Wax Tablets and Life Lessons
I love it when my children are creative in their play. Today, Farm Son had a “light bulb” moment when he found a remnant piece of candle. I could see his wheels turning, trying to figure out how he could make use of that wax (a trait he gets from his mother who likes to use everything and finds it challenging and amusing to upcycle trash). He remembered from studying about ancient Greece/Rome in school that the boys used wax tablets in school to practice their letters. So he tromps off to the garage, where Farm Mom keeps the recycling stuff (unless Farm Dad sees it piling up too high and recycles it to his work dumpster…he obviously doesn’t feel the thrill of reusing trash). Farm Son comes back to the house with a few vegetable cans and an aluminum pan from store bought rolls (also the work of Farm Dad…the store bought rolls that is). I then informed him of my container of scrap wax that I had been saving for an occasion such as this. He excitedly runs off to find that container too. He’s now ready to go.
It was an absolute delight to watch him figure out the best way to melt the wax in the fireplace and pour it to the pan, while impatiently waiting for the wax to harden so he could write his message in it and then start the process all over again. Over and over he melted the same wax, made a tablet, wrote a message and started over.
Next came the candle in a jar. He ran off to find a few jars. When he came back, he realized he was going to need a wick. Wheels start turning again. He took a piece of jute string and dipped it in some melted wax to give it stability and then tied it to a toothpick so that he could dangle the wick down the middle of the jar, while the toothpick kept the wick from falling into the jar. He added the melted wax, and a candle maker was born! He has since put out the word for the Grandmas to save their candle remnants. He gathered some more wax and has made another batch of candles to give away as gifts.
All of this to say, I love thinking children. Not just because this one happens to be mine, but I look around when we go to town and see so many people, adults and children, connected to devices and often wonder how many delightful things they’re missing because they prefer the electronic device to real relationships with people and real interaction. I think of the missed opportunities to invest in others on a personal, face to face level because of all the “modern” methods of communication. While I understand that the modern ways of communicating are often necessary, I prefer a face to face investment in a person. So much is developed in learning how to communicate with others one on one and in a group. Chances to think, learn and use the ol’ brain constructively often come in person to person contacts.
All of that gleaned from watching my son play with old candle wax!
