And she has done it again ...
By sofs
@sofssu (23662)
December 7, 2018 1:22am CST
My son bought my mom in a law a smart phone sometime back.. she had a brick earlier and pretended it was a phone.
My sister in law who was here for a short trip had been teaching her how to use the phone for a few days.. However I do think she just gave up on the battle before she left..
Mom I L lives alone and we kind of keep a tab on her.. as she is not too well.
Now we cannot reach her.. her phone says this user does not accept incoming calls or something to that effect..
Now we've got to travel a few miles to set her phone and make sure all is well..
My son is losing his cool as he has so much to do and grandma has gone and done it again.. He is really busy, as he is on call today.. he is a doctor.
I really don't know what she does with her phone , but she does strange things and refuses to accept that she did anything at all.. 
LOl I am having a good laugh and my son is glaring at me.. 
LOl I am having a good laugh and my son is glaring at me.. 15 people like this
18 responses
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
7 Dec 18
It seems that some old people , cannot learn anymore how to operate gadgets. 
My father too was given a tablet by my nephew. He uploaded songs from yesteryears and pictures . However, he always have deleted them accidentally. But he didn't bother my nephew about it. Maybe because as a retired judge, he is just too proud to admit that he cannot learn how to operate it, despite being taught many times.
My mother and father don't have phones. But we always could reach them through the mobile phones of my sister. They were actually their secretaries.
My father too was given a tablet by my nephew. He uploaded songs from yesteryears and pictures . However, he always have deleted them accidentally. But he didn't bother my nephew about it. Maybe because as a retired judge, he is just too proud to admit that he cannot learn how to operate it, despite being taught many times.
My mother and father don't have phones. But we always could reach them through the mobile phones of my sister. They were actually their secretaries. 3 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
•
7 Dec 18
@SIMPLYD I wish we had secretaries.for my mom I L The funny thing is she wont even know that we can't reach her she will call and accuse us of not calling when she feels like it.
We warned our son not to buy her a smart phone.. but he didn't realize this until now.
The funny thing is she wont even know that we can't reach her she will call and accuse us of not calling when she feels like it.
We warned our son not to buy her a smart phone.. but he didn't realize this until now.2 people like this
@deazil (4723)
• United States
7 Dec 18
I am 71. I don't like smartphones. Although I worked with computers for the majority of my career, I guess I didn't learn much. Especially not the newer things. I mostly ran new programs for a lot of different things. But I have a Jitterbug phone. It's made specifically for older people. It only makes and receives calls and has voicemail. No programming needed and if you need anything you just press "0" and get an operator who will do everything for you. I don't need that, I can add and delete phone numbers myself but the phone is all I need. I'm retired and don't need to be "connected" all day and night wherever I am. I don't know if they are international or only US, so it might depend on where you are if you can get one or not. It might be something to look into for your MIL.
I don't know if they are international or only US, so it might depend on where you are if you can get one or not. It might be something to look into for your MIL.2 people like this
@deazil (4723)
• United States
7 Dec 18
@sofssu I think a basic phone would be best. Even with what knowledge I do have I can't use a smartphone, it's very frustrating for me. I know how your MIL must feel. I agree though, that she really does need a phone. Good luck. I hope your son learned something from this.
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
•
7 Dec 18
@deazil You are spot on with your observation.. that is what my husband and I recommended for her.. we knew that she couldn't handle a smart phone.. But my son decided that his grandma needed high tech stuff.. LOL and now he has to run around each time. 
I guess i will buy her one basic phone where she can't mess around much.
I guess i will buy her one basic phone where she can't mess around much.2 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
7 Dec 18
@sofssu we still have one and the unit is still the traditional one so just pick it up when it rings, nothing to press (unlike the cordless unit). you say she does not want to give up her house. does she not like having a helper/companion too?
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
7 Dec 18
@hereandthere No one has landlines these days.. she has had hers disconnected a long time ago because its hard for her to come and pick up the calls.. she cant handle the handset either.
2 people like this
@sofssu (23662)
•
7 Dec 18
@hereandthere She broke her hip a few years ago so its hard for her to go and pick up calls,, she cannot handle the cordless, and she wont have anyone live with her either.. LOl and she does something like this often.. sometimes it very difficult but most other times we do manage.
1 person likes this
@septabchips (1142)
• Nigeria
8 Dec 18
Am laughing right now. I think it's a common thing with old people.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
8 Dec 18
@septabchips Its common and funny though at times it could get annoying too i guess.
1 person likes this
@septabchips (1142)
• Nigeria
9 Dec 18
@sofssu You are right. It get annoying atimes. How are you doing today?
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
7 Dec 18
Tell you what Give her a simple phone. And all will be well.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51523)
• Philippines
7 Dec 18
Kinda like my Grandma who close the screen door and didn't seem to remember it.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
9 Dec 18
@Shiva49 actually I don't blame her.. we had warned our son about the consequences of the gift.. Now he has learned his lessons the hard way. We just got her a basic phone today.. problem solved.
You are right about it being a mental block.. as people grow older they start believing that they don't need to learn.. but then we need to learn and adapt until our dying moment.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
8 Dec 18
Well, many grandmas don't care about techy mobile phone.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
7 Dec 18
You should find a reliable neighbour of your mother-in-law's who can set things right for her. If you can't reach her, you can call him and ask him to become active. It could be a young man, young man are good with such things. Offer him some money for his help. Then both sides will be happy.
1 person likes this
@sofssu (23662)
•
7 Dec 18
@MALUSE she has a very unfriendly neighbor on one side and a couple who work during the day on the other.. so we have to either go there or wait until late in the evening to call the couple. We have been trying to get her a helper but she wont hear of it.. She is very clear about what she wants..
1 person likes this
@BearArtistLady (5382)
• United States
9 Dec 18
You need to get her the very most basic phone you can find, one that makes calls, receives calls and maybe takes messages but at her age that isn't even important. You can't turn an untech savvy person into one. They're born with it. I don't much like my phone but it came with free cell service so I took it. I don't use it much but I took it. I think I might use it five minutes a week at most, so I really should have a basic phone....but I want one that you can change the ring tone on so that it meows like a cat. I had one once and it was a riot, people were looking everywhere for the cat and it was the phone....Yes, I know, I'm horrible.
