During school days, the telephone is

[Copswife]

I'm curious to see how others handle phone calls during school hours.

[JFS in IL]

public school - and a f-i-l who seems to end up in the hospital every month or so - I do cock an ear towards the message coming in on the machine to see if it can wait or if I need to grab the phone.

[Antonia]

Wow! Great minds think alike. :)

[Jill, OK]

If I'm in the middle of something with the kids, and it's not important (or someone I recognize), then I let the voice mail get it.

If I don't feel like talking...I don't answer it.

Otherwise...I do. :-)

[Crissy]

Because we run our business from home, I always answer the phone when it rings.

[Colleen]

I virtually never, ever answer my telephone. Only if I'm quite certain who's calling (I don't have caller id) and it's imperative that they connect with me at that very moment do I pick up the phone. Otherwise, all calls go to the answering machine, including business calls that aren't placed to my husband's cell phone. I've operated this way since way back when ~ even when I was young and single and a social butterfly.;)

[gardenschooler]

I'm curious to see how others handle phone calls during school hours.

Only answered if it's dh calling (and that's only because he might be at the grocery store) :lol:. No, really, I always answer if it's him. But no one else.

I even tell service/repairmen not to call. I won't answer. They can either show up when they say they're going to, or I'll get someone else.

[Krista in LA]

But only because my dh works from home so he answers it. He has a separate line for his work, but he picks up the home phone too. I prefer to never talk on the phone, so I let it ring otherwise.

[Closeacademy]

I marked ignored but I actually check the Caller ID to find out if it is my dh or someone else important. I have also told people to only call me between 12 and 9 on weekdays.:001_smile:

[j.griff]

We recently had our home phone turned off, and I've told relatives I can't just "Chat" with them any more because we have to watch our minutes on our cell phones. :D
It's working wonderfully.

[Maria from IN]

Answered each time it rings--my mother lives a block away and needs us from time to time, and when I'm at school for a couple of hours my 13 year old had better pick up the phone when it rings, you know? :bigear:

[Pajama Mama]

I do leave the machine on but I don't always listen to the messages. I must keep my cell on because I have a special needs kid in school. If he's had a seizure or has a fever, they know to call my cell. I only give my cell number to folks that won't abuse it during school time-umm, except my MIL;)

[Puma Mom]

I answered that calls are answered, but, if I'm actively teaching someone, I will check the caller ID and choose whether to answer it then or call back later.

[Eliana]

I chose the second option, but it doesn't quite match what we do.

The land-line has one ringer on very quietly - calls go straight to voice mail, but if I notice the phone has been ringing, I check the caller ID.

I have my cell phone on, but I have my address book sorted in to different groups, each with its own ring. So, if a doctor's office calls, and I know it could be important, I know to answer the phone. If dh or dd#1 call, I always answer. I know if is it a family member, or someone from the community, or a business (the car repair shop, for example)... general calls I always ignore until later in the day....

[JudoMom]

I only answer it if I'm expecting a call from a doctor or dh. Beyond that I never answer during school, and rarely at any other time.

[Plaid Dad]

We almost always answer the phone here during the day because it doubles as my dw's business line, but if no one can interrupt what they're doing at the moment, we let the machine get it.

[Lorna]

I don't have one - no land line or mobile.
I e-mail dh in an emergency I would just grab a neighbour!

[Needleroozer]

I have a phone with caller id on it, and let the machine get all calls. Most of the calls I get on the home phone are solicitations, so it is easy to ignore. Important folks (dh, ds, my mom, Dy) have my cell phone number and can call if need be. Most of my peeps call in the early am or in the later afternoon/evening as they know we are busy during the day.

[ACinGA]

I also have a child in PS so I monitor caller ID to see if it is important enough to answer. No one really calls me during the day because they know I am busy working with the kids. I do have one friend who I don't think supports homeschooling even though she doesn't come out and say it. She constantly calls me at 9:30 in the morning just to chat like I should have all the time in the world to talk to her. I have to tell her I am busy working with the kids and then basically hang up on her. I feel bad about it, but now I just don't pick up the phone when she calls during the day.

-Amber

[nutmeg]

If I'm in the middle of something with the kids, and it's not important (or someone I recognize), then I let the voice mail get it.

If I don't feel like talking...I don't answer it.

Otherwise...I do. :-)

Same here. Caller ID is my friend. :001_smile:

[Jackie in AR]

If I'm in the middle of something with the kids, and it's not important (or someone I recognize), then I let the voice mail get it.

If I don't feel like talking...I don't answer it.

