Make A Wishbone

When Rah-Rah and I were kids, our parents used to always save the wishbone from a chicken or turkey. They would let it dry out and a few days later Rah-Rah and I would each grab an end and pull to see who got the larger piece and therefore was the winner to make a secret wish.

Ever wonder why we do such a thing?

I looked it up (in all my non-existent spare time) actually. Per Luck Mojo, he wishbone is the third member of the great Euro-American lucky charm triumvirate -- the other two being the horseshoe and the four-leaf clover. Sometimes called the "merrythought" in the British Isles, the wishbone is a bone overlying the breastbone of fowl, but most especially the chicken and the turkey. It is the custom to save this bone intact when carving the bird at dinner and to dry it over the stove or by the fire (or, sometimes, to dry it for three days in the air, three being a fortuitous magical number) until it is brittle.

Once the merrythought is dry, it is given to two people (usually children), who pull it apart until it cracks and breaks, each one making a wish while doing so. The person who gets the "long half" of the wishbone will have his or her wish "come true." If the wishbone breaks evenly, both parties get their wishes. In some families it is said that the wish will only come true if it is not revelaed to anyone. (The belief that a wish must be kept secret to ensure its fulfillment also occurs in "first star" and birthday candle wishing rituals). 

Last weekend, Handy Man cooked an amazing chicken for dinner. I was cleaning off the carcass for some homemade chicken chili the next day and remembered the wishbone ritual we used to share as children.

I couldn't help myself but to clean off and save the wishbone for my two babes!

This morning after our pancake breakfast, I brought the kids into the kitchen and told them all about the wishbone. They were eager to give it a shot and see who would be the winner of the big wish for the day.

I made sure they each had a good, fair, grip and I counted to three...

My Brown Eyed Girl was the triumphant winner!

Mr Blue Eyes was not.
As disappointment crept up onto his face, my Brown Eyed Girl turned to him and said, "Don't be sad. You can have the wish." She handed him her longer piece.

I was full of surprise that she would be so gracious.

Mr Blue Eyes was shocked she was so gracious and he asked her if she was sure.

I think she may have had a moment of givers remorse. 

But when she finally said, "No you take it and make the wish," Mr Blue Eyes enveloped her in a great big brotherly hug.

Such a beautiful sight when your children are gracious and kind. Makes you feel proud to be a parent, proud to be their parent.

Mr Blue Eyes closed his eyes really tight and made his wish before skipping out of the room smiling. He was in search of Handy Man so that he could share the great news about the wishbone.

Still smiling, I looked at my Brown Eyed Girl and said, "Thanks for doing that honey. You made his whole day!"

She winked at me and said, "Don't tell him Mom, but I made my wish before I gave him the gross bone." And with that she hummed her way out of the kitchen leaving this old mom shaking her head. 

Kids...