Technology has made me stupid

Posted in 21st century parent
by Lorain County Moms

By Erica, Silicon Valley Moms Blog

Keychain remote What else could I conclude, as I stood crying in a dark parking lot, unable to find my car in a freezing rain on a recent Monday night?

While neuroscientists and journalists debate whether the Internet is making us stupid, a different kind of technology — the remote control keychain — is contributing to my own brain-flabbiness.

I borrowed my babysitter’s car to run some errands and visit my Dad at his nursing home. The problem: I had been on my cell phone (hands-free) when I parked the car and walked inside Valley Fair shopping mall, so I didn’t pay careful attention to exactly where I parked. In my defense, I was also distracted by my Dad’s recent health problems and had been feeling “fuzzy-headed” lately. This tends to happen when I’m in pre-holiday, sick Dad, work deadline- panic mode. But with my own car, technology would have saved me. I can always click the lock button on my keychain and get my car to beep. Much of the time, that’s how I find it.

My sitter’s car doesn’t have this handy feature so I had to find my car the old-fashioned way. By remembering where I had parked it. Uh-oh. So what happens when you don’t bother to memorize where you parked? And then the sky turns black and freezing rain drops pelt you? Miserable, scared and walking in circles, a strange man calls you “Sweetie” and offers to help you find your car. “No thanks! I’ve got it,” you say with greater confidence than you feel. And then you get out your cell phone and call your husband and your Mom and make one of them come help you. Technology, and a loving family, to the rescue again.

My sweet hubby helpfully reminded me that losing your car in a parking lot is so common that they even made a Seinfeld episode about it. That made me feel a little better. My friend’s story about losing her car in a parking lot and reporting it stolen to the police also helped. At least I’m not alone in my bumbling.

But so far, what’s helped the most? Driving my own car with the beeping remote control. And vowing to really think about where I am the next time I park.

This is an original post to SVMoms, http://www.svmoms.com. Erica also writes at wellthoughtoutspot.