21st October 2008

Melina Thieme - Already #3 in Google - Despite Not Having Been Born Yet

My little girl, Melina Thieme, while not yet born, although pictures posted already on Flickr of her ultrasound, is popular on Google already.  I’m so sorry Melina.  I’m afraid you’re a star already, beyond just what I think of you, you’re #3 on Google.

You can now Google Melina Thieme and find blog entries about her.  My high school profile of “Laura Melina Thieme” is also right above this, which makes me laugh.  It’s only 22 years old, and yes, you can now guess my age, and know Melina’s namesake origination.

It’s funny because sometimes I Google people that have lived 30 years or so, and there is not one result to be found in Google, Yahoo or MSN at all on their name.  But Melina, my unborn child, already has three search results dedicated to her.

Now when we get links, that’s another ball game.

At the recent SMX in NYC, we talked about what we agreed upon as far as electronics, Facebook profiles, cell phone priviledges, etc. for our children.  As I listened to my nephews talk last week, in Massachussets, I was astonished to hear a 13-year old, and an 8-year old talk about their iPod Shuffle desires, as well as their knowledge of music that I thought would be off-limits to children.  But what can you do?  How do  you keep your children protected, yet not make them “wierd” because they have no access to the normal stuff?  Electronics is everywhere. 

While I plan to post pictures on Facebook, and through emails to friends, clients, and family - of course Melina will not have her own Facebook or Twitter account - but when she’s old enough to start asking for cell phones, iPods, and whatever has developed by that time, how does one say No, and yet, not prevent educational development?

Aren’t books, life outdoors, and natural stimulation enough for a period of time?  Where do we draw the line at controlling children’s influences versus development?

I grew up without TV for the first 13 or so years - only on holidays.  But as a result, I was more book-read than I surely am now - and the outdoors was our playground.  We went on biking excursions as a family, we played games indoors and outdoors, and TV excursions were fun at Dad’s office - there was popcorn and soda and a movie every so often.  Those are good memories.  I can also remember getting interviewed after Church, and at the breakfast table by a local Alexandria, VA TV station, or perhaps it was a paper (what do I know, I was in highschool or in 8th grade - so don’t remember specifics) about us growing up without TV, except for holidays.  I want the same for Melina - I want the outdoors, books and educational games to be her playground.  Not electronics.  Not butt-sitting activities - but taking the root “active” and making life a little more fun by not sitting around playing electronics games, or watching TV.

I say all of this now - all dreams - and not yet reality facing me.  It’s so easy to wish for something when it’s only a dream.

In the meantime, I’ve already corrupted Melina with the Web - she’s on Google, #3, and she experiences the Web only from within the Womb at this point.  But her presence is known to me for sure - as I sleep, walk, work, exercise, and day-dream.  She is #1 already in my book.

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