My mom is dead set on getting a computer. Apparently my sister has convinced her that it’s a good idea. I’m not so sure myself.

True, you can find information about everything from asparagus recipes to incontinence supplies online. The Internet is a wonderful thing like that. But my mother doesn’t know the first thing about using a computer. Quite frankly, she’s scared of them. Believe me, I know. I tried to teach her to use one, and she was so paranoid that she would tear it up that I could barely get her to touch the mouse.

I’m the only one in the immediate family who really knows my way around a computer, so of course I would be expected to teach her everything. If she’ll be a little less intimidated this time around, I won’t mind it except for the travel. But there’s another thing I worry about as well.

You see, my mom loves to shop. Especially from home. I worry that she’ll discover the joys of online shopping and overextend her finances. I’ve got to try to remember not to show her many online shopping sites, because I don’t want that on my conscience. Of course I could always tell her horror stories of how people get their identities stolen online. Maybe that would solve the potential problem.