We noticed something recently in our travels through tech media. It’s common–cliche almost–for journalists to talk about simplified technologies, or simplified explanations of technology, as something that “your mom” can understand. There are Mother’s Day Presents so easy even Mom can use them. Articles on Facebook privacy can be so clear that even a mom can understand them. The iPad may succeed because it’s good for moms who want easy solutions.
We don’t use this kind of language about technology with women in general, any longer. Why do we make assumptions that moms are not capable of being technically savvy? Assuming that this media cliche is used to describe the mothers of adult children, is there any truth to the idea that older women/moms are not particularly interested in or knowledgeable about new digital technology? Even if there were, it seems like rather an insulting turn of phrase. Clearly, at 100 a million iPads sold, it’s not just older women who are interested in easy ‘no fuss, no muss’ solutions. Those ‘how to be secure on Facebook‘ news stories are always among the most emailed. I doubt if that’s just “moms” sending them on.
We’re working on a story about our perceptions of older women and technology. I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section, below.
I’d also love it if you help us out in creating a little audio montage, sending up cliches about moms and technology (sorry, guys, women only on this one). Just dial the Spark hotline, 1-877-34-SPARK, and read the text below. Then we’ll cut it up into a funny, over-the-top montage for the show! Thanks, and don’t forget to leave your name!
- As a mom, I think I better use an iPad. Other computers are too hard!
- I’m a mom, and I don’t know the first thing about online privacy.
- I’m a mom. Can you help me operate a microwave?
- As a mom, I feel nervous and uncomfortable around cell phones.
- I’m a mom and I just don’t understand how to operate this technology. It’s called a “shoelace”.
It's too bad older moms get this rap for being tech-challenged. As a 35-yr old mom, I'm part of the Girl Geek contingent: I work in eCommunications, have a personal blog, love Twitter for home and work, and generally spend my evenings online. I hope that the proliferation of geek moms, mommy bloggers and girl geeks in general changes the vocabulary so that things are so easy "your 3 year old can get it" – because, let's face it, technology is becoming more prevalent, and our reference point is really going to have to change.
In my non-tech extended family, my mother-in-law Skypes with us on a regular basis, and HER mother plays bridge online at the age of 95! Clearly, saying that "even your mother gets it" doesn't hold water in these cases.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment! Love your show… your podcasts get me through my long runs and commutes to work
-ts
It's too bad older moms get this rap for being tech-challenged. As a 35-yr old mom, I'm part of the Girl Geek contingent: I work in eCommunications, have a personal blog, love Twitter for home and work, and generally spend my evenings online. I hope that the proliferation of geek moms, mommy bloggers and girl geeks in general changes the vocabulary so that things are so easy "your 3 year old can get it" – because, let's face it, technology is becoming more prevalent, and our reference point is really going to have to change.
In my non-tech extended family, my mother-in-law Skypes with us on a regular basis, and HER mother plays bridge online at the age of 95! Clearly, saying that "even your mother gets it" doesn't hold water in these cases.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment! Love your show… your podcasts get me through my long runs and commutes to work
-ts
It's too bad older moms get this rap for being tech-challenged. As a 35-yr old mom, I'm part of the Girl Geek contingent: I work in eCommunications, have a personal blog, love Twitter for home and work, and generally spend my evenings online. I hope that the proliferation of geek moms, mommy bloggers and girl geeks in general changes the vocabulary so that things are so easy "your 3 year old can get it" – because, let's face it, technology is becoming more prevalent, and our reference point is really going to have to change.
In my non-tech extended family, my mother-in-law Skypes with us on a regular basis, and HER mother plays bridge online at the age of 95! Clearly, saying that "even your mother gets it" doesn't hold water in these cases.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment! Love your show… your podcasts get me through my long runs and commutes to work
-ts
As a non-mom, I wonder, when a mother reads that "even mom can do it", does she think of herself? Or her own mother?
I think the intention in both journalism and marketing that refers to moms as technologically inept is assuming that the reader will think of someone at least 20ish years older than themselves (and willing to accept help, as it's making a similarly gender stereotyped assumption about dads that they don't want anything explained to them due to male stubbornness).
I'm not saying that it's a fair assumption to assume that everyone's parents are technologically inept, but the view that someone quite a bit older than the reader (especially a reader of online journalism about technology) would have a lesser understanding of the web is verging on one and helps readers understand the point the author is trying to get across.
