How a Smart Speaker Became the Bad Guy & Saved Me

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A parenting win that starts with the simplest of phrases, Okay, Google…

Greetings from a low-tech momma. I have never been one to forge ahead with the latest tech gadget or application. My first attempt at Guitar Hero back in the day resulted in a fit of giggles requiring a wardrobe change from one of the kids. I don’t aspire to be thoroughly versed in all things technology, but I do admire and utilize to the best of my meager capabilities many of the bells and whistles found in the boon of technology that has become our world. I will never open the backdoors of an application or reach the highest level in the gaming world, but I will revel in the basics.

While parenting in my low-tech world, imagine my surprise when for Christmas two years ago I unwrapped a smart speaker from my brother-in-law. I knew about Google Homes, Amazon Alexas, and the like, but these were nowhere in the realm of my wheelhouse. With the research I do while working from home, this very thoughtful, gift giver felt a smart speaker would be a perfect go-to device for me. Yes, for me, the low-tech momma.

I happily unboxed it, linked it to my phone (with the help of the teenagers), and set Googie, as the three-year-old called it, on a shelf in the family room. The early days were filled with said three-year-old asking Googie to send pizza. Luckily, I had and still have no idea how to set up such a function, so there’s no preset trigger phrase to make it happen. (When he finally figures it out, look for a frantic post inviting all in close proximity to the epic pizza party that ensues due to an unexpected influx of cheesy pies!)

After some time on the shelf, we started using her to listen to music, tell us some facts and information about the letter or topic of the week in preschool, grab weather updates, supply random trivia, and most importantly as a sanity-saving and hands-free timer. The timer-ending beeps are like a Pavlovian trigger. Everyone stops and knows that a transition is happening or a task must be completed. For a momma being pulled in a million different directions who often forgets why she is heading in the majority of them, this smart speaker addition has been a godsend.

All Hail, the Routine Saver!!!

Having a smart speaker keeps us on our toes and on a schedule. It all started with an inability to consistently get out the door in the mornings. I would look at the clock on the stove, say we need to leave in 5 minutes, and 10 minutes later be frantically gathering, zipping, and doing that whole herding cats thing to get out the door.

Now, I can set the out-the-door plan into action as soon as the thought pops into my head. There’s no programming a timer or need to drop everything. I simply say what I’m thinking. I look at the clock when we first make it downstairs, voice activates a timer for x minutes, and the beeps lead to shoes on and out the door on time. A golden lifesaver is born!

Then on a glorious eve, I turned our smart speaker into the Bedtime Bad Guy. Previously, that role had been played by myself and my husband. The little guy also played his part with a lot of pleading and requests for another game or another snack or another drink or another 5-minute warning or another show; you get the idea. There was always a need to push the envelope and stretch out the inevitable when the time to head upstairs arrived.

Now, even though I set the timer, there’s just no arguing with this Pavlovian mechanism. Yes, there’s still some pouting and leaden footsteps traipsing up the stairs, but there are also actions and movements that don’t require endless cajoling and repetition from me. When the beeps sound, a series of events are set in motion that do not require a constant exchange of begging and bargaining.

For the time being, I’m content with these limited usages for our home companion. I’ve embraced the beauty of the voice-command timer to get us crack-a-lackin’, which translates to getting ourselves moving in this household. We are more punctual and more rested and less stressed due to limited bedtime battles.

To any tsk-tskers out there that think I’m shirking my responsibilities as a parent, get over it. No, I’m not letting a piece of tech take over, but I sure am loving that it takes some of the headaches out of the daily ins and outs of parenting. Let’s be real, bedtime can totally suck the life out of you, but our smart speaker is lessening the suck factor and letting us enjoy the time for books, pillow talk discussions, and prayers.

And yes, a prayer was answered when a smart speaker became the bad guy and helped make our routines more efficient and less emotional.

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Lani
Lani is relatively new to Cincinnati, and after living in Columbus for nearly three decades, she’s glad to be back in the Buckeye State! Keeping all wheels turning with her family of five serves as her full-time job, but she stays active with her teaching background by blogging and freelance writing for several education companies. When she’s not stealing some time at the keyboard, she enjoys exploring all Cincinnati has to offer through the eyes of her five-year-old. Cooking, traveling, and binge-watching a good drama series round out her favorites, but some of those happen much more often than others!

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