Telephobia

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

I absolutely HATE talking on the phone. I can talk with very few family members, but that's about it. I get horrible anxiety when I need to be on the phone. I rarely answer if if someone calls and I'm HORRIBLE at making calls. I can barley even make my own doctors appointments! This drives me insane, and if I could fix it I would in a heart beat!
Over the last 14 years of having this business, I've only actually had to talk to potential parents on the phone twice! I usually do the majority over our website, or facebook page. One parent that somehow got my number abused it very quickly (All contact with current parents is through daily connect)

I had a parent ask for a phone number today. I'm having conflicting thoughts. I KNOW it's part of the job, but I've been able to avoid it for the most part :P I don't like parents having my personal number, and we have not yet set up our "business line".

Not necessarily asking for advice, just complaining :P Anyone else struggle with talking on the phone? I can talk in person or online no problem, just the phone freaks me out 😂

[e.j.]

Talking on the phone never used to bother me until I worked in customer service and was on the phone 5 days a week, 8+ hours per day for 11 years. I left that job 25 years ago to open my daycare and it's taken about that long for me to finally get to a point where I'll answer our phone when it rings - if I recognize the number. Now it's more about trying to avoid the spam calls we get all the time more than it's about not wanting to talk on the phone. While I don't mind talking on the phone at this point, I never have liked setting up doctor appointments for myself and will put it off until I can't put it off any longer. Other than the fact I hate going to the doctor's, I'm not sure why I have such trouble making the call itself. I've never had trouble calling to make appointments for my kids when they were younger.

As for the parent asking for your phone number, I'd just tell her what you said here - you don't like giving out your personal phone number and then give her your preferred method of contact be it FB or website. I have a similar problem but instead of giving out my home phone, I don't like giving out my cell phone number. I give my dc parents my cell phone number so they can text me (I tell them to text, not to call because I usually won't answer calls.) Other than that, only my close family members and friends get it. I have refused to give it to my sil because I know she'd abuse it. Having to call the house phone and leave a message helps to keep her somewhat in check.

[Alwaysgreener]

DH has trouble talking to new people and hates talking on the phone. He refuses to answer my phone, even if it is his parents' calling and sometimes me. Even his sister has her DH make business calls and puts off calling people. (His whole family is full of last-minute invites because of this) DH was diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder called selective mutism and I question if his sister has some form of it too.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

I have selective mutism also, didn't think about them being related! I absolutely hate it, you sit there knowing you should say something, but nothing comes out...

[Annalee]

My mom hates the phone, too. I live beside her and when her siblings call, I will walk over and tell her to call them. She rarely has her cell on her and that is on purpose. Really irritates me sometimes. 🤐

[Cat Herder]

I won't be tied to a phone either. We may be the last generation of that.

I just message them that it is too hard to talk on the phone and work with children. Because it is. If they insist on speaking then I know it is because they want the ability to manipulate the conversation. Bye.... They can message and I will respond.

I won't call after hours, either, because I am off work, then.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

That's exactly what I say. I can stop mid e-mail or facebook message if needed, but being on the phone while working drives me nuts. (I don't really like to be on the computer either, but can be during more "down times")

[Springvalley]

My daddy hates texting but will talk on the phone. His thing is why do people text when its just as easier to pick up the phone & call

[Cat Herder]

I hear that a lot, too. I tell them it's because people down here take two hours to say goodbye. I don't have the time or patience to wait for them to get to the point. Making them text makes them really think about what they want to say before they say it.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

My dad says the exact same thing. He will text though, when needed. I have no problem answering if it's my parents though, unless I'm working in which case I don't answer for anyone. (I will usually message my mom after she calls just incase it was an emergency, because she knows not to call when I'm working which means it's either an emergency or she's just old and forgot... which it's usually the latter :P)