There’s been a bit of a backlash lately about saying that some new technology is “easy enough for my mom to use” as if it denigrates women. However, when I use that phrase, I mean it quite literally: my mom turned 83 today, and for the past 15 years or so, I’ve been introducing her (and my dad) to more technology than they ever imagined possible, to the point where email and the internet are a daily part of their lives. At Christmas, she overheard me talking about my blog, and she asked what a blog was. I sent her a link to Steve Garfield‘s 80-year-old mother’s blog as an example, and two weeks later she sent me the inevitable email:
As you know my computer skills are not too good but thought that learning how to blog might be fun. Can you send something about how to do this?
Today, she blogged about turning 83, the problems with their local hospital’s IVR system, and a variety of other topics. If you have a minute, pop over there and add a “Happy Birthday” comment; just say that you know me and heard that it was her birthday, so that she’s not wondering why strangers are sending her email — her comments are auto-emailed to her, and she’s still a bit confused about that particular piece of the technology.
Update: tell her where you’re commenting from, she still can’t believe that anyone outside her neighbourhood reads her blog.