This holiday season, our family has been graced with a whole lot of laughter, wonderful times with family, an abundance of gifts, and one seasonal song -- The 12 Days of Christmas -- over and over and over again. The last gem is courtesy of our 4-year-old daughter, singer extraordinaire (and, since Christmas, budding guitarist).
If you're familiar with the song, you know singing it all the way through can take a fair amount of time. And, truth be told, during a few of her performances I found my mind wandering. Before I knew it, I had my own version of the lyrics inspired by the two-week school break. Please, tell me you can relate...
The 12 Days of Vacation
On the first day of vacation, my mother gave to me, a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the second day of vacation, my mother gave to me, two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the third day of vacation, my mother gave to me, three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the fourth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the fifth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the sixth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the seventh day of vacation, my mother gave to me, seven plates a' cookies...
...six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the eighth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, eight "no"s (no "yes"es)...
...seven plates a' cookies...
...six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the ninth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, nine hours of screen time...
...eight "no"s (no "yes"es)...
...seven plates a' cookies...
...six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the tenth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, ten outdoor options...
...nine hours of screen time...
...eight "no"s (no "yes"es)...
...seven plates a' cookies...
...six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the eleventh day of vacation, my mother gave to me, eleven "ask your father"s
...ten outdoor options...
...nine hours of screen time...
...eight "no"s (no "yes"es)...
...seven plates a' cookies...
...six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
On the twelfth day of vacation, my mother gave to me, twelve trips to Starbucks...
...eleven "ask your father"s...
...ten outdoor options...
...nine hours of screen time...
...eight "no"s (no "yes"es)...
...seven plates a' cookies...
...six cousins laughing...
...five hundred toys...
...four tons of sugar...
...three time outs...
...two restaurant meals...
...and a viewing of the Star Wars trilogy.
Tell me, what have you given your true loves while they've been home from school for the holidays?
A version of this post originally appeared on Using Our Words.
Amy Heinz is a San Francisco Bay Area mom of three and the writer behind Using Our Words -- a parenting blog filled with lessons she's learned (usually the hard way), laughs she's enjoyed (mostly at her own expense), and tears she's shed (this mama's got heart). Come share in the fun with her on Facebook.