That said, there are probably more descriptive and just generally better analogies for most situations.
Barb and spydergrrl, thoughts from moms?
My (60+) mother is good at computers even though she doesn't love them like I do. She was on facebook before me, she knows (and figures out on her own because now I run linux) how to do windows maintenance such as virus removal, ftp, writes html (in notepad), blogging, skype etc. She's not techy at all. I figure with my mom it started with expectations.
Our first windows computer was Windows 95 and my computer loving (male) friends showed me how to use it. I came home the next day and showed my mom and at first she complained that it was difficult. But I was a bully and told her I was worried about screwing it up too, but if I could do it, she could do it because I just learned how to use it yesterday. Plus, I had been taught how to reformat and reinstall so I told her to do whatever she wanted and if the system screwed up I'd just wipe it clean. Later I showed her how to do that herself (back in the day when you needed a boot disk, change boot-up order in bios, run fdisk and mount the cd-rom).
My father on the other hand types by hunting and pecking and while he knows he should turn off the computer with the shutdown, he just kills the power. Sure he can surf the internet, but my mom knows how to re-mount the NAS when he kills that connection.
I am certain that the biggest thing is expectations. If you are expected to suck, does it surprise you if this is the case? Maybe the sandbox thing is key, the idea of first playing with a system where it doesn't matter what you screw up. If those stupid ads come on tv we just laugh because we know it's actually technology meant for dad, but that's because my mom learned about computers before tv told her it was difficult.
One of the points my colleague made is that people who aren't familiar with computers often feel that they're worried they're going to 'break' them. I think that feeling of freedom just to explore is key to confidence and, in the end, master. It certainly seemed to work for your mother.
I do not want to say stupid. I rather say that they are afraid of new things. Thats all I have to say. thanks
It's so true! What's with the persistent stereotype? I've taught my teens a few tech tricks and can talk specs on the latest gadgets with them. I think this stereotype comes from the old folks–those 30+ marketing guys
I think our kids won't propagate this, or maybe we have to win gold medals like the women's hockey team, so that "shooting like a girl" or "technology your mom can explain to you" finally becomes a compliment.
As a non-mom, I wonder, when a mother reads that "even mom can do it", does she think of herself? Or her own mother?
I think the intention in both journalism and marketing that refers to moms as technologically inept is assuming that the reader will think of someone at least 20ish years older than themselves (and willing to accept help, as it's making a similarly gender stereotyped assumption about dads that they don't want anything explained to them due to male stubbornness).
I'm not saying that it's a fair assumption to assume that everyone's parents are technologically inept, but the view that someone quite a bit older than the reader (especially a reader of online journalism about technology) would have a lesser understanding of the web is verging on one and helps readers understand the point the author is trying to get across.
That said, there are probably more descriptive and just generally better analogies for most situations.
Barb and spydergrrl, thoughts from moms?
Thanks for bringing some attention to this!
The stereotype here is totally out of date. I am personally tired of any advertising that uses the implied stupidity of users as a selling feature. Truth be told, I am sick of advertising period, but that hardly has a place in this discussion.
We have already heard many examples of tech savvy moms in the above comments.
Belittling mom's and/or women in general seems to be common sales strategy. Odd, when research shows that women make most of the buying decisions. I can't believe we put up with it.
Also, let's face it, some technical stuff IS hard to use, because it was designed poorly. There are some programs out there that ONLY really dedicated tech users and 8 year olds use because nobody else has the time to figure them out! This is why the tech industry now has an entire group of professionals that focuses on usability of products.
As time goes on more and more smart advertisers are taking advantage of moms who use their technical wits to blog, tweet, or build websites.
Thanks for bringing some attention to this!
The stereotype here is totally out of date. I am personally tired of any advertising that uses the implied stupidity of users as a selling feature. Truth be told, I am sick of advertising period, but that hardly has a place in this discussion.
We have already heard many examples of tech savvy moms in the above comments.
Belittling mom's and/or women in general seems to be common sales strategy. Odd, when research shows that women make most of the buying decisions. I can't believe we put up with it.
Also, let's face it, some technical stuff IS hard to use, because it was designed poorly. There are some programs out there that ONLY really dedicated tech users and 8 year olds use because nobody else has the time to figure them out! This is why the tech industry now has an entire group of professionals that focuses on usability of products.
