Moo-sic to my ears at Christmas

“He’s a cow, what do I need?” Not an insult, but something I overheard at the school gates which can only mean one thing: It is nearly time for the Nativity, and I don’t mean the film with Martin Freeman.

Now we all have our special reasons for liking Christmas.

It might be the food and drink, the presents, the time spent with loved ones, celebrating the birth of Christ or, let’s face it, in most cases all of the above.

And as a parent, there really is something extra special about this time of year - the excitement building for the little ones, counting down the “sleeps til Santa”, the shortlived promises to be good, and the sheer joy of watching them opening presents on Christmas Day. Or is that just me?

No, there is nothing that can match the heartwarming feeling created by the sight of wide-eyed infants decked out in tea towels and sheets - and whatever it is that cows wear - acting out the story of the birth of Christ on a stage in the school hall converted into a makeshift stables.

Hopefully, nothing quite as ambitious as in the film, best to keep it simple unless you want to run the risk of ending up on You’ve Been Framed.

Whether you are religious or not, it is pure magic.

Then there are the songs, of course.

Kids don’t need asking twice to sing, do they?I know with mine they only have to watch a TV programme they like once and that is it - the theme tune is sung on repeat to the point where you find yourself joining in - and even singing (hopefully not in public)on your own.

And don’t get me started on Disney films.

But it doesn’t stop there. If I can time it right I love to listen to Ken Bruce on Radio 2 - everything stops for Pop Master - when I am out in the car, and everyone has to be quiet. Otherwise it is Kiss FM (the same songs on repeat) for entertainment value as much as anything.

It is mostly background music to me but my two appear to take more notice... judging by the random songs they sing, some with lyrics they A: don’t understand (thankfully )and B: don’t quite get right.

I love it when they duet to something by Rita Ora or one of those really catchy Latino songs that dominate the airwaves at the moment (by the way does anyone actually know the words or make them up like me)? But, there is also something quite amusing about a three year old and her big sister aged five arguing over who gets to sing Stormzy!

The dates on the diary are next week for the nativity and the week after for the playgroup concert. The outfits are ready, the Narrator has learned her line and the songs are word perfect, albeit not necessarily the words as we know them in the case of the younger daughter.

I kind of know which songs to expect, but not necessarily when. The two of them have a habit of copying each other and then singing the other one’s songs, so we will just have to wait and see.

Maybe we’ll get a taste of Blinded By Your Grace!