i have seen the future

Sophie, four and half, has taken over my ipod. Yes, I have an ipod, this old, 2nd gen, B & W, wood-burning thing. Anyway, I showed her once that music comes out of the funny things I was wearing in my ears, and she grokked the situation immediately and started asking to listen on her own. And then she stopped asking, because, hey, she knows how to operate it (the symbols are the same as on the tv remote, after all), she knows where it is (my desk, or maybe my bag), and she knows to be really really careful or I get all wiggy and stop the fun. So she just, pro-actively, goes and gets it, sets up at the kitchen table drawing pictures, and pushes fast-forward until she gets to a song she likes.

Observing this, I had the brain flash of downloading her a book from audible. After that, it was all over. She’s done Bunnicula, and Classic Fairy Tales, and The Mouse and the Motorcycle and I sense that this is only the beginning. And this is all well and good, but I really wanted my ipod back, so…I found her a refurbished ipod shuffle for thirty bucks and it is on its way in the mail. Should be here any day.

Yes, my four year old has her own ipod shuffle.

Welcome to 21st century American childhood.

But she’s so happy, sitting there at the table, drawing her pictures and listening to books and music. Seems like a good fit of temperament, pleasure, and technology. I asked her what kind of music she liked and she said, “I don’t know. I guess I like all kinds right now.” I’ve noticed that she often stops the ipod on old Coldplay and Sarah Mclaughlin and Bach and Afro-Celt Sound System and the Curious George soundtrack. I’m not even kidding! She so cool. My life is flashing before my eyes….