Community Voices for Health

By: Heather Desmond O’Neill

Christmas carols are a good time.

When I was in second grade, I was alone in the bathroom at school ( or so I thought) and belted out “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” like it was my job.  I really only knew the chorus, but man did I rock out to it.

I didn’t just sing it once, or even twice, but was most likely on my fourth repetition of the favored Christmas carol when the school secretary walked in….giggling.

I’ll never forget it.

I was horrified.

She said “Is that you singing?”

Ummmm …. I am alone …. How should I answer, “Yes?”

“Did you think that no one could hear you?”

Well if I didn’t, I certainly wouldn’t have put on that Grammy-Award-Winning performance. I probably would have gone in, done my business and left.

“You, you heard that?”

“Yes honey, we did.”

We????? Ugh. I was new to the school and was making a wonderful first impression.

“You should probably get back to your classroom.”

Yup. On my way.

I’ve never belted out like that in a bathroom alone again. That’s not to say I haven’t rocked out in the car thinking I was alone when I’ve looked over and saw people gaping at me. (I mean, who can sit still listening to Mariah Carey tell you what she wants for Christmas? Or Britney Spears asking Santa if he can hear her?) I’ve just never done the bathroom thing again.

Tonight as I was cleaning up after dinner, my 5 -year-old went into the bathroom off of the kitchen.

And I was immediately brought back to second grade.

He rocked out an amazing rendition of “Frosty the Snowman” like I’ve never heard. I was so proud. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…