January 18, 2013
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When the Swishing Stops
Around our house, there is no lack of imagination. I’m not sure how it started or exactly how we fostered it in our children, but our kids do a lot of playing “in their heads”. Don’t get me wrong, we still have probably too much t.v., video game, computer, and ds time, but there’s also a good bit of time where good old fashioned sticks or light sabers are utilized. Climbing out back, playing with the dog, running around doing who knows what are all common sights to see.
When our oldest son, Alex was little, he would go off to his room and pretend. His speech was barely discernible at the time, but his sound affects came out loud and clear. BAM! SWISH! PSHAW! When the bad guys took a hit, everyone in a 3 room radius knew it. My mother in law started calling it “swishing” because he would literally SWISH by you. He didn’t care if you saw it or heard it as long as you stayed out of his way and let him play. All of the boys do it in their own way, a couple of them now do it more than the others. If you ask them what they’re doing they’ll just say, “Oh I’m making up a story.” or something like that.
The other night I looked around and realized 3 of the boys were “swishing” all totally independent of the others. Oliver is only 2 and yet he gets up and goes and swishes because the bigger boys are doing it too. It was kind of loud, actually, the whole scene. At the same time, it was cozy. I liked that they were right in front of me doing it. I didn’t mind that whatever they were imagining cut a path right in front of what I was watching on t.v. I realized one day they’ll be too old for it or they’ll be moved out. There won’t be any swishing in the other room or down the hall. The house will be quiet.
I think I’d rather not think about when the swishing stops. It’s one of my very favorite things.
Comments (12)
Motherhood is full of wonderfull sounds, smells, and sights. It’s good to hear how you are enjoying yours!
Sometimes I find it hard to believe that the house will
ever
be quiet! They tell me it happens all to soon
You’ve got great boys Beth! I know I’ve never met them but I can tell.
I know–swishing sounds (or whatever it is they are doing/pretending/playing) is the best. Jonathan is home this weekend and I love having all my guys together. The boys were so loud watching wrestling on television but we just enjoyed that they were enjoying it. Imagination is a great thing.
your boys are so cool. i love their imaginations…we still talk about their “light switches” that you would turn off…and they would race over to turn back on! which means that they get the coolness honest.
i feel gulpy at the thought of no more story telling here someday… i really have some of the best at it too.
You have some healthy kids and they are pretty darn cute too. So nice to see kids playing.
kids are just grand!
The innocence of childhood is such a blessing. You are a great mom Beth!
I LOVE, triple LOVE this post. I am actually sitting here listening to the swishing right now. Ryan is the best swisher ever… lots of Pshhh, Pshhh in there when things collide. He is always the first one up and most mornings the swishing is what wakes me up. His favorite toy, a bungee cord he smuggled in from the garage. Makes me want to record it.
Love it! “Swishing” – that’s just the perfect word for it. After years of girls, I’m now experiencing this boy swishing. And those boy sounds.
i wonder if your kids will remember those imaginations when they grew up. i still remember when i was in kindergarten how i pretended sailor moon follows me around and sits under the table and i’d nod to her once in a while to let her know i was still there
i heard jet plane noises coming from the imaginative story teller in the living room this morning…and thought of you and the swishing at your house.
@zanyzeal - I have a video on my phone of one of the swishers in action doing some “avatar: the last airbender” type moves. Hilarious.