As time goes on more and more smart advertisers are taking advantage of moms who use their technical wits to blog, tweet, or build websites.
Thanks for bringing some attention to this!
The stereotype here is totally out of date. I am personally tired of any advertising that uses the implied stupidity of users as a selling feature. Truth be told, I am sick of advertising period, but that hardly has a place in this discussion.
We have already heard many examples of tech savvy moms in the above comments.
Belittling mom's and/or women in general seems to be common sales strategy. Odd, when research shows that women make most of the buying decisions. I can't believe we put up with it.
Also, let's face it, some technical stuff IS hard to use, because it was designed poorly. There are some programs out there that ONLY really dedicated tech users and 8 year olds use because nobody else has the time to figure them out! This is why the tech industry now has an entire group of professionals that focuses on usability of products.
As time goes on more and more smart advertisers are taking advantage of moms who use their technical wits to blog, tweet, or build websites.
I don't think mom's are dumb when it comes to technology at all. My mother has been the office manager at her doctors office for years, and has had to deal with brand new software and hardware installations numerous times throughout her career, and she is the go-to person in her office to fix any of the technology. She has also not only kept up, but embraced new technology as it comes along. She text messages like crazy, and taught herself to send photo messages to people. She learns new technology as quickly as I do.
Beyond even mom's being great with technology, my grandmother learned to use a computer a few years ago. My sister lived abroad for a year, and my grandma learned to use instant messengers, email, and webcams to keep in touch with my sister. She has her own digital camera and uses it quite a lot.
My grandma is definitely way more into learning and using technology than my grandfather. And my mother uses computers just as well as, if not better than my father. So I think saying "so easy your mom could use it" is extremely out of date.
At the same time I can definitely say that there are some really "dumb" mothers out there who don't know how to use technology, but i almost feel as if its a case of not wanting to learn rather not being able too.
I wasn't assuming that it was your own perspective! I agree that it's very interesting to delve into why moms would become a symbol of the sort of person who would be confused by or wary of newer technologies. I'm so very boggled by anyone's assumption that not tehcnologically able = not so smart! What an absurdity! Yet, certainly there is that assumption at times. It wil be interesting to see what becomes of this conversation and I look forward to more of it.
Ah, thanks, Catharine. Yes, I'm totally curious to see what people think, too. I hope some mothers of adult children weigh in, too.
I don't think mom's are dumb when it comes to technology at all. My mother has been the office manager at her doctors office for years, and has had to deal with brand new software and hardware installations numerous times throughout her career, and she is the go-to person in her office to fix any of the technology. She has also not only kept up, but embraced new technology as it comes along. She text messages like crazy, and taught herself to send photo messages to people. She learns new technology as quickly as I do.
Beyond even mom's being great with technology, my grandmother learned to use a computer a few years ago. My sister lived abroad for a year, and my grandma learned to use instant messengers, email, and webcams to keep in touch with my sister. She has her own digital camera and uses it quite a lot.
My grandma is definitely way more into learning and using technology than my grandfather. And my mother uses computers just as well as, if not better than my father. So I think saying "so easy your mom could use it" is extremely out of date.
At the same time I can definitely say that there are some really "dumb" mothers out there who don't know how to use technology, but i almost feel as if its a case of not wanting to learn rather not being able too.
Well, I guess I'm so stupid, I didn't realize they were saying moms were stupid.
You know who's stupid? The advertisers that treat consumers like they're stupid.
Back in the day, your mom told you never to use the word 'stupid' !
Whoa whoa whoa– people over 30 are "old"? Get bent!
Maybe the phrase, "so easy a MOM could do it", simply means…it's something the Mom can add to her endless list of things to do in a day. We are not stupid, we are BUSY!!! I don't have time to read a manual; I need something I can plug in, turn on, and work.
That's a great point, Tara.
So if you're not technologically inclined, or if you're not interested in cell phones and the latest Apple gadget, you're stupid? Must that be the way this story is defined? I don't like how a lack of interest in or talent with gadgets is being equated with stupidity here. That's just as asinine an implication as implying that moms don't "get" technology (which they very often do, but sometimes don't, or don't care to learn).
