Three years ago for Mother’s Day…
I opened this.
I was stunned.
I nearly threw up.
And neither of these emotions was due to excitement…
of this I can assure you!
I am one of THE most technology challenged…
individuals walking…
sitting…
however you choose to look at it.
It’s almost mind boggling to those around me.
My kids frequently call my issue…
a “homeschooling moment.”
This is not meant as a compliment.
To make matters worse…
all 6 of the “men” in my life…
were looking on with a mix…
of joy and envy…
as I opened the package.
Yes, it’s true…
they had all decided…
that I should be the first iPhone owner…
in our family.
I seriously doubt…
that any of them have experienced…
a more paramount moment…
of insanity since.
With all of that being said…
My iPhone is indispensable.
I simply don’t know what I ever did without it.
It’s near-ability to vacuum and dust while whistling…
at least from my personal point of view…
is a never ceasing source of incredulous wonder on my part!
Perhaps I need to experience a more well-rounded life.
Or at least do something in “corporate America”…
for a reality check before I leave this earth.
I don’t know which side of this suggested equation…
would suffer more!
Since that fateful thoughtful Mother’s Day…
each of my three oldest sons…
and their father…
have entered the iPhone cult culture.
There are vast differences…
as to our level of allegiance…
to said cult culture.
For instance…
upgrade…
is something they do whenever a new model appears.
Me?
Why should I move “up”…
when I haven’t even fully utilized what I already own?
And apps?
Well…
at first…
I thought they were all saying “abs”…
and I couldn’t for the life of me…
figure out what was going on!
And since we all sync our phones…
on the same “port” or “dock”…
or whatever that dohickey…
thingamabob deal is…
I get everyone else’s “apps”…
that apparently…
they won’t make it through the day without!
For example…
there’s the “Bubblewrap App”.
Oh yes!…
when you’re “stressed”…
you simply begin to “pop” bubbles…
in the full screen of wrap!
Son #3 was quite proud…
to introduce me to this “seemingly necessary” life skill…
when we were running behind for an appointment!
Granted…
he felt better.
Especially…
since he managed to set a timer…
and watch me attempt to “beat the clock”!
Oliver and Rachel DeMille have stated…
more than once in recent months…
that social media…
will most definitely be a part…
of the Great Conversation for our children.
I am quite certain that this is true.
Imagine my thrill…
and yes, I am being serious now…
when I discovered a couple of “apps”…
that aid both young…
and not-so-young moms…
in using moments…
that “B. iP”…
(Before iPhone)
could’ve very easily been wasted.
I mean…
how many times are you “stuck”…
sitting…
waiting…
somewhere…
with literally nothing to do?
Oh yes indeed!…
that doctor’s “recheck”…
that should’ve been 10 minutes…
but ends up being one of those…
“he’s-had-an-emergency-and-we-know-you-understand…
one-hour-later” moments!
Or what about…
a “this-will-take-no-more-than-15-minutes…
once-we-have-the-part”…
at the mechanic moment?
And there you sit.
Because I love you…
and attempt to keep it real…
and somewhat cutting edge…
over here…
might I draw your attention to the following apps?
#1…
Flash Tables by frogameleon, ltd.
This app has great exercises!
You can set a timer…
or not…
depending on the proficiency of the child.
They choose the correct answer…
can do “all one number” exercises…
or “mix ‘em up.”
I distinctly remember shuffling actual paper flash cards…
when I was in school.
After I walked there in five feet of snow, of course!
#2…
Is the group of apps…
that are continually being added to…
in that well loved section of classics…
by none other than Dr. Seuss!
As you can see…
you have options here as well.
You can read…
be read to…
or hit auto play!
There are several to choose from in this genre, folks!
There’s this beloved holiday classic…
as well as this lesser-known work…
entitled “Gertrude McFuzz.”
Sons #1 and #2 are very well versed in this beauty.
It is about a bird with very little to offer in the way of plumage…
that compares herself to more decorated species…
and the lessons learned.
Son #2 used to state quite often…
during CORE and Love of Learning…
that he could be a Gertrude McFuzz…
but instead…
he would choose to be a “Lolla-Lee-Lou!”
This story became a part of our family culture…
that was revisited today.
Son #2 was stunned…
when I showed him the app…
and informed him that I would indeed…
be purchasing it…
for Sons #4 and #5.
He was speechless…
because there it was…
in his beloved iTunes store.
I think he may be calling Steve Jobs today…
to tell him how very clever his mom/mentor really is.
Or not.
