia with an S

Let me introduce you to Sawyer's very favorite friend, Sylvia. He had his first real playdate — one where I dropped him off at somebody else's house for 4 hours — at Sylvia's house a few weeks ago. I wasn't quite sure what made these two so tight this year. She's headed off to kindergarten in the fall, and in fact she was held back a year so she's a full two years older than Sawyer. All Sawyer's bff's, come to think of it, are 5 and 6 year old girls.

Funny that Sylvia's dad used to be publisher of the newspaper where I work. Not that Sawyer knows or cares about that. Funny, too, that her mother was one of Scott's best storytime friends — one of the only mom's that dared to talk to THAT dad. Not that Sawyer would know that either.

If he was older, I'd think it had something to do with the fact that little Sylvia is not only adorable but is fluent in French, something she's picked up from her native French mother. But, he's not quite that worldly. If she was a little older, I'd think it was just that Sawyer is damn cute and likes fast cars. (That probably still has something to do with it.)

I thought perhaps it was just the "Big S" connection, a favorite fact he shares with everyone he meets. But, it turns out that what these two really have in common is an equal love and appreciation of the imagination. They can play nothing together for hours, happily — just talking and pretending.

So, in summary, Sawyer has the mind of a 6-year-old girl. What to make of that? Hmmmm......