So I just finished a phone call with my Mom.
I get a warning from Verizon that I’m almost out of data.
A few years ago my mom moved from a pay as you go phone to my mobile plan. It was better because when they were overseas she could actually use her phone. Even though I need to check in with them regularly when I travel, somehow, they don’t follow the same rules, but that’s a whole other blog.
Back to the data being gone. How can that be I think, I’ve been on WIFI and basically home for the past few months, my parents the same? So, I go into the account and see that my mother has sucked up all the data on our shared plan. WHAT? I know an unlimited plan, my fault. I immediately call her.
Now my parents are not technically savy, probably about the same tech savviness as any mid 70’s couple. WIFI icon – what’s that (eye roll)? Because of COVID I can’t just go over there and fix it. This is now the second “technical problem” I’ve had to fix over the phone or video chat in the past 3 months.
Who turned off the WIFI on your cell phone, “I DIDN’T DO IT!” she immediately replies. “I DIDN’T TOUCH ANYTHING”. Now my Mom is probably “technically” correct. But really, someone had to touch something (don’t most parents say that to their kids when something breaks). Maybe her cheek hit it, maybe she accidentally hit the WIFI button, I don’t know, but trying to be a pseudo tech guru takes patience……take a WOMENT or a breath.
My mom types in the long WIFI password, nothing. Calls my father in to ask which password it should be? He reads the password, nothing. PASSWORD NOT ACCEPTED; she says. I feel like I’m listening to an episode of Seinfeld’s parents. LOL.
IPAD not working, call Chris. Laptop not working call Chris or Ben my nephew. Usually they have been quick fixes and in this case, (it took me 2 seconds) I’ve figured it out but someday I will just tell them to buy a new one, because I’m not Bill Gates LOL.
Addendum: As a follow up to this I’m on vacation with my parents on Cape Cod. We rented a house. Naturally the first thing I had to do was remind my mom to turn on her wifi. Soon after I was handed all the other electronic devices to get up and running and then oh, “how does the TV work”?.
My friend text me about her father this week, she was helping him set up online banking. We got into a whole text conversation about the passwords our parents can’t remember, how they store them and their technology woes. I’m forming a new group:
“PARENTS WHO NEED TECH HELP, SUPPORT GROUP”.
Kinda like the geek squad just not.
Bill!!!!!!!! Help!
Take a Woment friend!
