Yes, you read that headline right – Mummy has talent! Sounds like a rip off of a certain reality TV show (on a rival network, therefore not to be watched, I might add). Alas, no, I’m not scripting my own version of said show, one which is strictly for those who have given birth; rather, I am referring to the critiquing of my singing by my clever/tone-deaf (insert most appropriate) son.

So there we were last Thursday night, bath time had rolled around, and, as is usually the case these nights, a noisy protest demonstration was at hand at the thought of having to get sudsy. In a valiant last-ditch attempt to lighten the already murky mood, and in a vain hope to alleviate the tears which streamed incessantly down my son’s face, I launched into some random, silly, self taught song (known only to me, and probably unable to ever be correctly remembered) to lift the mood. Suddenly, in all serious, my son turns to me. The tears stop and he exclaims in pure excitement, “Lovely singing Mummy!”

Well if I didn’t just keel over with shock, love and a wee bit of self-effacing pride, you could have knocked me over with one of Harrison’s (hundreds) of stuffed toys. And then I laughed. I laughed and laughed until my boy too commenced to giggle and squawk alongside of me until we were both left sitting there (note my success – he was finally sitting happily in the tub!) until it was my turn to have tears running down my face!

Children can do that – they can instantly magic up a precious moment which twists an unpleasant situation right on its ear. All of a sudden you find yourself tenderly treasuring one of the most memorable moments you can imagine.

I’ve already etched that impromptu singsong response moment into my soul and have no doubt I’ll replay it over and over again in my minds eye each time I am dealing with a disobedient toddler or perhaps even a moody teenager, in many moons time.

Oh and in case you thought this was a one off moment (like I too had), just this morning my son dished out another entertainment derived compliment. Ollie was on Nick Jnr singing his “Great Big Song” when Harrison and I both decided to join in. Again, he turned to his Mummy and, flashing a cheeky 20-month-old toothy grin, cried “lovely singing!”. I’ll concede he did leave off the “mummy” tag to this comment, but choose to believe he was still referring to me – or at least “we”.

Fear not fellow readers, I assure you there will be no appearances of me warbling to any well known tunes on ANY reality TV show anytime soon. Simon Cowell, my son is not destined to be…!