There are two magical words every mother waits to hear. It is not until your children are somewhere in their twenties most likely sometime after their college graduation that you get to hear them say it. It creeps up on you when you don’t even realize it is going to happen or that it just did happen because you have been waiting so long to hear it. It is almost anticlimactic when you hear them say, “You’re right Mom.”
Now that my children are in the latter half of their third decade, I have passed this milestone with each of them. And actually, I thought the moment would be much more memorable, but frankly, I cannot remember what I was right about when each of them individually had this epiphany.
But, unlike when my children shared their thoughts on my wisdom, I will remember this time. The time that I was right and moreover am now quoted because I am so right.
Probably as long as 8 years ago, my mother’s significant-other bought a new laptop. It replaced the one that he couldn’t operate too well, but the purchase was spurred on by his desire to not be left behind in the new age of technology. This octogenarian bought a new computer while my mother thought it was a ridicules use of time particularly because he couldn’t see things too well and certainly didn’t know how to operate the newfangled devise.
I often commented that I applauded his attempt to stay current and develop his computing skills. I even encouraged her to look at the machine despite the fact that he didn’t make using it seem attractive. He never could do much on it and never really understood how to work it. I told my mom that she, of all people, would like the computer. Really, all you do is read on it, and she reads the second most of anyone I know. (No one beats my co-worker for reading amount and pleasure!)
Now, five years past his death, my mother almost incredulously recounted a visit she had today with a friend living in an independent/assisted living residence. She said it was a nice place, but also went on to mention that not one person pulled out a cellphone or any kind of device. She remarked about her surprise at her friend not even wanting to use electronics. At the end of the account of her visit, she was even questioning if they had televisions at the place.
Now that my mother is turning eighty herself and her boyfriend has been gone for five years, she is on that “fool machine” daily and apologizes or rationalizes if she misses a day. Whether it was to help her through her mourning or because I just couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t want to learn how to use the computer, I embarked on a campaign to get her to use and be comfortable with the computer. I praised her attendance at Learn the Computer classes sponsored by the library. I also encouraged any attempts to use the computer and reminded her of times that it would be helpful to use it.
In an attempt to make the computer seem valuable, I bookmarked several sites with articles about various places she would see on her upcoming Turkey trip. Like I said, she likes to read and find out about things. What better things to read about than the cities she was going to see. For the next trip, she learned how to Google for the sites herself and even bookmarked them for later use.
Now, she reads her email daily and conducts Deccan business via email. When she is away from home, she reads the daily newspaper and up-to-date news stories because her newspaper subscription comes with an electronic version too.
And after all these years, as I listened to her story about today’s visit with her friend, there it was, in the amazement of her voice, as she talked about her friends not using or thinking about ever using a computer…the “You’re right Rachel!” that I relish hearing not in a braggart way, but in a delight-in-helping others get to a “better” place way.
Now that my children are in the latter half of their third decade, I have passed this milestone with each of them. And actually, I thought the moment would be much more memorable, but frankly, I cannot remember what I was right about when each of them individually had this epiphany.
But, unlike when my children shared their thoughts on my wisdom, I will remember this time. The time that I was right and moreover am now quoted because I am so right.
Probably as long as 8 years ago, my mother’s significant-other bought a new laptop. It replaced the one that he couldn’t operate too well, but the purchase was spurred on by his desire to not be left behind in the new age of technology. This octogenarian bought a new computer while my mother thought it was a ridicules use of time particularly because he couldn’t see things too well and certainly didn’t know how to operate the newfangled devise.
I often commented that I applauded his attempt to stay current and develop his computing skills. I even encouraged her to look at the machine despite the fact that he didn’t make using it seem attractive. He never could do much on it and never really understood how to work it. I told my mom that she, of all people, would like the computer. Really, all you do is read on it, and she reads the second most of anyone I know. (No one beats my co-worker for reading amount and pleasure!)
Now, five years past his death, my mother almost incredulously recounted a visit she had today with a friend living in an independent/assisted living residence. She said it was a nice place, but also went on to mention that not one person pulled out a cellphone or any kind of device. She remarked about her surprise at her friend not even wanting to use electronics. At the end of the account of her visit, she was even questioning if they had televisions at the place.
Now that my mother is turning eighty herself and her boyfriend has been gone for five years, she is on that “fool machine” daily and apologizes or rationalizes if she misses a day. Whether it was to help her through her mourning or because I just couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t want to learn how to use the computer, I embarked on a campaign to get her to use and be comfortable with the computer. I praised her attendance at Learn the Computer classes sponsored by the library. I also encouraged any attempts to use the computer and reminded her of times that it would be helpful to use it.
In an attempt to make the computer seem valuable, I bookmarked several sites with articles about various places she would see on her upcoming Turkey trip. Like I said, she likes to read and find out about things. What better things to read about than the cities she was going to see. For the next trip, she learned how to Google for the sites herself and even bookmarked them for later use.
Now, she reads her email daily and conducts Deccan business via email. When she is away from home, she reads the daily newspaper and up-to-date news stories because her newspaper subscription comes with an electronic version too.
And after all these years, as I listened to her story about today’s visit with her friend, there it was, in the amazement of her voice, as she talked about her friends not using or thinking about ever using a computer…the “You’re right Rachel!” that I relish hearing not in a braggart way, but in a delight-in-helping others get to a “better” place way.