Otherwise...I do. :-)

This pretty much describes me.

Although I always answer dh's calls, whether or not I feel like it. ;)

[*anj*]

I checked the second option, but I just always screen my calls. My friends and parents know that I'm usually having school during the day, so if they call at that time, it's probably for a good reason. So I check the caller ID and I'll answer it if the timing is right. I always answer for dh. Anyone else can leave a message or call back.

[Tutor]

Only answered if it's dh calling (and that's only because he might be at the grocery store) :lol:. No, really, I always answer if it's him. But no one else.

I only answer when my dh calls as well. We only have cell phones, so I can't monitor messages like I did when we had an answering machine, so I just make it a habit to check the voice mail if the phone rang during the day (which it usually doesn't).

I like your policy with repairmen! I can't adopt it, though (although I'd like to), since our house is hard to find, esp. if you rely on mapping systems which I constantly tell people place us incorrectly. Every repairman has had to call me at least twice because he was lost and needed directions.

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

The phone rarely rings for an unimportant call and family and friends know if its just a call to chat I might cut them off if school is pressing. I also keep my cell number as private as possible to stop that from ringing all the time.

[Shannon in MO]

so we're usually eager to answer it!

[WTMindy]

Confessions of a chronic phone answerer...I can not stand to let the phone ring and not answer it. We don't have caller ID and it drives me crazy to not know who it was that called. My dh teases me and says that I would probably even answer the phone if I knew it was a telemarketer just in case they were selling something fabulous! :-) It is ALLLLLL I can do to let the phone ring during dinner and not go answer it.

So, I answer the phone during the day, but I keep calls very short and most friends and family don't call during school time.

[Jenny in Atl]

We only have cell phones, and I only answer if I think it's important (have caller id). I would do the same for a land line.

[cbollin]

My phone rarely rings. I just answer it when it does ring unless the caller id says "out of area" and there is no phone number listed; then they can leave a message. (hey that just happened while I was typing this ???) No message. I assume that means they want me to vote for someone or to give money to something.

[Margaret in CO]

We don't have cell service at the ranch, so those phones never ring. I have a separate tone for dh and my big girls, and I will pick up those calls. I also have a separate ring for my mil and I NEVER pick up those interminable calls--don't even listen to the machine for her half-hour long whines. It's dh's problem... After many years of calling, she's pretty much figured it out. :D

[cin]

Our phone rarely rings. We are on the do not call list, so if it does ring, it is usually meant for us, so I usually answer. If I'm going to be on for a few mintues, I tell dd to do her math :D. DH calls every morning during school to check up on the girls. If it's a bad time, he takes the rejection well. Most of my friends are moms of pre-or homeschoolers, so they can take the "can you email me with your request?' pretty well too.

[HSMom2One]

and answer only if it is something/someone important or I was waiting to hear from. Unless it's an important call, they have to leave voice mail and a call back later. I have the phone in my pocket during school and its set on vibrate so it does not loudly interrupt our school time. http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/chores033.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

BTW, we only use cell phones in our family and don't have a land line. There wasn't an answer I could choose from the choices given in the poll or I would have participated.

Blessings,
Lucinda

[Cadam]

I check the called id and answer when I can/need to.

[Copswife]

Even when I screen calls, it interrupts whatever we are doing and diverts our attention. I wish I could turn it off completely and just have dh call me on the cell phone for emergencies.

Well, I don't know what's stopping me. I mean, all of my immediate family has my cell phone. Hmmm. It's tempting. :glare:

Tracie

[battlemaiden]

I always check the caller I.D. because my dh has limited opportunity to call during the day and I will stop whatever school is going on to talk to him.

Sometimes I answer for friends during school hours, it just depends. I'd rather answer and say, "I have to run" than ignore them all together.

But like Jill said earlier, it depends on various factors and I don't have any strictly followed policy regarding the phone.

One thing I know for sure, I ALWAYS multitask when talking on the phone. I consider phone time, chore time. :D

Jo

[Unicorn]

I checked "set to answering machine pick up", but I always check the caller ID. I answer if it is dh, or my dad. Everyone else gets screened by the machine unless I have a free minute.

[fivetails]

I watch the caller ID and decide whether to take the call, depending on what dd11 and I are doing. Dh is working away on the other side of the country, so if he calls we answer right away. :) ..I also have one in ps (ds9) and I'll answer if it's his school calling....other calls, totally dependent on who/what we're doing.

[Copswife]

I see some of us on here just have cell phones. My dh mentioned some reason why he wanted to keep a land line. But he's working out w/our two oldest boys right now. Hmmm. :D

Tracie

[Tabitha]

My thing isn't listed as an option.

