Wishers

‘Wishers’ blog article was written by Chris Cussen, Lead of Product Development, Content Creation, and Projects for Therapeutic Services at Australian Childhood Foundation.

What does this little seed head pictured in my son’s hands mean to you?

If you ask anyone in my family, they are wish carriers, called Wishers.

When I was growing up, kids called them different things, but we all knew about them. As a child I would scramble after these ethereal floaty beings that would appear like sparks of joy from the sky.

If I was lucky enough to catch one, I would cradle it in my hands firmly enough for it not to get away but gently enough that I wasn’t squashing out any magic.

Then I would construct my dearest wish, peek into my hands, and transfer it from my mind to the Wisher who would be listening out for such an appeal. The next part was important, I had to blow the wish into the air and ensure that the Wisher didn’t touch the ground for at least ten seconds. This would improve the chances of my wish coming true.

Yesterday my son and I were on a walk when a Wisher floated past.

He leapt after it and grinned back at me after he plucked it from the breeze.

He took a solemn moment to transfer his wish across and blew it off into the sky, excitedly counting as it eddied around in the air. He cheered when he got to ten, and his wish had been successfully launched.

I couldn’t resist asking him what he wished for.

He said he couldn’t tell me because then the wish wouldn’t come true. I knew this was part of it, although it hadn’t stopped me from asking.

What do you imagine the children in your world might wish for if they found a Wisher?

This will be shaped by their age, needs and values. I don’t remember what I wished for with Wishers when I was little.

Turns out the ‘wish coming true’ aspect wasn’t an essential part of it at all. What I will always remember is the delight that this little game of imagining provided me and continues to provide my children.

What are some games from your childhood that you have passed on to the children in your life?           

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