Gratuitous Domestic Posting (TM)

I was chatting with the five year old last evening about holidays. She said, "Christmas is my very favorite. And Daddy, do you know what my favorite thing is about Christmas?"

I made a face of concentration and said, "Hmmm.....I'll bet your first favorite thing is....presents."

"Yessss!" she smiled.

"And," I continued, "I'll bet your second favorite thing about Christmas is....presents. And your third favorite thing about Christmas is......more presents."

She started giggling.

"And Daddy," she said, "Do you know what present I want the mostest this year?"

"Hmmmm," I said, "I'll bet it has something to do with......Barbie."

"Yessssss," she smiled again, "And do you know what kind of Barbie?"

"Hmmm," I said again, "I'll bet it has something to do with......Pegasus!"

"Hooray!" she said, "Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus! But, Daddy," and here a look of wonder crossed her face, "how did you know?"

I narrowed my eyes and said, "Because I'm Daddy and I know everything."

It's good to remind children of one's apparent powers every now and again. Keeps 'em on their toes. And however much they might deny it later on, they'll never quite totally give up believing that you have them. (Until they have children of their own, of course, by which time it won't matter that they've finally seen through you because they'll be too busy hiding their own man behind the curtain.)