I have always been so thankful for my kids, and in awe of what they learn. They say we are supposed to teach our kids, but I think I have learned more from them than they will ever learn from me.
I love all that technology offers us, but I need things to just work. I need to be able to use the features. I don't have much patience for setting it all up or learning the basics. The terms are over my head.

My kids have been helping me a great deal with getting up to speed. Even my grandkids have been in on helping me out.

One of my daughters is married to a wonderful man in the army, and their family moves every couple of years. She helped me set up my social media accounts. I had used the Internet often to search for things or for work; however, I wasn't sure I wanted to use it for socializing.

I have to say that I love it! I get pictures of the kids and I enjoy it very much. I am also able to keep in touch with friends and family. Last Christmas, the grandkids got me a webcam. I was puzzled about how to use it at first, but they walked me through it. Now I can use Skype to talk to them before they go to bed. It is great for visiting with the younger kids, as they can’t talk on the phone much or e-mail like the older ones can.

I have had a cell phone for at least ten years. Mine was very basic, and early on I didn't even have texting as an option. My daughter-in-law showed me the value of texting and now it is something I use regularly. Last year on my birthday, they got me a smartphone. Well, I had to admit to them that the phone was smarter than I was!

Thankfully, they were very patient when it came to helping me learn the features. Everyone was always talking about apps for this and apps for that. I didn't even know how to get those apps at first. It has been a slow but steady learning process for me.

I live in a small community, and I have since my kids were small. Sadly, crime is out there everywhere. My son was very worried about us living in the country alone. We are only about ten minutes from town. He set up a security system for my home, and I can even monitor it from home on my smartphone or another computer.

Having a handle on technology really does help me to feel like I am staying in touch with friends and family. The older I get, the more important they all are to me. Hardly anyone sends letters anymore, but I enjoy getting my e-mails from them on a regular basis. I have also started doing some work from home to supplement my income. I transcribe audios for a company and then e-mail them the results. That certainly wouldn't be possible without technology.

Another great way to learn more about technology is to take classes. Oasis offers a wide variety of classes on technology through our Connections program. You can learn how to use computers, iPads, cell phones and more. Check it out!
 
Cassidy is a retired art teacher from Texas. She enjoys blogging, spending time with her husband, and enjoying the outdoors. Cassidy volunteers at her local community center offering her experience in painting, crafts, and other fun subjects. You can find more of her writings on her website http://www.prestigeseniorliving.net.