Well, that's certainly not my perspective. It's just meant to be a provocative–and facetious–title, about what I consider an inappropriately patronizing attitude by quite a lot of tech journalists. Not me, I hope!
I think you make an excellent point that a lack of interest in gadgets does not indicate a lack of intelligence, but I do think that the assumption that underlies the tech journo cliche is tantamount to that. The tacit assumption, I think, is not just that "moms" are not interested in gear (itself a dubious proposition), it's that they are symbolic of people who need very simplistic explanations, or else they will be 'confused' or 'freaked out' by technological explanations. That's my take on what's going on, anyway. I think a lot of people are too busy or not interested in tech for its own sake; I am hoping to explore why "moms" are made the symbol of that.
As per the comment above, I thought they were talking about *my* mom, not my son's mom! I once told my mother that my brother had emailed me directions to his new place, and she asked me to get him to email me another copy so she could have them too.
As per the comment above, I thought they were talking about *my* mom, not my son's mom! I once told my mother that my brother had emailed me directions to his new place, and she asked me to get him to email me another copy so she could have them too.
I wasn't assuming that it was your own perspective! I agree that it's very interesting to delve into why moms would become a symbol of the sort of person who would be confused by or wary of newer technologies. I'm so very boggled by anyone's assumption that not tehcnologically able = not so smart! What an absurdity! Yet, certainly there is that assumption at times. It wil be interesting to see what becomes of this conversation and I look forward to more of it.
I think there are so many stereotypes out there, not just about moms. I know for myself as a first time mom I understand the need to simplify things, not to "dumb" it down, but to make ease of use faster. I hardly have time on my hands with an 11 month old, I have no idea how moms of multiple children do it! I do have to say though, when I used to live at home and we first got a computer in '92, I was the one who was computer savvy in the household and pretty much had to hold hands to walk my mother through each computer process. Many long hours describing over and over how to copy and paste something or attach a file in an email. My father was worse. He won't touch a computer with a ten foot pole…unless he had to..but then he would have to figure out how to turn it on. This was back then. This year, my parents are upgrading their computer and mom is going to Skype us while we are on vacation with a webcam so we can see our little guy! Mom's are not "stupid"…some just take a bit longer to learn (specially if they are not tech savvy or interested), but most of us just want something more simple and straight forward so we can spend less time doing "that" and spending time with our families or doing some long deserved R&R!
I think there are so many stereotypes out there, not just about moms. I know for myself as a first time mom I understand the need to simplify things, not to "dumb" it down, but to make ease of use faster. I hardly have time on my hands with an 11 month old, I have no idea how moms of multiple children do it! I do have to say though, when I used to live at home and we first got a computer in '92, I was the one who was computer savvy in the household and pretty much had to hold hands to walk my mother through each computer process. Many long hours describing over and over how to copy and paste something or attach a file in an email. My father was worse. He won't touch a computer with a ten foot pole…unless he had to..but then he would have to figure out how to turn it on. This was back then. This year, my parents are upgrading their computer and mom is going to Skype us while we are on vacation with a webcam so we can see our little guy! Mom's are not "stupid"…some just take a bit longer to learn (specially if they are not tech savvy or interested), but most of us just want something more simple and straight forward so we can spend less time doing "that" and spending time with our families or doing some long deserved R&R!
No, there IS no truth to the notion that older women are not particularly interested in the new digital technology: it's an old advertising cliché that hasn't been updated. Just as television commercials paint almost ALL men as horribly unsexy imbeciles that we mothers, wives, and daughters love no matter what (when really, who COULD love such weeniepants bumblers?), so too do these "So easy even your mother could do it!" slogans still stick around, despite being rather cringe-inducing. It's media laziness! Well, that and the fact that in its way it's a bit of a synecdoche, representing a larger idea that we can all easily grasp even if we don't agree with the example used. We just happened to be on the receiving end of this particular one. I'd rather that than the TV man, to be honest.
FWIW, I'm a 40-something SAHP and while I joke about my Luddite tendencies, I'm not really one.
No, there IS no truth to the notion that older women are not particularly interested in the new digital technology: it's an old advertising cliché that hasn't been updated. Just as television commercials paint almost ALL men as horribly unsexy imbeciles that we mothers, wives, and daughters love no matter what (when really, who COULD love such weeniepants bumblers?), so too do these "So easy even your mother could do it!" slogans still stick around, despite being rather cringe-inducing. It's media laziness! Well, that and the fact that in its way it's a bit of a synecdoche, representing a larger idea that we can all easily grasp even if we don't agree with the example used. We just happened to be on the receiving end of this particular one. I'd rather that than the TV man, to be honest.
