Well, it’s that time of year and the familiar sounds of the holiday abound – the sounds of Salvation bell-ringers…of shoppers’ shopping bags rustling…of cheery holiday greetings – they are all out there gearing us up mentally for the holiday.  But my personal favorite holiday sound – the one that really alerts me to the fact that Christmas is coming up soon is this – “I love you mommy!”

Ah yes, the official recognition by the offspring that now is the time to stay in her mother’s best graces.  I have heard the jubilant delivery of “I love you mommy!“at least two dozen times over the past week.   It stands out coming from the 11 year old who normally refers to me with some level of exasperation or angst as mom or mother.  Alas, during the holidays my youngest of offspring appreciates the utility in triggering the mommy in me and painting herself as the eternal baby in the family.

She’s a shrewd one that Cheyenne.  She totally gets that younger children get more gifts and now that she is moving into tween-land I think she realizes more than ever that she is on the cusp of outgrowing the mommy effect.  So, she has been laying it on thick and it’s not lost on me.  Every time she utters the phrase now I start humming to myself the tune to Mr. Grinch’s song with my own lyrics as an homage to her cleverness:

You’re a shrewd one Miss Cheyenne
You really know your mom
You’re as sweet as sarsaparilla
As charming as can be
Miss Cheyenne
You’re a smooth operator working the room…

Oh yeah…she is working it and I am loving it.  Seriously folks – all the bell-ringers, bag rustlers and holiday greeters combined cannot bring in the joy of the season as effectively as one “I love you mommy!”  Too bad we can’t have this kind of holiday cheer around here 365 days a year.  Only 18 more days until Christmas and I am going to relish every single “I love you mommy!” between now and then.  😉

Day five hundred and nineteen of the new forty – obla di obla da

Ms. C