When I first heard that my grandkids were using WhatsApp to stay in touch with each other, I knew I had to join in on the fun.
After all, I had been feeling a bit out of the loop when it came to their conversations, and I wanted to feel included.
Downloaded WhatsApp, learning it to communicate with them
I was determined to learn how to use the popular messaging app, so I went to buy a smartphone and I took the effort to go and download Whatsapp and learn how to use it.
A son of one of my friend showed me how to download and set up the app on my smartphone, and how to send and receive messages, media, stickers and so on.
I was so excited to finally start using WhatsApp to communicate with my grandkids.
However, the enthusiasm was short-lived.
My grandkids had ditched WhatsApp and moved on to telegram, saying that it was the ‘in’ app now and WhatsApp was outdated.
I felt so frustrated and left out. It took me a while to learn how to use WhatsApp as I was not tech savvy and there was no way I could keep up with the trend and learn yet another app.
Tried to persuade them to stay on WhatsApp
I tried my best to persuade my grandkids to stay on WhatsApp. I sent them messages reminding them of all the fun we had when I first joined the app, and how much I was looking forward to more conversations with them.
But it didn’t work. My grandkids were adamant about using Telegram and refused to switch back. I was so disappointed and crushed.
It felt like I was being pushed out of their lives, and that I wasn’t important enough to keep up with them. I had put so much effort into learning WhatsApp, and now it had all been for nothing.
Still, I tried to stay positive and continued to use WhatsApp to message my grandkids.
However, they took their time to reply me and always came up with the excuse that they do not on WhatsApp anymore because hardly anyone uses it now.
I felt like they did not want to keep in touch with me, their Grandma anymore.
Eventually, I gave up trying to keep up with my grandkids. I was so frustrated and exhausted, and I didn’t want to put any more effort into learning yet another messaging app.
I had already put in so much effort, and it felt like it was all for nothing.
So, I resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to keep up with my grandkids, and that I was stuck in the past while they moved on to the future.