Now, if you’ll excuse me…
I think that I will go and practice my “12s!”…
I don’t know about you…
but mine can always use work!
What social media do you use or need to use…
to perhaps begin modeling relevance and usefulness?
OMGoodness! My husband will love you for this entry! He’s been trying to talk me into switching over to AT&T so we can get Iphones for years. I’m too cheap as the plan is a bit higher w/ them than what we currently pay at Sprint and that bit adds up to more than a bit over the year. Anyway, you should get something from Steve Jobs for promoting it so nicely, since they need the help so much…NOT.
Anyway, I’m sure this is one entry he’ll read in it’s entirety once I fwd to him.
I view you as pretty darn good with technology. Like, how did you get those pictures on your blog? I’d never know how to do that. You seem advanced to me, though I guess most things like that are relative.
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Teri Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Well…I’m certainly not trying to just promote Apple iPods…Lord knows they don’t need MY endorsement…however, I AM trying to get people to consider their use and modeling of social media more than they have in past times perhaps. It will be an integral part of our children’s lives and workplace. XO, :0) p.s. and it never hurts to find favor with the husbands, either! ;0)
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Ah yes, I too love my iphone….the “old” one. And I don’t know how I ever lived without it! My son however has the new upgraded one, and it is amazing! He looks at mine whenever he comes over and always comments that I am “app-less”, you see I have not added any apps; but now feel compelled to read again “Green Eggs and Ham”. So here I come, thanks Teri!
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Teri Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:23 pm
You, my friend…would find tremendous use for the “bubble wrap app” as well. No, really…I know these things about you. ( Boring meetings, need to escape current atmosphere mentally…etc, etc.) XO,;0)
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I have been fighting for years. My husband has been trying to talk me into the latest and greatest technology. I keep insisting that a phone should be a phone and nothing more. So far we have escaped video games except for the odd one we find on the internet which does not last long and the free ones pre-loaded on the cell phone used to run the battery down. Your blog is the closest to convincing me that something more hi-tech might not be so bad.
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Teri Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Gale…I’m certainly not trying to debate electronic/social media vs. NOT. What I AM trying to do, is to get people to consider the impact and necessity of it for our children. Knowing that they are going to definitely be touched and profoundly impacted by it; what are we doing with what we currently have available to model a healthy use of it as the tool and timesaver it can be?
I DO think that even the simple apps I shared make tremendous use of “spare moments” for productive use in developing necessary skill sets…while having fun and possibly “killing two birds with one stone” or “making the most of a moment!” XO, ;0)
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Gale Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 9:51 pm
I did not get the feeling that you were debating one vs. the other. Articulation is a huge weakness that I have. I realized that was the point that you were trying to make. I have been trying to have the kids take books to read whenever we go some place but it does not work the best so technology could certainly help resolve this problem. One of the biggest problems that I have with electronic tools is their battery life and mostly the cost of replacing the battery vs. the device. Your blog made me realize that I need to change my thoughts and broaden my view point in this area and I need to look at other areas as well. That is one thing that I have really enjoyed since being introduced to TJED — having new discoveries in my life and learning that what applies to one area also applies to another. I hope this makes sense.
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Teri Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Gale,
I didn’t think that you were articulating poorly at ALL! What I wanted people to do was realize that their technology of choice is another option for utilizing time effectively and efficiently; if they will, indeed, consider it! I don’t care WHAT they’re using!
You are AWESOME! Stop selling yourself short! You’re doing a great job of communicating! XO, ;0)
Thanks to TommyMom, last spring I took an organic gardening class from a PhD who was against current mass production practices which robs soil levels. Although my family is way away from being master gardeners, I believe our FIRST attempt at gardening and canning this year has been successful. We are pleased anyway.
I know..I know…what does this have to do with iPhones?
In that class, he told us that birds singing causes the stomatas of plants to open wider which allows for more gas exchange. I guess it would be equivilant to greater lung capacity.
After my husband read TommyMom yesterday, he told me a fellow at work had a free app.on his iPhone that played bird songs. This gentleman’s son would match the bird with the bird song. Very educational.
BUUUT…Do you see where I’m going with this? It could also help garden production!!!
So if you see me in my garden with an iPhone, which I do not yet own, you will know that my plants are being sung to by birds from an app.
Who knew iPhones could help feed us too?
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Teri Reply:
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Man! YOU GO GIRL! I had no idea! I need to be inspired by YOU, and have been with this comment! I think your suggestion is priceless…and I WILL be looking up “bird apps!” My boys LOVE those clocks that chirp with the “matching bird!” XO, ;0)
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