Families Don’t Let Family’s Phones Ring
When I was a kid my mother said I always must ask for something to drink when visiting my grandmother. Even though my Mamaw always replied, “Go ahead and get it yourself,” my mother was teaching me good manners not to just jump into someone else’s fridge and help myself.
This past weekend my parents hosted a cookout for my cousin Marcie who was visiting from Texas. When our families get together, believe me it is total chaos. Truly fun, but loud-talking, kids-running, howling-laughter fun. And in the middle of it all the phone on the kitchen wall would ring and ring again. Many of the callers were friends of family who needed directions to my parents’ house. In typical Farmer-family fashion, whoever happened to be standing next the phone, answered it. Me, my husband, an uncle, a cousin, whoever.
Some folks might consider that rude. In our family we consider it helpful. Our way of thinking is that: 1) it’s one less thing the host has to worry about; and 2) the caller is more than likely someone we know anyhow.
I went to college with a guy who had to call and ask permission when he wanted to go home for the weekend. I love being a part of a family that answers phones.