FWIW, I'm a 40-something SAHP and while I joke about my Luddite tendencies, I'm not really one.
I read this while on my lunch break from my job as a designer of online distance education courses. I came across it in my RSS reader and then shared it on Twitter. How ever did I manage to do this even after having a baby 17 months ago.
I love that we are having this conversation! So many interesting ideas!
A lot of interesting comments with personal anecdotes but in my experience the stereotype has a kernel of truth within it.
Spend any time on the tech forums and you see an overwhelming number of men and relatively few women. That doesn't mean that women can't embrace technology–some do and some are more informed and competent than the men, but in terms of sheer numbers, the men have us beat. (I wonder why that is.)
Many women use computers daily in the course of their work, but how many used them for fun at home before the rise of the whole social networking thing? Is it the social aspect that is finally bringing women into the tech fold?
With my own Mom, the stereotype rings true. She could not possibly be less interested in computers even when presented with the benefits. Trying to get her to just do email was a challenge and I finally had to admit defeat. Mind you, she is approaching 90.
I would guess that the journalists are mostly in the 30-plus age range, so their own mothers would be 50-plus. So they aren't just women/mothers, they are older women–a double whammy in the tech world. I think these are the women they are referring to when they say "even your Mom can use it". They are just using a convenient and obvious target that most people can relate to.
A lot of interesting comments with personal anecdotes but in my experience the stereotype has a kernel of truth within it.
Spend any time on the tech forums and you see an overwhelming number of men and relatively few women. That doesn't mean that women can't embrace technology–some do and some are more informed and competent than the men, but in terms of sheer numbers, the men have us beat. (I wonder why that is.)
Many women use computers daily in the course of their work, but how many used them for fun at home before the rise of the whole social networking thing? Is it the social aspect that is finally bringing women into the tech fold?
With my own Mom, the stereotype rings true. She could not possibly be less interested in computers even when presented with the benefits. Trying to get her to just do email was a challenge and I finally had to admit defeat. Mind you, she is approaching 90.
I would guess that the journalists are mostly in the 30-plus age range, so their own mothers would be 50-plus. So they aren't just women/mothers, they are older women–a double whammy in the tech world. I think these are the women they are referring to when they say "even your Mom can use it". They are just using a convenient and obvious target that most people can relate to.
As a new (and very techno) mom, nothing makes me angrier than this discriminatory marketing sentiment, which I've noticed is infuriatingly prevalent.
One tactic to drive this insulting idea out of mainstream mktg is to call it out every time you see it. If the comments are full of annoyed people remarking on the stereotype instead of the article, it'll be driven out of common usage.
Repeating the idea that "moms" (a majority of women?) can't use technology only further embeds that idea in the minds of women who may be shy about getting started.
I'm a single mom, mid forties….the mom sentiment is also used as in "Soccer Mom's" meaning a suburban mother who has let herself go and is out of touch with culture, technology etc. My friends are not that and we live in the suburbs, use cell phones, use our computers for fun and work, and my kids school projects. lol
My 11 year old know more about coding than me, sure. But I know more about desktop publishing, photo imaging software than him! I guess you know what you need to know, want to know, like to know and enjoy! So easy Mom can use it is dated. nuff said.
I've worked in a number of tech companies where Moms are often referred to but in entirely different contexts. One is a developer saying "My Mom could do this." with the generally understanding being a) "My Mom" is older b) not tech-savvy c) not plugged into recent trends c) Dad just isn't interested or doesn't care because he's in the basement sanding a block of wood.
The other context is perhaps kinder. "The Soccer Mom" is something you definitely hear a lot in tech offices but not in any derisive way but as that hard-to-crack, too-busy-to-read-a-manual, affluent demographic. This is something other commenters have touched on. This is a market of no-nonsense, no time for crap, busy, effective users who will pay for quality if they perceive it.
