Illustration by Kate Mason
I was born in an era where we hit play and record on our cassette decks when the radio announcer introduced our favourite tunes, vinyl records would prompt you to ‘turn over’ and our first remote control had a cord attached. I know right, totally weird!
In year 12 (way back in 1988) the ‘business studies’ girls got their first taste of computers as they were introduced into schools. I did catering instead, so I missed out. In fact my sons were on computers before I was, and these days their high school library has no books, instead it’s all digital.
My eldest son was learning computers in day care at just two years of age. My youngest son learnt to read with Xbox…you can’t get Crash Bandicoot to the next level if you can’t read the screen.
My kids are natives to technology, they were born into it. Sure they didn’t wander around with an iPad or iPhone tucked under their arm, but they’ve had screens in their life since they were born.
Me? I’m a migrant to technology. I grew up wired for sound with my Sony Walkman tape player, with over the ear headphones (not ear buds) and I knew the value of a good needle for my record player…I mean how else was I meant to play my Xanadu record? I was hip and with it when I took my “cassingles” along to parties and I have plenty of clunky video cassettes of my kids as little ones…with nothing to play them on. Yeah, technology moves fast!
Speaking of fast have you sat and watched your kids as they type? I have, it’s ridiculous! Their fingers are like tentacles that tap at a million miles an hour. And don’t even get me started on texting, they do it all with thumbs at a crazy lightning speed. I guess that comes from all those years of texting in class behind the teacher’s back – get it done before they get caught out! I remember mobile phones when you had to work super hard for a capital letter and press a button three times to get through to the letter or number you wanted! Remember that?
So how do technology migrants (yeah, that’s us parents) cope with technology natives (the offspring)? It’s tough having a kid show you up and roll their eyes as you ask them for the eleven-billionth time how to copy and paste, or how to make a Dropbox folder.
Sure they are handy to have around when you can’t remember your iTunes password… because seriously who buys CD’s any more…so old school! Um. Me! I still buy CDs.
But really, you just have to get on that horse, join in and start using technology – because it’s the future, baby! Get on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest…whatever, just get on it. The more you use social media platforms and read blogs and shop online, the more it will start to feel like everyday life… I promise.
Sharing on social media may seem foreign and unnecessary, but believe me, if you filter out the nasty stuff, the web can be a wonderful place to share, learn and connect…it’s like pen pals for the modern day. It’s the norm for our kids (and just quietly, for me too now) and it’s OK. Just like other new fandangled things, like ATMS and microwaves… it’s now the norm!
My advice? Get schooled up on how to use technology, it’s only scary when you don’t fully understand it. Break down that barrier and a whole other fabulous world will open up.
I grew up reading books made of paper, sat in a classroom with overhead projectors and loved the smell of the ink when teachers ran off worksheets on the photocopier.
My kids grew up on Nintendo, game consoles, CDs and flat screen televisions. One son is a DJ, not one who spins vinyl, but the kind that makes music on laptops and electronic decks.
My architect husband learnt his craft on a drawing table with pens and pencils, but these days it’s all done on computers in 3D.
Me, I’m a writer and blogger who is connected to social media and screens almost every minute of every day. A far cry from the technophobe who gave our first desktop PC a wide berth 12 years ago. These days technology is in my pocket…literally.
Sure there are still days, plenty in fact, when I screech at the top of my lungs for a son to come help me on the computer, but I’m getting there and so will you. Embrace it.
So true Jenni can’t avoid it. Keep it in balance and use it to make your life easier.
Sure any change has its uncomfortable feelings as we move from not knowing to learning. But it’s important to know the world and the tools our kids are growing up around.
Embraced.
what a great article! I am from the era with no computers at school and even the typewriter I learned typing on was not electric! Had to push down hard to go ffffffjjjjjjj fjfjfjfj
Even now I have a tendency to push down hard on my keyboard. Like you I have embraced technology. It is part of my life and I love it. Looking forward seeing more of your articles here, Jenni x