Today, I was assigned to be the one to teach Grandpa how to use his new smartphone. An hour in, and we're still going over volume controls. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I finally convinced my grandpa to try a smartphone. After an hour of teaching him how to text, he announced he'd figured it out on his own. The first message he ever sent was meant for me. It went to his pharmacist instead and simply read, "Love you. Thanks for everything." FML
Today, I was teaching my grandma how to use her new tablet. After explaining and setting everything up, I left her alone to check her email. When I came back, she'd somehow "mistakenly" sent an email to our entire family with the subject line "Help! My grandson thinks I'm a dipshit and has kidnapped me!" FML
Today, I found out my dad bought an iPhone. I've spent the better part of the last six months teaching him how to check his email and online newspapers. FML
Today, I received a phone call from my 91-year-old grandpa. He was lost driving somewhere in my town. I then spent the next few hours trying to teach him how to send his location until his phone died. FML
Today, I was on a video call with my grandmother, trying to teach her how to use Facebook. I patiently explained the difference between posting a status and sending a private message. Five minutes later, I saw her new status: “I love you, honey. Thanks for being so patient with me. By the way, I still don’t understand this shit.” FML
Today, my mom learned how to use the text messaging on her smartphone. I've received 37 already, and she calls after every single one to make sure I understood her. FML
Today, while working at a cell phone store, I helped an older woman learn how to use her newly updated phone. After trying to help her for over 20 minutes, she threatened to throw her phone at my head. FML
Today, my elderly dad learned how to use Facebook. He now spends most of his time messaging me about his meals, his bowel movements and his foot fungus. He's now learning how to use Skype. FML
Today, I was giving a lecture to my class I heard a phone go off. Aggravated and exhausted, I asked everyone to turn their phones off. Then the phone rang again. I lost my shit and spent the next half hour calling my students a bunch of "technology whores". Then I realized the phone was mine. FML
Today, my 84-year-old grandmother taught me a keyboard shortcut. FML
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Top comments
ambiversion 12
have fun! and be patient, you know how old people are with technology! it's understandable... somewhat.
eggmarie 25
Cherish these moments, as annoying as they may be. He won't be around forever. Make fond memories :)
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Comments (89)
doglover100 29
My grandma has a flip phone. My dad has an iPhone but never turns it on.
vlalam 24
That's why I say, don't piss off ur mom, dad and granny... U must suffer ;) lol, jk... U have some good bonding with ur grand pa going over there
Mauskau 36
Well I gave my S3 to my mum as a birthday present, the amount of times she has come and asked me how to open a message is unreal. :(
jaellin 18
I feel your pain op! I am in charge of "fixing"my grandparents tv 3+ times/week...it has never once been anything besides changing the input, but no matter how many tines i show them, explain it, write it down, etc. they still call baffled.
CrikOgresmasher 19
I don't get why people give older people and children smart phones. Older people, unless they want something more advanced usually just want a smart phone. And children that are below the age of sixteen don't need anything but a flip phone to call parents
rivaraven 35
I totally agree with you, weird that people are thumbing it down. I myself have a touch screen phone, yes, but it's not an Android or anything. Calling and texting I can do fine with it and I have access to internet and I don't feel like I'm missing out because I don't have Flappy Bird on my phone or something.
mosquito19 14
whoever bought your grandpa a smart phone is an idiot. he is fine with old fashion flip phone.
sohigh10 34
maybe just get him a Johns phone. It's lovely and great for the elderly.
DanielleinDC 34
Hey, Jimmy Carter was 89 when he sent his first text message (to his grandson, discussing the Colbert Report), so there's hope for your grandfather yet! Neither of my grandfathers lived to see the era of the smart phone, and my grandmothers were too sick when the technology was nascent.
sugar94_fml 17
I know how this feels! I had to sit there and teach my grandma how to use a DVD and VCR player one time and it got to the point where I just wrote out a list of detailed instructions and taped them to the cupboard. He might get it eventually tho so don't give up too soon. :)
jezebaal8 7
Don't forget how long to took to teach you to read , ride a bike. Tie a shoe... Try to have the same patience.