I have the phones set on their lowest ring setting. My cell phone is on. Dh typically calls me on that. I've told HIM that that is the only phone I will answer. I use to stick to that, but now if we are laxing or on break, I'll pick up if the house phone rings.

Family has been told not to call before noon/2pm. They still do.

If it's an emergency, after they (family) calls my house phone and I don't pick up they always call me on my cell...so I pick up (except for one sis who just calls all the time).

Tab

[Copswife]

Family has been told not to call before noon/2pm. They still do


I tried that too. Actually, my dh left a message on the machine about calling after 4PM because we are home schooling. My mom still called. One day I let the machine pick it up and her message was it was an emergency.

I answered the phone and she was at the store and they were having a sale and she needed my daughter's shoe size. :lol: While I appreciate her buying shoes or clothes or whatever, it is NOT an emergency. LOL

Tracie


My thing isn't listed as an option.

I have the phones set on their lowest ring setting. My cell phone is on. Dh typically calls me on that. I've told HIM that that is the only phone I will answer. I use to stick to that, but now if we are laxing or on break, I'll pick up if the house phone rings.

Family has been told not to call before noon/2pm. They still do.

If it's an emergency, after they (family) calls my house phone and I don't pick up they always call me on my cell...so I pick up (except for one sis who just calls all the time).

Tab

[LaMere Academy]

we let all calls go to voice mail unless it's someone important, like grandma!
Dh calls my cell phone only and I always pick that up.

[Tap, tap, tap]

I marked that the answering machine gets the call but I often check the caller ID first to see if I want to answer. We get some phone calls from people who are hard to call back...ie foster caseworkers, lawyers, doctors.

[Amy loves Bud]

None of the above.

Most of my friends know we homeschool and don't call during school hours. So if caller id shows one of them, I answer. They wouldn't call unless they really needed me for some reason.

I like to help when I can, and to demonstrate that to my children. School can wait to helpa friend who needs us!

[Kris]

I picked "answered when it rings" but it rarely does. My son's friends know not to call until after 4:00 (and they're usually in school anyway) and my husband and I recently got cell phones to keep in touch since the long distance charges were adding up.

[Apiphobic]

I screen and answer if necessary. Funny thing is dh doesn't think it's right to screen. He figures if you're there you should answer it.

Maybe it's because he has to be available for his work calls. He always answers if he's here and he always answers his cell.

[emzhengjiu]

Fortunately most of the work I do is through email and fax not phone calls but I still have to be reasonably available so I screen calls.

Judy

[Ellie]

so it wasn't ever a problem.

If that had been a problem, I would probably have used the answering machine. And if *that* became a problem, then I would turn off the phone but leave the cell phone on.

[asher]

I voted "answered," but we really need to get to turning it off & screening the calls.

[LizzyBee]

Not included in the poll choices - caller id. We answer or ignore based on who is calling.

[Oak Knoll Mom]

I chose the second answer, but it doesn't exactly match. We have voice mail so I can't hear the messages as they are being left. I usually just check the voice mail during my next break in teaching and I return calls then or after school hours depending on how long they will take.

[Jennifer in NH]

I voted "answered," but we really need to get to turning it off & screening the calls.
Me too!
I have found that I have been a slave to answering the phone lately! I can have DH call on the cell phone..we don't have minutes because he works for the company...(I like that). My mother will call in the middle of the day, and she recently lost her husband of 58 years(my father), so i have felt duty bound to answer the phone in case it is her....We don't have the option of caller id because we live out in the country it has not arrived here yet! I need to tell her to call on my cell phone...I will talk to her anytime she wants...she is lonely and not calling that often anyway...
I hate when I I interupt school to run and get the phone...then it is just an annoying computer or salesperson etc..and yes, we are on the do not call list.

[RoughCollie]

We have voice mail and I never answer the phone. Everyone who is super important (DH, the kids' school, my Mom) has my cell phone number. I always answer it if the caller is DH or the school. Otherwise, I return phone calls as time permits.

[Vanna]

...and my new phone comes with a handy "Do Not Disturb" button. Very handy.

[Rebel Jedi Mom]

I have voicemail and I LOVE the do not disturb feature on my phone. I can monitor the caller ID - if it's hubby or something important, I'll answer. Otherwise it can wait until after business hours...

[Kari C in SC]

My home phone doesn't actually ring all that much during the day. My cell phone does ring and I usually want to answer it because it is my dh or my oldest ds. We school on and off most of the day with no set schedule. Life sorta goes on around school.