Non-tech savvy office mom accidentally becomes unofficial head of IT by fixing the Wi-Fi with a bag of frozen peas: ‘Someone asked if I could “optimize the cloud.” I told him I optimize casseroles.’

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
May 23, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

When working in an office, everyone has their specific roles to keep everything flowing smoothly. One person is in charge or making sure all of the snacks and toilet paper is well stocked, another is in charge of making sure the WiFi and any tech issues are taken care of, and others sit and create content, etc. Depending on the company, the list goes on. They don't tend to heavily overlap, and if they do, then I hope your company is paying you for that extra work… 

 

In the case of this "office mom," her role quickly become something she'd never imagine. She claims she is not tech-savvy in the slightest, however, one day the WiFi was out and everyone was panicking. The IT guy was on vacation, so nobody knew what to do! The office mom came to the rescue! 

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  • She heard the WiFi router making the same noise as her airfryer back home when it starts to overheat. So she did what she does back home, which is cool down the machinery. She went to her lunchbox, grabbed the bag of frozen peas she was using to keep her lunch cool, went to the router, unplugged it and throw that ice cold bag of peas on top. After a little bit, it had cooled down, she plugged it back in and BAM like magic it worked again. Now everyone is coming to her for IT related issues and she is just as confused as them. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10509062144
    via Unsplash+ (and Arlington Research)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.
    Woman - Unsplash+ & Kajetan Sumila

  • "I accidentally became the head of IT because I fixed the Wi-Fi with a bag of frozen peas"

    I'm a middle-aged office mom. I bake banana bread, remind interns to hydrate, and keep a stash of emergency tissues in my drawer. I am not tech- savvy. My phone still has a home button.
    via serious_sara
  • Anyway, last week our office Wi-Fi went down. People were panicking. The guy who "knows tech stuff" was on vacation. Our boss started printing things just so he'd feel in control.
    via serious_sara
  • I went to the server room because I heard a weird noise (it sounded like my air fryer when it overheats). Turns out the router was literally melting. One of the interns had placed it next to the window "for better signal." It was too hot outside.
    via serious_sara
  • So I panicked, unplugged. it, and I grabbed my lunch bag and slapped a bag of frozen peas on it. Gave it 10 minutes. Plugged it back in. Internet came back.
    via serious_sara
  • Now everyone thinks I'm some kind of networking wizard. They keep sending me IT tickets. Someone asked if I could "optimize the cloud." I told him I optimize casseroles.
    via serious_sara
  • I just wanted to eat lunch without weird noises and nothing more.
    via serious_sara
  • Cheezburger Image 10509074176
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Fresh-Transition-962 "My phone still has a home button." Goddess_of_Carnage Heck, I still have a home phone. Come for me, I'm wired for it.
    via Fresh-Transition-962
  • pulsefirepikachu As a sys admin, I've worked in all sorts of environments from small to large companies. Small companies have the most absurd tech policies known to man. Before building out server and MDM architecture in one company, they were literally working off of unmanaged self set up user profiles and their network was run off of a commercial modem/router.
    via pulsefirepikachu
  • BelterLivesMatter As a network engineer, i want to assure you that this is all we do as well!
    via BelterLivesMatter
  • bloopbloopblooooo This is why you never do more than your actual job AA
    via bloopbloopblooooo
  • Gadgetman_1 I'm sorry, but you really ARE in IT now. Please stock your bottom drawer with bottom shelf vodka and as many energy drinks as you can fit. Insist that every ticket must have the exact error message the user experiences, or a picture or video showing the issue. Close half of them as 'user error'...
    via Gadgetman_1
  • Learn to use contractions like PEBCAC (Problem Exists Between Chair And Computer), 'ISO Layer 8 issue' (The ISO model only has 7 layers, from HW at the bottom, to Application at top. Next layer would then be User) Learn to Reset passwords, to unjam Printers, and for some reason or other how to swap lightbulbs.
    via Gadgetman_1
  • XRlagniappe I have my USB drive, my ethernet hub (not switch) for sniffing, crossover cables, and loopback cables in my network bag. Guess I'll have to make room for a bag of peas.
    via XRlagniappe
  • bastrohl Frozen Peas... I am adding that to my troubleshooting flow chart!
    via bastrohl

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2010 2002 millennial 2001 top 8 throwback witty office work employee office mom 2004 generational early 2000s millennials nostalgia 2007 it 2006 router office life satcastic Memes nostalgic lol 2008 gen x 2009 workplace myspace Tech early aughts 2005 funny 2003
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