The IPod Touch is Fun for Toddlers Too

I have always been somewhat of a tech geek. I enjoy and collect shiny, electrical toys. Even with children now, I have purchased gadgets when there were more practical things I've needed. Some women buy designer shoes or handbags to treat themselves, but I'd rather buy a new computer or cell phone. It's always been that way; it's just what I like.

One of my latest gadget purchases was an iPod touch. I bought it when it was nearly $300. I like my iPod touch and my 19-month-old daughter plays with it as much as I do. As an infant she claimed the life of my Palm Treo by using it as a teether, so why would I hand a $300 device to a rambunctious toddler? It just isn't worth my time to try to keep it away.

Most of the time in my day is spent with my daughter. If I wait until she isn't looking to use my iPod, I would never get a chance to use it. If I use it in front of her and don't let her see it, I'll be too busy fighting her off to enjoy it. So we share and we both get to enjoy.

Being a mother has lead to a different attitude about my possessions. My children are the reason why having portable devices like my iPod or cell phone are such a joy. It's the memories they hold. The baby pictures, the videos of those first scoots across the floor, any random "Aww" moments that I was lucky enough to capture and hold. With my iPod touch, I get to carry that in my pocket.

In the meantime, my iPod is being destroyed. It has scratches, a dent in the plastic, and it's often a little bit grimy. I am surprisingly okay with that. Just like I'm surprisingly okay with wearing a variety of bodily fluids, or a pair of pajamas for 24 hours straight. If there is one thing I've learned from having two children in two years it is how not to sweat the small stuff.