As is the case with most mothers, my parenting style has really loosened up with time and the addition of another kid. Minor injury? Eh, they'll live. No clean clothes left in the drawers? Go to the hamper and sniff out something presentable. Dead-tired at the end of the day without much food in the kitchen? Special K with whole milk for dinner! I always thought I would be diligent — if not my usually neurotic self — about potty-training Claire, but I surprised even myself by being so lax about it. Contradictory to my nature, I didn't do much reading about potty-training; I asked my mother and MIL how they toilet-trained us, and they both replied that whenever we notice Claire pooping, to sit her...