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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to dislike it when I call a friend and a child answers the phone?

242 replies

hambler · 15/07/2009 00:04

Tonight called a friend whose very bossy 10 yo dd answered with "Hello who am I speaking to?"

She has been doing this since she was about 5 or 6.

I HATE it when kids answer the phone. It's not like the call will be for them.

It never crossed my kids' minds to pick up the phone when they were young and I would never have suggested/encouraged it.
AM I alone?
BU?

OP posts:
Tortington · 15/07/2009 00:08

i think its a silly thing to get pissy about - how much fun could you have with a 10 year old answering the phone

think simpsons

or use the name of an actress that she simple wont know - or a singer

'hello who am i speaking to

'shirley'

shir;ey who

'bassey'

MUM SHIRLEY BASSEY IS ON THE PHONE

hmc · 15/07/2009 00:08

I always get my dd to answer the phone - because I find the phone an intrusion and really can't be arsed with it. It usually rings when it's really inconvenient. Today she told the caller "Sorry, mummy is busy at the moment"...I did then relent and took the call...

Don't really care if people don't like it - perhaps then they won't phone me and will text instead (much better - doesn't require immediate response)

anothernamechangeyawn · 15/07/2009 00:11

Oh dear. I used to hate this too. Except that now my DS is in love with the phone and it is a sprint to the finish to get there before him. It's not all bad though.

  1. We only get calls from close friends and family, and if it's a call centre I don't care what they think.

  2. He's not even 3 and he can hold an intelligent conversation over the phone (well, nearly).

  3. We've taught him to always pass us the phone when asked, and he does.

So basically, I still don't like it, but on balance I think the sound of a child whinging because they can't hold the phone is a lot worse.

I thank God he's not like my brother, who used to answer the phone before my mum got there and then put the receiver straight down. That was before 1471 etc.

(Apologies for cryptic name - I can't be bothered to change back just now).

troutpout · 15/07/2009 00:11

lol...i rather like the bossy 10 year old's way of answering the phone.

Original poster
hambler · 15/07/2009 00:14

custardo I am not that quick but you have given me food for thought and will make up a silly name next time.

HMC how old is your daughter?

The ones that bug me are the ones that are really too young to negotiate the call.

Most kids sound rude and thick on the phone . Heck maybe that's just my social circle

OP posts:
TsarChasm · 15/07/2009 00:18

Older children are ok, but little children anwering phones are annoying.

mummyfantastico · 15/07/2009 00:19

DD1 who is 12 has probably had more phone calls on the home phone than me for the last 2 years or so and has answered the phone since she was about 4.
DD2 who is 6 gets phone calls from one of her friends.
Also, if it's family calling, they are quite happy to speak to any of us.
If it is someone who asks for me they politely ask who it it and pass the phone to me.
So I think YABU and also that it is a very odd thing to get worked up about.

hmc · 15/07/2009 00:20

7 years old. I don't believe she sounds 'thick' on the phone, and if anybody calling me thinks that of her, it only goes to reinforce that I really, really don't want to take the call from that particular person. Works for me

Original poster
hambler · 15/07/2009 00:22

How the hell does a 5yo start to answer the phome? Why would you not tell them to leave the phone alone?

OP posts:
NoseyHelen · 15/07/2009 00:25

My 9 year old nephew does this and has done since he could talk... because my sister is a lazy wotsit who would not dream of picking up her own phone. I don't think she has ever picked it up.

hmc · 15/07/2009 00:25

Eh?

mummyfantastico · 15/07/2009 00:26

Is answering the phone so difficult? All you need to do is pick up the receiver and say "hello"

hmc · 15/07/2009 00:26

No offence hambler but I think you are being a bit anal over this. Life is too short, surely?

anothernamechangeyawn · 15/07/2009 00:28

Gosh, you will be shocked when I point out DS isn't 3 yet. He's only allowed to answer if we've a fair idea who it is (or if he gets there before us, which does happen and I don't see how you can stop it short of putting a trip wire in the way ). Most of our calls are those damned recorded messages anyway.

limonchik · 15/07/2009 00:28

Surely a 5yo is quite capable of answering a phone?

Original poster
hambler · 15/07/2009 00:30

not that anal, not a big deal, just cant sleep and wondered about what interesting topic to discuss that I had not seen done to death on mumsnet

OP posts:
Original poster
hambler · 15/07/2009 00:31

My sister has had her kids do it since they are tiny and it is a combination of her being lazy and in a bizzarre way showing off that her kids have been trained to do it

OP posts:
BItOfFun · 15/07/2009 00:31

Tell them it's Anita Gofradump

hmc · 15/07/2009 00:32

Well, it was certainly a fresh topic, I'll give you that

Original poster
hambler · 15/07/2009 00:32

limon but why would you WANT your 5yo to answer the phone ?

OP posts:
anothernamechangeyawn · 15/07/2009 00:32

It could become the next P&T spaces you know.

limonchik · 15/07/2009 00:33

Maybe because you're busy doing something else?

mummyfantastico · 15/07/2009 00:34

with mine it's not that I want them to so much as they get there first and I've never had a problem with them doing it.

limonchik · 15/07/2009 00:36

So long as they answer it properly and pass it on, I don't see a problem.

I used to answer the phone as a small child - my parents had us say "123456 who is it please?"

limonchik · 15/07/2009 00:36

123456 being our phone number of course.