It occured to me the other day, normally when you see Mary and Joseph in a stable, they seem to be smiling. Whilst I know that a birth of a baby is meant to be a happy occasion, I’m fairly sure Joseph was already having his own series of parenting woes. After all, all parents have them, but I wondered what sort of issues Joseph had as a parent…

1. Busy wondering if the animals had been fed recently.
2. Why are all these guys rocking up?That smell? Baby or livestock?
3. “Yes I know I didn’t book ahead – sorry dear”
4. When people comment about how the little one looks like his mother.
5. Those moments he compared himself to the other father.
6. Dealing with a little drummer boy.
7. Planning the return journey to take into account a small child.
8. Getting shouted at by Mary for spending “just 5 minutes” in the inn.
9. The pressure of having to entertain three kings at once.
10. Being slightly worried that the animals may get confused over the whole baby in a manger thing.

I guess I’m thankful we didn’t have to put up with a little drummer boy randomly showing when Little Sofa was born.