Teenagers & Technology

Okay, so I have been in the IT world for about 15 years now. Worked for leading edge companies, stay on top of what's out there... yadda, yadda, ya

Anyway, My daughter has grown up with technology all around. She could boot a computer and load jumpstart reader rabbit at the age of 2 and use a regular keyboard. In 5th grade she was showing the computer lab teacher how to do things on the computer. She helps her dad with PowerPoint presentations. (makes a geek mom want to cry)

Needless to say, up until last week Mom (that's me) has always been several steps ahead of her and considered by her to be quite cool when it comes to all things computer. Clothes, movies and boys - not so much.

Anyway last week my blackjack 2 (that's a cell phone) finally pukes one too many times and I didn't feel like going through AT&T replacement rig-a-more. So I procured a new I-phone. (most sweet). Yes I went to the dark side and I am liking it!

Now I already knew my daughter wanted one and well I have been kind of holding it over like a Twinkie to encourage her to get her grades up. All A's and she gets one. I know parenthetic attempt of bribery - but hey if you have a teenager you understand (whatever works). If you don't wait, and the "ahah" light will eventually come on and you won't judge me harshly for my parenting skills here.

So home I go thinking this will just encourage my beloved child all the more to focus on one's grades.. Well, her response was not what I anticipated. The child was quite perturbed over the fact that "MOM" got one and that this was "her" phone.

Basically, she can't or doesn't want an I-phone now because she wouldn't be caught dead with the same type of phone that mom has! --Wait a moment, hold the phone (urrrp)

Okay…When did the mind flip occur on this?? Last week she’s asking me to help one of her friends on some html code and telling them how “cool” her Mom is on technology. This week Mom is a befuddling idiot and should not have an I-phone because it’s not a “Mom” phone. Somewhere I missed that click to the other side :P

Now I could take the phone back and still try to use it as a Twinkie incentive to my child for good grades. Be compassionate about her hurt feelings and understanding that all children do not see their parents as they really are. They all go through fazes that even the smarted, savviest of parents are reduced down to twittering amebas with no ounce of knowledge, style or humor. Not a pretty site by the way.

(OR)

Pull out my devil horns and relish in my new toy and grin every time she walks by me with her little turned up nose and perturbed attitude. As much as I don’t’ like to admit it - I am an “id”, I am keeping my toy…. We’ll find another Twinkie teaser ! I am having way too much fun watching her squirm through the house completely annoyed with me….