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Samuel, the snooper in the family, assured me this holiday season that he wasn’t interested in snooping anymore. “I’m almost 16 now… sheesh Mom! I’m not going to poke holes in wrapped gifts, open hidden boxes or untape package corners.” Unfortunately, he hasn’t stopped snooping… he’s just modified his definition of the word.

The truth came out one afternoon when I tossed a wrapped package under the tree. He quickly grabbed it and began shaking it. “What are you doing?” I squealed, “I thought you weren’t snooping anymore.”

With a roll of the eyes, he set me straight, or so he thought, “Mom, this isn’t snooping. When someone hands you a gift, don’t you feel and shake it to try to figure out what’s inside? That’s not snooping, just curiosity.”

“Back the gavel up,” I demanded. “What you are saying might be true if someone HANDS YOU the gift so that you can open it. I DID NOT HAND THAT GIFT TO YOU, NOR DO YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO OPEN IT. I rest my case.”

He gently set the gift down, glanced at me as he walked by and said, “It’s okay Mom, I don’t know what’s in that one… but the small one hanging out of the stocking… wellllll.” I didn’t know what to say. As I gathered my words, I heard a roaring laugh from Michael in the other room and then Samuel bounding up the stairs.

I went in to see what was so funny. Michael, still laughing, repeated what the snooper said as he headed upstairs, “Dad, I just love getting in her head.”

Game on.

So Samuel and I are at it again… trying to outplay each other in the perennial snooping game. He’s won a few, but I think I have as well… only Christmas morning will tell. I guess this is our new tradition, and I’m happy to say I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

Hope you and yours enjoy your holiday traditions, old and new. Merry Christmas everyone!

Cheri