Meghan and I were those pre-parents who make all sorts of delusional, unsubstantiated proclamations:
“Our kids won’t be watching TV!”
“Our kids won’t constantly have their noses in their cell phones!”
“Our kids will not be eating sweets!”
(Okay, Meghan said this last one and I nodded also knowing deep down I would not be the one enforcing this. Pretty sure she knew that too.)
But hey, don’t we all start out with ideals and goals and that more often than not have to amended or outright abolished?
Less than a year into Cash’s life we had broken the no TV rule. (See article https://wisconsindadger.com/2015/09/18/baby-first)
Not only does he watch a little TV but also kid-programming videos on Youtube. It’s especially nice to have him sitting contently and occupied while his food is prepped instead of him wandering into trouble in the kitchen while burners and stoves are running and cabinets are being shut and opened!
And soon thereafter, the sweets rule…turns out Cash loves ice cream, brownies, and peanut butter Clif bars.
And to complete the list, by his first birthday, Cash had become surprisingly adept and proficient using our Iphones and Ipad.
We’re left feeling torn about the violations of our preconceived proclamations.
TV screens, sweets, and cell phones are ubiquitous. We’ve resigned ourself to conciliatory notions of his inevitable exposure and interactions with them. None of them appear to be going away. Why delay or prevent? It’s like trying to stop a hurricane with an umbrella.
I admit, we feel strained yet impressed with his device usages the most.
With his furrowed brow, intense stare and pointed index finger, Cash easily swipes through screens, pulls up stock reports and enters incorrect log-in codes which have caused both our phones to be locked a number of times.
To boot, there are plenty of apps that provide entertainment and education.
Just this past weekend, I searched “Best apps for 14 month olds” and spent $.99 on our first app purchase for Cash-called Lunchbox. The app lets you identify and tap fruits on the screen…when successful, the fruit pops and disappears while a little monkey jumps up and celebrates.
I found the app a bit redundant and mildly educational…but to be fair, it’s not targeted at 532 month olds.
I’m kept busy enough monkeying with how to unlock my phone.
Wisconsin Dadger 
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