Backstory: My mom and I started fighting when I got frustrated with her THIRD inquiry this week about attaching files to emails. I sent her a message detailing the steps in doing this, and also advised her to start retaining information about the internet, computer, etc. I mentioned that she’d be around for another 50 years and better get used to technology.
You know what, here’s what we’ll do. When you get so frustrated about my computer literacy, just remember how I feel when you can’t remember to make your bed, hang clothes, wipe off the sink, clean the toilet and empty trashcans. I keep telling you to learn how to do that but you don’t because it is not important to you. So I go after you and clean it up. You can show me how to do computer stuff when I need it. It’s all common sense, right, cleaning up after yourself and using the computer? Cleaning is going to be around for the next 100 years and you just can’t say, “I don’t have time to do this, I’ll do it next month.”
When your kids’ friends come over and say your house is a pigsty, (like your brother told Ms. S when he was little), you can remember this little chat we’ve had today and really get a big kick out of it! Cleaning has been around for longer than computers and has proven to be effective in making people happy and keeping them healthy. Cleanliness is a VIRTUE! Windex and 409 are very user friendly and come with instructions.
So pick up a bottle of cleaner and really try it out in several locations. You’ll really like the feeling of being neat and clean once you get used to it. Have a FANTASTIC afternoon. I have to go do the stuff that keeps me distracted, like wait in line for a grumpy 15 year old, pick up Dad’s pants for the third time, get his secretaries flowers for some reason…etc.
Love, Mama
ouch. just ouch.
April 21, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I’d swear my mother wrote this… except she doesn’t really know how to send e-mail.
I once spent almost an hour on the phone with her explaining how to attach one photo to an e-mail.
April 21, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Are you my long-lost sister, because I’m pretty sure we have the same Mom.
April 21, 2009 at 3:09 pm
woah…Mom just served you!
April 21, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I am the mom in question and I’m just mad she left out the good stuff when she posted my comments.There was more! And yes, I know how to use a computer. Have a FANTASTIC afternoon!
April 21, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Good for you Annie and you have a great day yourself!
April 21, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I love your mom! And you SOOOOO deserved that!
April 21, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Whoa, Mom got that point.
Or did you? Either way BRAVA!
April 21, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Holy crap… sounds like my mom.
April 21, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I’m on Team Mom, too!
April 21, 2009 at 5:16 pm
totally justified. stop being a jerk to yo mama!
April 21, 2009 at 5:31 pm
What the fuck does cleaning have to do with computers? I hate when mothers pull shit like this. It has nothing to do with what you’re talking about and they only do it to make you feel bad about yourself so they’ll have the upper hand.
April 21, 2009 at 5:40 pm
What’s with the flowers for the secretaries??? am i the only one paying attention to this? :) ahahhah
April 21, 2009 at 5:57 pm
I finally wrote various computer instructions on 3×5 cards for my mom and put a ring through them to keep by the computer. Every time she asks how to do something, we make another. I almost miss the zillion “how to attach something” phone calls.
April 21, 2009 at 6:00 pm
This Mom is amazing–I might steal portions of this email for my own kids. And Liz needs a sedative or a date.
April 21, 2009 at 6:34 pm
I only wish you all could read the e-mail I originally sent to my mom to provoke this message in response. I put up this big, sarcastic argument on why it was so important for her to learn about computers. Her biggest point of contention with me has always been cleaning, and the parallels she made from my argument to hers were hilarious. She basically copied and pasted my email and changed the words to talk about my lack of 409-love.
And I agree with y’all…she definitely won this one.
Go, Mama!
April 21, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Sounds like someone got told.
April 21, 2009 at 7:25 pm
that is frigging funny, my kids are 14 & 12, and I would have the same rant on them.
April 21, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Team mom, and she was getting Dad’s secretaries flowers because today (April 21) is Admin Professionals (aka Secretaries) Day.
April 21, 2009 at 9:54 pm
The best live in maid will make no more than 40K a year adjusted up or down depending on where they live. Computer technicians make a lot more. While cleaning may have been around since the dawn of civilization, and modern computer only about 50 or so years we can clearly see which set of skills is more desirable to have.
Mom, learn and memorize how to use the computer, and quit trying to guilt trip your frustrated daughter. Seriously, use note cards if need be.
April 22, 2009 at 7:08 am
This message made me chuckle! Sometimes it’s good to have a Mom put things in perspective for you.
Go Annie the Mom!
April 22, 2009 at 7:30 am
sounds like mom is a stay at home beyotch! Have to get flowers for Dad’s secretaries for some reason…um, they apparently keep his life humming along, so you can stay at home and whine, bitch, moan and complain…
And yes, I’m one of those ASSISTANTS that has to answer your nagging phone calls and google things for you and run errands because you’re too “busy” to take care of it yourself as a SAHM.
April 22, 2009 at 9:51 am
Yeah, Lauren and Annie. Sounds from your comments in this section like you have a great relationship. Nevah serve your momma up a big steaming plate of sarcasm unless your willing to have it plopped right back in front of you. And Liz, you need to grow up and learn some respect, girl, maybe your low self-esteem is just good common sense!
April 22, 2009 at 9:53 am
WTG Mom! :) You so totally deserved that smack down… But I agree… technology impaired people never retain stuff you show them… *sigh*
April 22, 2009 at 10:21 am
as a SAHM, gblinda, I can assure you that I have never asked any of my husband’s ASSISTANTS to google anything for me, run errands, and I certainly don’t “nag” them. And if you think you are keeping the husband’s life “humming along” I can assure you that I do more of that from home than you could possibly imagine – as in, how many days does he not have to take off for snow days and sick kids? Get over yourself and your self-important role in his life! I too have sent flowers to/baked cookies for the admin staff, and I actually do respect the work that admin does, especially since I used to do it myself. Actually, in his current office their admin staff is skeletal, so I think you should try not to tick off any wives you may deal with. I think the comment about the flowers for the secretary was tangential to the point. This exchange was just like some of the ones I have with my own mother about her computer, even though I am almost technology impaired. I did manage to find myself responding to this post, so I guess I’m not that bad!
April 22, 2009 at 11:26 am
Annie Rocks!
April 22, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Annie, you are my new hero!! I need you at my house! Lauren, go clean your room (after you teach your mother again how to do an attachment).
April 22, 2009 at 5:29 pm
As one who has 100 relatives constantly asking silly computer questions … I STILL say TEAM MOM!! :)
April 22, 2009 at 5:38 pm
This is my favorite! It’s been a while since there’s been an irresistible postcard. Love it. So true. We gotta listen to our momma!
April 23, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I hope you cleaned your room.
April 26, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I’m a mom and I can do attachments. But I can’t work my Ipod or text message. My daughter and I went shopping to buy me a new cell phone, and she actually talked to the salespeople as if I weren’t in the room.
Yea for your mom and a clean house. Cleanliness is next to, well, you know.
April 27, 2009 at 7:34 pm
There is nothing like a little passive-agressive sarcasm between Mother and Daughter to get us all fired up. I am a somewhat technogically challenged Mom who often needs help from her grown daughters regarding my computer, my IPOD and my cellphone. (Not to mention fractions and percentages – who remembers that stuff?) Frankly, I think that Annie showed remarkable restraint in her smackdown – she never even mentioned the years spent teaching her daughter how to use a toilet, talk or walk! Hope you all have a FANTASTIC day.
April 28, 2009 at 4:33 pm
gblinda, get over yourself
May 12, 2009 at 9:55 am