the yearly password fiasco

I have an annual tradition with my mother called The Yearly Password Fiasco. Here's what I learned this year from my daughter calling me out.

Last month, 3 generations of women, my mother, my daughter, and I, were cooped up in a one bedroom apartment for 3 weeks.

What could go wrong? You ask. 

The Good Part 

Well, My mom lives in a decent sized apartment, as far as assisted living facilities go. And, we were staying with her, sleeping on the floor of her bedroom. 

My daughter was on one side of the bed, I was at the foot of the bed, and my mother’s path from the bed to the bathroom was on the 3rd side. Nice and cozy.

There’s a wonderful cafe on site, which happens to have multiple desserts like apple pie and ice cream every day. My mom orders 2 at a time, just so she won’t run out. 

There are always at least 8 pints of ice cream in her freezer at any one time. But, I digress.

The Problem

The living space and the food weren’t the problem, it was the taxes.

More specifically, not being able to log into my parent’s accounts for tax information because the passwords were all changed.

You aren’t being very nice, my daughter says to me. Your tone is mean.

What? Tone? But, she doesn’t know what happened to the passwords she changed.  

And I can’t get into the accounts. 

And, we’ve been working on this for hours.

The Diversion Tactic

It’s always easiest to deflect accusations by blaming someone else.

And, I take the easy way out.

I keep telling her to stop changing the passwords and just ask me what they are.

See, I have them all safe and sound right here in this password keeper in my phone.

She does this every year!

The Catch 

I catch myself. I hear my words and chuckle to myself.

Why in the world would I expect my mom to do something different when she does this every year?

Of course she’s going to do it again.

I think about it longer.

When you try to log into a site and you don’t plug in the right password it gives you a choice. 

Try the same password that didn’t work 

Or reset the password.

It doesn’t give you the choice to call your daughter in another state and ask her what the password is.

It says reset the password.

So, that’s what she does.

The Save

You are absolutely right, I tell my daughter. 

That’s why I brought You along. You’re the nice one.

I’m pleased to say, I got my parent’s taxes done and sent to the accountant the earliest I’ve ever done them.

Let’s all celebrate with a scoop of ice cream!

I’m whole food plant-based, but I make an exception. 

Why not? It’s a rare occasion when just us three girls get to live together.

Until then.

Take care, bye.

xoxo Lani