Mouche!

William is one of those kiddos who's successively obsessive about various hobbies, sports, and interests. Each one lasts anywhere from a month to, oh, perhaps half a year. Some previous (a few still ongoing) obsessions have included basketball, running water, baseball, butterflies, and the Hallelujah Chorus. If you've known William, then you've known these crazes!

Currently? He's hilariously intent on capturing and/or swatting flies. Upon arriving home after the first day of school a few weeks ago, he proudly produced a very large fly from his pocket that he'd caught by hand on the playground. Atta boy!

Josiah's homework last week involved going through the story of the little boy who cried 'wolf,' and in French, the "Wolf!" bit is translated "Au loup!"  Well, William has adopted this as his own and is now the little boy who cried 'fly.' He can be heard crying "au mouche!" off and on throughout the day as he dashes through the kitchen or living room, swatter in hand. (Yes, I know the grammar is wrong since "mouche" is feminine, but I'm not bothering him with that.) 

He'll stay on the chase of a particular fly for ages. Once he's gotten or killed it, he marches straight outdoors with it (I've mandated the outdoors part) along with a bug zapper thing that is easily The Best Item Found In This House, as far as William is concerned. It's shaped like a tennis racket and, with the press of a button, becomes electrified. Thus the fly is duly zapped to make sure it's well and truly dead—ugh, it stinks—and then the little body is carefully flicked under the rosebush. 

I've said it time and time again through the years...but how did I end up with boys? I guess I shouldn't complain, as William is my first call upon finding any creepy-crawly thing I don't want to deal with in the house. He's very matter-of-fact and efficient in his exterminating, so that's a win in my book!

Post script: 

While talking about William's crazes, I should mention that William is also enraptured with playing Monopoly right now. He's at it for hours per day! The crazy 4-year-old has the math skills of a child much older; he can be the banker, make complicated change with ease, etc.  Now if only he had the impulse control to match it, my life would be made in the shade...