Childhood curiosities

As I was walking along the void deck of my block earlier this afternoon, I saw a couple of primary school children attempting, to start a fire by concentrating the sun rays through a magnifying glass onto a piece of paper, which they were holding in their hands.

I was tempted to go forward to advise them otherwise, as what they were doing was potentially self-injurious. Should they have succeeded, the paper may just ignite in their hands. Thankfully, the magnifying power of the magnifying glass that they were using was not that great, hence the concentration of sunrays were insufficient. I walked away after a moment of deliberation; we've all had our curious moments in our younger days. Such is the invulnerability of youth.

They remind me of myself attempting, unsuccessfully of course, to cook an egg by placing the entire egg, shell and all, into the microwave oven. It exploded, and so did my mum. The event has become something of a joke now, to be looked back upon fondly (cringingly) at my own idiocracy.

We often forget, and are quick to advise when we see or know of people making the same mistakes as we once did. But how often do we remember that everyone learns through experience and would we ourselves have listened have we been offered the same advise when we were in that position? Remembering keeps us youthful, and more often than not, unsolicited advise (criticism) is not looked upon kindly.

Let our children remain as children whilst they are.