Mom discovered technology- oh s*it

[Anonymous]

Since my mother purchased an iPhone and learned her friends use Skype, she has been badgering me 24/7 for photos of newborn dc and Skype sessions. I've complied but she wants more... And more and more... I'm being bombarded with texts on a daily basis as well. It's starting to drive me nuts. The skype sessions are too much with a little baby who cries a lot. she doesn't get this of course. I think she forgot how tiring newborns can be. She has always been pretty overwhelming and demanding as a person so it was helpful to speak only by phone one or two times a week a few months ago but now it's every damn day. I hate that she thinks she has me more or less at her service now with a push of a button.?I try ignoring what I can of her messages but she's relentless. It was bad when she discovered email but now, forget it. I've tried to tell her to pull back but as usual she hardly respects my wishes especially now with dc. I feel like my only choice is to hurt her feelings and demand she stop being a pain in the a$$. I know she's excited about dc, but sheesh!!

[Anonymous]

Ha...there I thought she discovered redtube or something

[Anonymous]

LOL so funny, been there its funny (for a week) then it gets annoying as heck.

[Anonymous]

Rather than complete ignoring - when the first text comes through respond with when a good time for you to Skype is...today at 3 or maybe wed at 9. Then ignore all texts trying to negotiate or change that.

[Anonymous]

i totally get you. my dh and i say all the time that our parents dont understand what its like to be expected to be accessible 24/7 for phone calls, texts, pictures, emails and video chat!

unfortunately, there is really no good way that wont hurt her feelings. and the way she sounds it might not matter what you say or do - it seems like she is very stubborn.

do you have an iphone as well? you set up a shared photostream. and maybe you could 'schedule' a time to facetime with her - sundays after dinner.

[Anonymous]

Definitely schedule the Skype chats. If she doesn't live in the area, maybe once a week, no more. When my ILs discovered it they would try to request last minute chats while we were eating dinner or when I was already in PJs. It felt to me as intrusive as just stopping by unannounced. Ds is 2 but still doesn't get the concept so its just us, trying to get ds to do something to perform for the camera. Lame.

[Anonymous]

Wait until she starts gchatting you at work asking you how your day is going... very very slowly.

That was a fun day when that started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait until she starts gchatting you at work asking you how your day is going... very very slowly.

That was a fun day when that started.

You can block her or make yourself invisible.

[Anonymous]

You can just not answer and say you don't have your phone with you at all times. I don't (no pockets.

[Anonymous]

You can set up a second photostream from your own iPhone and invite her to it - like a private photo album for her - then upload pics to that feed when you have a new picture of the baby. It's quicker than e-mailing it and will feel like a nice surprise whenever she gets a new one. She can also "like" and comment on it, but, unlike FB, only you can see it. That's helped shut down some Skype requests from my MIL - she wants to feel connected and this is a way I could do that but on my terms and from my end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can set up a second photostream from your own iPhone and invite her to it - like a private photo album for her - then upload pics to that feed when you have a new picture of the baby. It's quicker than e-mailing it and will feel like a nice surprise whenever she gets a new one. She can also "like" and comment on it, but, unlike FB, only you can see it. That's helped shut down some Skype requests from my MIL - she wants to feel connected and this is a way I could do that but on my terms and from my end.

This is a fantastic idea! I'm not the OP but I will totally be doing this for the 3 sets of grandparents who always want new stuff. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can set up a second photostream from your own iPhone and invite her to it - like a private photo album for her - then upload pics to that feed when you have a new picture of the baby. It's quicker than e-mailing it and will feel like a nice surprise whenever she gets a new one. She can also "like" and comment on it, but, unlike FB, only you can see it. That's helped shut down some Skype requests from my MIL - she wants to feel connected and this is a way I could do that but on my terms and from my end.

We do this with both grandmothers (who then share with their less tech-advanced husbands). Works great.

I agree that an unannounced video chat message does feel like stopping in unexpectedly! Luckily, our parents let us call when it is convenient for us to video chat--usually about once a week or so.

[Anonymous]

Just be thankful she hasn't discovered Facebook. My mother is now friends with all of my friends. Sweet Jesus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can set up a second photostream from your own iPhone and invite her to it - like a private photo album for her - then upload pics to that feed when you have a new picture of the baby. It's quicker than e-mailing it and will feel like a nice surprise whenever she gets a new one. She can also "like" and comment on it, but, unlike FB, only you can see it. That's helped shut down some Skype requests from my MIL - she wants to feel connected and this is a way I could do that but on my terms and from my end.

This is a fantastic idea! I'm not the OP but I will totally be doing this for the 3 sets of grandparents who always want new stuff. Thanks!

We do this. It's a great thing.