If someone advertised something as 'even your obdurate, techno-phobic dad could do it' that would really perk my ears. Advertising something as it being 'so easy my mom could use it' doesn't do much for me, mine's pretty smooth on the keyboard. Time to get a new marketing tag-line. Here's to moms everywhere…
This a timely piece. I was just trying to google some solutions for my ever-frustrating battle with our tech hardware. Specifically, how on earth can I listen to CBC radio using our sophisticated (??!!) TV/audio system. I think a lot of the perceptions surrounding women and technology are not really about how we interact with the technology so much as our sometimes vocal frustration with being able to fix it. I consider myself to be a tech-savvy professional – and an 'older' mom as well. Indeed, being able to use the latest software and communication mediums is a requisite in today's work world. However, I resent the expectation that I must also be a computer engineer in addition to my other professional accreditations. I am frustrated with the lack of true empathy shown by the Sonys and Panasonics of this world when it comes to the compexity of their systems. Their products are enormously complicated and unweildy, yet they try to blame the consumer through their advertising messages of "so easy, a Mom could use it." Well, I'm a mom — a very intelligent mom — and I can't. So, stop trying to blame us and try producing electronics that make sense to the user.
My mom is brilliant in so many ways. She's a full-time emergency room nurse, a culinary genius, a master multi-tasker, a musical theatre buff… but she just can't hack it when it comes to technology.
She can use the internet to look up information and recipes, and she even has a twitter account (I'm the only person she follows. You guys should totally do a story on parents creeping their kids with social media!), but beyond that she's completely LOST.
Yet, my brother and I (both hard-core techies) love to spoil her with gadgets! It's almost as much fun for us to watch her play with the stuff as it is for her.
Check out this mother's day video of my hilarious mom trying to put a Kanye West song onto her new iPod Touch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfOZe-zC1y4
A good comic on the subject of woman and tech http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&am…
I do have some really funny stories about old women calling for internet tech support but if you want those stories, it should be about the inconsiderate way these women (and men) were given nice computers for christmas by their adult, away kids and then left with no written instructions on how to turn it on! It's free to call tech support, not free to call the son or daughter! I helped a 96 year old man one time: what a sweetie! Oh yes, I was 50+ at the time!
thanks nora to raise such an important issue: for those who need evidence to dissolve such a biased perception of the MOM's intelligence, should read Autumn Stanely's book, mothers and daughters of invention, Stanley spent 13 years in writing this book and analysed 200 year old data base of USPTO to show smaller share of women not because they were less intelligent but because they were deferential to men among other reasons.
One of my pet peeves about Cbc
Radio2 is shows depending on playlists
for listeners to get the basic
information about what's broadcasted.
They feel a clever intro is more listener friendly
than announcing who or what composition was played.
They claim the playlists are easy to navigate to;
they are for me 'cause I dwell in radio2 world,
but not everyone does, cbc.ca being so big.
Sometimes I come home for lunch
and my dog greets me at the door saying.
'can you Please look up the playlist
to find which symphony was on this morning
it's driving me nuts'
Apart from discussing radio hosting custom
and whether it relies too much on the net,
might we change the phrase to
'it's so easy, even your dog or cat can do it.'
As per the comment above, I thought they were talking about *my* mom, not my son's mom! I once told my mother that my brother had emailed me directions to his new place, and she asked me to get him to email me another copy so she could have them too.
We don’t use this kind of language about technology with women in general, any longer. Why do we make assumptions that moms are not capable of being technically savvy?
Belittling mom's and women in general seems to be common sales strategy. Odd, when research shows that women make most of the buying decisions. I can't believe we put up with it.
As a mom, I think I better use an iPad. Other computers are too hard!
I’m a mom, and I don’t know the first thing about online privacy.
I’m a mom. Can you help me operate a microwave?
As a mom, I feel nervous and uncomfortable around cell phones.
I’m a mom and I just don’t understand how to operate this technology. It’s called a “shoelace”.
What is this all about? What computers are u talking about?
Over the years of college back in the 70s, university in the 90s, Library school, internet connection tech support (4 years), and antique book sales, I have learned to be very blase about computers. They are tools, just like my oven, my wood stove, my microwave and my drill. I know how to use, care for and in some cases repair all those tools. Oh, did I mention that I'm a mom of grownup children?
As per the comment above, I thought they were talking about *my* mom, not my son's mom! I once told my mother that my brother had emailed me directions to his new place, and she asked me to get him to email me another copy so she could have them too.