“Alright, everyone. Enough with the videos! Let’s step away from the screen,” I announced, my voice firm as I approached the familiar sight of my children, their bodies bent over the iPad, eyes glued to the screen. The device, encased in a colorful sleeve, was precariously balanced on the couch. As I reached for it, my older child jumped back, caught off-guard. It wasn’t the usual educational apps they often used; it was something else entirely.
“Mommy, I just wanted to check who’s singing,” he explained, a hint of guilt in his voice.
“Oh,” I said, feeling my frustration evaporate as quickly as a summer rain. The revelation that he was exploring music—something I deeply cherish—filled me with unexpected pride. However, I still maintained my stance. “That’s enough screen time for today.”
“Can I use your phone instead?” he asked innocently.
“For what purpose?” I inquired, raising an eyebrow.
“To record a video,” he replied with determination.
“Just one more, I promise,” he pleaded, and I relented, envisioning a clever social media post about nurturing a future music lover. “Go ahead, but make it quick.”
After a brief struggle with my toddler, who seemed more interested in chewing on the iPad’s case, my older child returned, excitement radiating from him. “Want to see it?” he asked with a grin. “Sure, show me your masterpiece,” I replied, taking a sip of juice from my toddler’s cup. “Let’s find a cooler spot, though.”
Once we settled in front of the air conditioner, I pressed play. A digital display filled the screen, and I asked, “Is this a clock?”
“No, Mommy! It’s the radio!” he shouted, his fists shaking with joy.
“You filmed the clock on the radio for four minutes?” I laughed, realizing why my phone was running slow. However, my curiosity piqued when he insisted, “Listen, Mommy.” I turned up the volume, moving away from the air conditioner’s noise.
“It’s our song!” he proclaimed, and in that moment, I recognized that this was the closest my children would come to the nostalgic experiences of my youth—listening to records and eagerly waiting for their favorite songs on the radio. They would never know the joy of flipping through liner notes or the thrill of carefully recording a song from the radio.
The gravity of this realization hit me hard. Previously, I had prided myself on being the strict guardian of screen time, but now I found myself reconsidering. “From now on,” I declared, kneeling on the floor with the iPad, “if you’re listening to music and not watching videos, you can use the iPad without asking.”
I unlocked the device and said, “Let’s see who’s singing. It sounds familiar, and… look, it’s They Might Be Giants! I used to love them!”
“No, Mommy. You’re mistaken,” he interjected, pointing at the screen. “That’s Mickey Mouse.”
As amusing as it was, I looked forward to guiding him toward more appropriate music choices in the future. The journey of musical exploration is just beginning, and I am eager to see where it takes us.
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In summary, allowing my child to have freedom with the iPad has opened new avenues for musical appreciation and bonding. While I maintain some boundaries, it’s essential to embrace the moments of exploration and discovery, as they can lead to unexpected joys.
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