Amazing What a Little Tape Can Do
October 25, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
As we were leaving a subway station on Friday night in Manhattan, Jim paused for a moment, pointed to a dingy wall, and said “here’s the sign to the PATH.” On a pale green piece of paper
PATH
train
————>
was written in black marker, with the arrow pointing toward a staircase.
Someone had carefully placed four long strips of masking tape like a picture frame around the edges of the makeshift sign.
Yes, there’s a lot you can do with tape. Charlie’s had a longstanding fondness for the sticky stuff, or perhaps a better word to use is intrigue. I guess there is some magic in something that can put back together what gets ripped or torn (like some of his favorite photos). It’s been found that just unrolling tape can produce X-rays; a few friends have noted their kids’ ability to use up rolls of Scotch tape, which seem so well suited for festooning walls and doorways with.
Last night, after we got home, Charlie requested the scissors and a roll of Scotch tape to fix an old Barney CD. A small piece had broken off, right where there was a picture of Barney in his purple glory. Charlie asked me for “help” and I taped the broken CD together and, after handing it back, Charlie said:
“Thank you.”
I told him he was of course, very welcome. (And ran to tell Jim about this first spontaneous “thank you.”) (Yes, a first.)
After about fifteen minutes, I still heard the sound of tape being pulled off the spindle. I went into Charlie’s room and found him applying the 20th or so strip of tape onto the Barney CD, which now was sported a glistening shellac-mound of tape in its middle. “Bye Mom,” Charlie told me without turning around.
Because it’s important—it’s necessary—to make sure that a favorite thing, when broken, gets fixed extra special good, for keeps.
I personally have a great affection for gaffa tape (cloth tape that musicians and theatrical folk use)
Fixing things that have been forced or broken is the usual, but I remember a time when it held a nappy on a recalcitrant trainer, and yes, kept laces tied on someone who wanted to go barefoot down the street.
Boo prefers band-aids or sticky plasters to fix all his woes.
xx
Another charming story Kristina, thanks.
It’s amazing the things that will bring out appropriate responses or behaviors in our kids, things your never suspect but are so pleased they do so! Way to go Charlie!
Was the “bye mom” because he wanted to play alone? Whenever I go to PJ’s room, if he doesn’t need anything from me he says “shoo, shoo, go away daddy.”
If, on the other hand, he needs me for whatever, be it fix the computer, help him pass a difficult stage in a video game, or help him look for a missing remote control, then he welcomes into the room with open arms.
As soon as whatever brought me into the room is resolved, “shoo, shoo, daddy go away.” He’ll say thank you only when he feels like it.
Yes, that’s what the “bye” was for—-sometimes it’s “move.”
Certainly I’ve found a little tape useful at moments when a quick fix was needed and I had to find a fast solution…..
Our youngest LOVES tape. He thinks it’s a “Band-aid.” They all have gone through entire rolls of the stuff, taping up everything in sight. There’s just something about tape.
“Thank you.”
That’s a keeper.
Thank you for sharing this story.
tape producing x-rays, love that story!!
Well that was a complicated / simple post! Always love the ‘firsts.’
Best wishes