The Christmas period as a parent is always one thing after another. If it isn't school Christmas parties, it's Christmas fairs, or using every child free moment to go Christmas shopping, and now that our daughter, Penelope, is in Year One we have the annual Nativity play to add to the list.

Every night after dinner for the last few weeks, Penny has been religiously practicing the one line she has as well as the same six songs from the play. You'd think she was performing at Wembley, not St Mary's. It's insanely adorable how seriously she's taking it, has the part of the Angel Gabriel. She'd said it was 'just right' that she got the part of the Angel 'because that's what Daddy calls Mummy'.

We spent the morning wrapping what we have so far of the gifts from Penny's Christmas list. We'd learned to wrap the gifts before Christmas Eve when Penny was three. Christmas Eve of 2023, after we'd put her to bed we cracked open a bottle of wine and put on a movie before wrapping the gifts. Though once we'd finished the wine, we thought it would be a great idea to open up the bottle of Bailey's too. We'd ended up having to build a Barbie Dream House and a toy kitchen while being a little more than tipsy. We were giggling like school kids trying not to wake up Penny, cursing the instructions that just didn't make sense, and eventually made it to bed just after 2am. Perfect timing for Penny to wake us up at 6am.

Never again.

At the school, we manage to get seats just three rows from the front. Close enough for Penny to spot us and see how proud we are of her. There's the hum of excitement from all the grown ups in the crowd as the hall fills up, all eyes on the little stage set up at the front.

You've got your phone on your lap, ready to snap photos of Penelope when she takes the stage, your knee bouncing with excitment and nerves. I know you've been worried that she might get a bit of stage fright, but I have no doubts she'll be amazing.

"She's going to be great," I say, taking your hand in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze, "and I've got tissues for when you get all teary seeing her up there."

You chuckle, shaking your head as you bump your shoulder against mine. You don't deny it, there'd be no point. We both know the two of us will be misty eyed seeing her on the stage.

The hum of chatter falls silent as the teacher announces that the play is about to start, the kids taking their places and lights dimming just enough.

I see Penny straight away. The white dress, fluffy angel wings and halo headband shining on her head. I see her eyes scanning the crowd, brow furrowed in concentration as she looks for us. When she does, her entire face lights up, her smile lighting up the room, and god, when she smiles like that it's impossible not to mirror it.

"Hi Mummy! Hi Daddy!" Her voice echoes across the quiet hall, waving so hard the halo on her head falls squint.

There's always one kid who does it, and of course it's ours.