Okay...so here goes....my daughter Olivia is on the older side of her kindergarten class because she missed last year's cut off by 10 days and she has been to preschool for three years so she was already alittle ahead of the game... school is going well...(though she does say she is bored, so I give her extra work to do to keep her challenged)....she has befriended most of the kids and the teacher says the other students look up to her.....while this is nice....there is one child who although is absolutely adorable calls our house literally every single night. Sometimes I'll pick up and he and Olivia will talk for a bit...if I don't pick up he leaves messages on our machine....he's a cute little boy and is always so happy asking for Olivia.......Olivia is quite adamant about her "alone" time.....she's very independent and sometimes only wants to play by herself, read or draw in her room to unwind....anyway she has told me she does not want to talk on the phone every night to this little boy....(or anyone else for that matter)....
So, sometimes, I just don't answer the phone....tonight he called again and she was happy enough to talk to him, but I could tell she really didn't want to be on the phone.....
I really don't know the mother or father and I certainly don't want to hurt this little boy's feelings, yet I don't want to make Olivia feel obligated to talk when she doesn't feel like it....
My question....do you think it's rude of me to let the answering machine pick up sometimes so I can give Olivia some space??? How would you handle this????
I'm not trying to be rude...so please no bashing...I'm just trying to find a solution that makes everyone happy. 1|1|I would explain to the little boy and his mother that Olivia is only allowed to talk on the phone every few days or so, we had to do this when Cheyenne was in 1st grade and 2nd grade, there was one little girl that would call about 10 times a day, so finally we had to explain to her and her mother that Cheyenne is only allowed to talk a few times a week (per say Mon, Wed and Sat) , just choose the times and days that fit you guys best. I don't think you're being rude :)|RebekkaVA|queen_vulture@msn.com|19:52:24|02/10/2010|
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3|2|Rebekka...that's a great idea...I hadn't thought of saying she has limited phone time|kellysp6637|frugalk76@aol.com|19:57:28|02/10/2010|
that's great....this way nobody will get hurt feelings and Olivia won't feel pressured to talk....kids are sooo stinkin' cute....and I know this little boy just wants to be friends with Olivia so I was worried how I could handle it... 2|1|I dont think you are being rude at all|petunia1|sweetpea39@comcast.net|19:55:41|02/10/2010|
I think alot of people have left the machine pick up when you want some down time. Maybe Olivia could tell him to call on certain days or pehaps you can suggest it when you answer the phone.
It could be this kid doesnt have many friends and that is why he calls every night.
it is a good opportunity for Olivia to learn she is entitled to some alone time and it is OK to say I dont feel like talking right now.
4|2|I think the problem is he has older sisters (ranging from 14-19) and he's the youngest|kellysp6637|frugalk76@aol.com|20:01:13|02/10/2010|
Posted on Feb-10-10 at 08:01 PM (Eastern) by 64.12.116.68
so he's around older girls and sees them talking and having sleep overs...he actually asked Olivia if she could sleep over his house....it was completely innocent....he probably sees his older sisters having sleepovers and wants one too.....my husband though was a little less than pleased at the idea LOL....(needless to say we told her she's a bit young to be sleeping over anyone's house....but it was cute just the same)
Anyway.....thank you for your thoughts and suggestions...it really makes me feel better....I'm just trying to find that balance.
5|3|that really does explain alot |petunia1|sweetpea39@comcast.net|20:12:10|02/10/2010|
I am sure it is because he sees the older siblings doing it. I still think you would be OK limiting which days he is allowed to call, I would ask Olivia to choose, then she has some control over it too. she may feel better about talking to him if she knows she picked the days. 6|4|I think so too......I was really starting to feel bad about the situation,|kellysp6637|frugalk76@aol.com|20:14:25|02/10/2010|
because I was worried about hurting his feelings...but this way...they can still talk...yet have their own space.....
Thanks so much!!!!!!