My kids used to know how to answer the phone. I promise. From the time they were very young, we had pleasant lessons in phone etiquette including how to politely greet callers, how to take a thorough message and where to actually put those messages to make sure they were passed on to the appropriate party. I used to actually get compliments on how polite and responsible the little receptionists were who rushed to answer the ringing phone.
That was a few years ago…somewhere, somehow, with the rush of hormones that signaled the onset of adolescence—phone etiquette disappeared. It’s buried somewhere with the warm hugs and smiling laughter and children who used to say, “Can I help?” After battling the change with all my might, I finally resigned myself to warning people they had best just email me if they want to actually make a connection, or call between the hours of 9am and 3 pm. Anything else, and I admire them for their adventuresome spirit.
Now the one thing that does normally happen is the phone gets answered. With four bodies in the house, there is likely to be someone around to dive for the ringing phone. My middle daughter is the one who jumps first. I can usually tell if the phone rings more than once, it is for someone other than her. She snatches up the phone and checks out the caller I.D. If it’s not for her, she’ll let it ring so someone else can get it. If she does answer it, there’s no telling where she might write down the message—I’ve found notes written in marker, crayon and electronic pencil and scribbled on newspapers, candy wrappers and someone else’s homework. My oldest daughter is extraordinarily polite on the phone and she does ask for messages. Unfortunately, they never actually get written down anywhere. She optimistically assumes she will remember, and while she often does, it may be a day or two or more after the call came in. My son will only answer the phone if no one else is home. His technique has morphed into something completely different. He’ll ask people to just call back instead of even attempting to take a message. While some people admire his direct honesty, others find it incredibly rude.
I just want to go on record with my apologetic declaration, for all those frustrated people who have called my house and reached a teenager, I really did teach them better! I’m hoping that just as suddenly as the phone etiquette lessons vanished, they will return again someday soon. Until then, just know that I’m on it, and, please, send me an email…