Telephone etiquette is important. I believe in a full “Hello” when someone answers the phone. None of this “Yea” or “Hull-a” I hear from kids when they answer their cell phones. Speak up! Someone has chosen to talk to you! Show some pride.
When I call friends their children sometimes answer the phone. ‘Hello? Hello? Is someone there?’ “yes” (barely audible) ‘Could you get your mom for me?’ “wha’?” It seems as if they’ve never spoken to a human. ‘Could you please get…’ Ah, well. I’m sure you’ve all been there. And that’s why it’s important to me that my girls know how to answer the phone properly. I thought that I had done my job. That is, until recently.
We have certain times and places when we do not answer the phone. Dinner time is one. Homework time is another. And, I thought, it was understood that the one place we would all agree on would be the bathroom. I guess my daughters don’t feel the same way.
*ring*ring* footsteps-footsteps (voice heard outside the door) “My mom’s on the potty now. Let me see if she wants to talk to you”. WAIT! ‘What are you doing Honey?!? Who are you talking to?!? Give me the phone!’ Argh. Laughter greets me on the other end of the line. This is NOT how I like to start my conversations.
*ring*ring* footsteps-footsteps (voice from the other side of the door) “My mom’s naked right now. She doesn’t want to talk to you”. WAIT!!! I grab a towel. ‘Honey, WHY are you sharing that information? Give me the phone please’. Laughter, again, greets me.
It’s time for more lessons on phone etiquette. This time I’ll remember to teach the phrase “My mother is indisposed.” That sounds so much more glamorous than “My mom’s on the potty”, don’t you think?
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Wait until they answer and say "Mommy can't answer the phone cause her and daddy are in the bedroom wrestling with the door closed. I think they are almost done cause I hear daddy calling for Jesus."
ReplyDeleteThat's funny! Can't wait to have kids!
ReplyDelete"My mom's naked right now" could work really well with a hot repairman. Hmmm. Maybe you can teach your girls how to find out first. ;)
ReplyDeleteMom is naked and I think she is pooping. Can I have her call you back?
ReplyDeleteHaha! If it was a telemarketer I'm sure you made their day!
ReplyDeleteOh Ann... I totally hear ya! My kids and even hubby do this to me all the time!!! So embaressing
ReplyDeleteI am choking up even more after reading Gladys comments!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on mine not sounding like 3yrolds! I don't have any 3yrolds anymore!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I never let Tara answer the phone unless it was one of her friends.... and now that we only have cell phones, she doesn't touch mine!
ReplyDeletelol! I prefer the "crapper" but "indisposed" works too!
ReplyDeleteLOL! WHat a great entry - and so true! We've all been there and those laughing on the other side of the phone have too :-)
ReplyDeleteI just posted an entry about your VGNO. I plan to play along and hope to bring you some new fun players with me too...
http://meandering-martha.blogspot.com/2009/06/party-invitation-and-other-things.html
I'll be back tomorrow night to link up to Mister Linky once you post :-)
LOL, kids say the darnest things, eh!? I get congratulated on how my children answer the phone eg. Hello, (first name) (last name) speaking. Unfortunately it deteriorates after that!
ReplyDeleteThat is soooo embarrassing! Especially when they just stand outside the door waiting for you to come out.
ReplyDeletePS-You're right; it does feel really good to connect with people :)
LOL!
ReplyDeleteOMG....I hate it when mine do that~~they have wonderful manners, etc. any other time but if you let them answer a telephone sometimes they suddenly forget everything!!
ReplyDeleteKids don't lie, that's what people always say. I tried to imagine how your kids talked to the caller on the other line, they were really funny. But you are right, you need to remind them about phone etiquette so you can avoid situations like those from happening again.=)
ReplyDeleteROTFLMAO! this is funny..kids say the darnest things!! My son asked me other day if our pictures will turn black & white when we are older, like grandpa's..LMAO :)
ReplyDeleteHilarious! At least they were being honest...
ReplyDeleteLOL Gotta love the honesty of kids sometimes. :) I've had the bathroom one happen to me too. We have the same rules of when/when not to answer the phone. Ever since I've let my older two start answering the phone though, they now RUN to it when it rings - drives me nuts!
ReplyDelete