Twelve Days of Christmas

Without a doubt my favorite performance of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" would be the Muppet's rousing rendition, complete with Miss Piggy's, "Ba-dum, bum-bum's".  I have very fond childhood memories of trimming our Christmas tree and listening to this album.  Being very careful in our dancing and decorating to miss the spots in the living room floor that would make the album skip.

If you are unfamiliar with this lively interpretation of this Christmas favorite (because you grew up under a rock or somewhere even more isolated than Ridgway), here is the song from the "A Christmas Together" TV Special.  It's a little different from the version we grew up with which lacks Beaker squeaking but adds Animal's "rah rrapparmw wrapammrrr-ing".

In listening to this song, I got to thinking about what I would find song-worthy as a mom.  What would I delight in receiving from my love for twelve days of Christmas?

My wish list would go a little something like this ...

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, one faithful cleaning fairy (who loves to dust).


On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two hours of reading (uninterrupted under a blanket with a mug of tea) and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three clean bedroom floors (including the corners of the room), two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four smiling kids (who also laugh, giggle, play happily together and like each other), three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six dinner plates cleared (without any moaning, groaning or grumbling), five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven days of breakfast (without having to peer into the fridge, puzzling what to fix), six dinner plates cleared, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the eight day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eight hours of sleep (without any night-time visitors), seven days of breakfast, six dinner plates cleared, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine inches of snow (on Christmas morn with no where to go), eight hours of sleep, seven days of breakfast, six dinner plates cleared, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten days without packing lunches (enough said), nine inches of snow, eight hours of sleep, seven days of breakfast, six dinner plates cleared, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven minutes without thumb-sucking (or someone yelling, "NO" or stomping feet or requests to play TapZoo), ten days without packing lunches, nine inches of snow, eight hours of sleep, seven days of breakfast, six dinner plates cleared, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading and a faithful cleaning fairy.


On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve long lost socks (that match the ones living on my dresser), eleven minutes without thumb-sucking, etc, ten days without packing lunches, nine inches of snow, eight hours of sleep, seven days of breakfast, six dinner plates cleared, five dates with Brett! ... four smiling kids, three clean bedroom floors, two hours of reading ... and a faithful cleaning fairy!

I don't actually envision finding any of those gifts nestled under our Christmas tree, except for the lunch break.  With the kids out of school next week, I will enjoy several days of not packing lunches the night before and letting them fend for themselves come meal time!  But as for the clean bedroom floors and cleaning fairy, I think I'm out of luck!

But, hey ... A mom can dream!

In reality, I don't actually need any of those things - even though a break from the thumb-sucking would be sublime.  I actually just need Jesus to help hold me to together in the midst of the whirling wonderland that is motherhood.

But more on that, tomorrow ...