The Rocker: Where Stories Came Alive
Grandfather from The Marshmallow Mystery
The soothing sound of a rocking chair's gentle, rhythmic creaking and squeaking. A warm, rich, and slightly sweet scent of tobacco and smoke-filled air from a worn, chewed pipe. The comfort of sitting on my dad’s lap while listening to his stories about his travels through Europe during World War II. These are the magical memories of my childhood.
As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated with Switzerland. Not just from the stunning mountain scenery, picturesque cities, and mouthwatering chocolate but the stories my dad fondly talked about after his time in WWII. A country that remained neutral but was also located at the center of the conflict was intriguing. The country became a refuge for scientists such as Albert Einstein. After serving in the army and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, my dad took a leave in Switzerland. He received a book to commemorate the visit, which was the basis of his storytelling.
My dad’s book from visiting Switzerland after WWII
By crafting his story, he shared a piece of his life when he was young. He served his country, which probably had unique narratives, but the joy of traveling to a peaceful nation was the topic of the tales. It was inspiring to hear about the adventures of a youthful soldier exploring new places. “The World is Yours,” he would say encouragingly to me, his tiny daughter, who was learning to read. The time spent rocking, listening, and dreaming was how he shared a bit of himself.
The stories also built on our father-daughter relationship. Switzerland, known for its timepieces, provided endless tales corresponding to my dad’s clockmaking passion. We would spend hours in the basement working on clocks: antique, granddaughter, grandfather, and cuckoo clocks. The Swiss cuckoo clock, in particular, cultivated my imagination. The gingerbread-type house, adorned with intricate carvings featuring woodland creatures and scenes from nature, provided countless discussions about traveling to see these chalets tucked into the Alps.
These narratives also taught me creativity, problem-solving, and cultural awareness lessons. And the benefits of storytelling, if he knew it or not, improve children’s language skills and memory. But 50-plus years later, I remember bonding with my dad. Fortunately, I also have the book that started all the stories as a memory.
“You are the storyteller in your own life. And you can create your legend or not.” Isabel Allende
Overall, storytelling is essential for parents, grandparents, and educators to help young children develop their language, cognitive, emotional, and social skills. However, it was my dad’s way of inspiring me. At six years old, I wanted to go to Switzerland. Yes, I did go there, but he mainly passed on the adventurous spirit to travel and live in various places since “the World was Ours.”
Do you want to be an inspiring storyteller? A good story typically has the following pieces: conflict, tension, surprise, controversy, mystery, suspense, and extraordinary characters. Crafting one can take time, thoughtfulness, and creativity. But the best stories are those shared with your grandchildren about your life growing up and the lessons you’ve learned. Not just the successes but the failures too. These will last a lifetime. Leaving a legacy through storytelling is your superpower. Go make memories.
