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Whatever happened to phone ettiquette at dinner time?

NewFamily09NewFamily09 member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
When I was growing up, it seemed common knowledge not to call someone around dinner time or after around 9 o'clock.  Ever since then, unless it's an emergency, I don't call someone from 5:30-7 pm or after 9.  Apparently, I'm the only one who's ever heard of this rule?  Almost every time DH and DS and I sit down to dinner, someone calls one of us at least once.  We usually just ignore it and check later, but still.  Is it because so many families don't eat together anymore or something?  Am I the only one who was raised to not call during certain times?
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Re: Whatever happened to phone ettiquette at dinner time?

  • aglennaglenn member
    We had the same rules growing up and I get annoyed when people call at dinner time or after 9.  DH thinks I'm weird about it, though, so I don't think everybody held to that rule.
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  • penguingrrlpenguingrrl member
    I was raised not to call during those times and to let the machine get it if the phone rang during dinner.  But, I'll be honest and say that it would never occur to me not to call because of dinnertime as early as 5:30 these days.  I think that while people know it's rude to interrupt dinner, dinner times vary so widely you would have to not call after 5 to avoid dinner time and any time after 9.  That said, if I know someone eats at a specific time I won't call for 45 minutes or so after they start dinner.
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  • mrs.larrymrs.larry member

    I'm the same. DH and I don't answer our phones when we're eating dinner, and I never call anyone during those times...  and when our kids are bigger there is NO WAY they're going to have their phones with them at the dinner table. 

    not to sound crotchety... but phone ettiquette has definitely disintigrated.

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  • EchowyspEchowysp member
    I was raised the same way and for the most part, our friends/family don't call during that time because they are also eating dinner with their kids.  Maybe those who call  are single or childless?
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  • kiwi443kiwi443 member

    I also try to avoid calling people during those times. Actually, I avoid the phone in general.

    I do think people eat a very different times, so those calling might not even realize it's dinnertime at your house.

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  • ShufflerChickShufflerChick
    People eat dinner at different times. It's almost 7pm and I'm still at work, I won't eat dinner until 9pm. I don't know anyone who is even home before 7pm in my circle. My general rule of thumb is not to call anyone after 10pm, unless I know they are available, otherwise it's all fair game and if they're busy, they won't answer.
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  • Sage MommySage Mommy
    It was the same when I grew up. Now I avoid calling people at night altogether. My closer friends have older kids that are in activities afterschool and at night so I have no clue when they are eating or having family time. Honestly, I don;t want to talk to anyone at night. I see DH for only a few hours before bed.
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  • 2-Step2-Step member
    I was raised that you don't call during these times, however I must admit that I do call my mom and my BFF on the way home from work at 5:30 almost every day. My mom usually talks while she is cooking and BFF is usually on her commute too. So I think it applies in general, but if you know the person's schedule and know it isn't likely they are actually sitting down to dinner then I don't find it offensive. When I get a call from a random stranger or a sales person during dinner hours I get ticked off though.
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  • Emcat1980@yahoo.comEmcat1980@yahoo.com

    The majority of my friends have kids so none of them are calling anybody from 5-8 PM -- it's the crazy time as we all know so well!

    The majority of DH's close friends either have no kids or apparently just don't care, because they are always calling that time of day. It drives me crazy....and more crazy that my H often answers. He works so much and often has less than an hour w/ DS a day, if any time at all, so I think he should be 100% focused on him during that time.

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  • EchowyspEchowysp member

    imageSage Mommy:
    It was the same when I grew up. Now I avoid calling people at night altogether. My closer friends have older kids that are in activities afterschool and at night so I have no clue when they are eating or having family time. Honestly, I don;t want to talk to anyone at night. I see DH for only a few hours before bed.

    Same here.  Days of chatting in the evening are over.

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  • lynseflynsef member

    Same here, well I wasn't really raised that way, but that's how I feel about it.  My mother on the other hand, if she calls during dinner and I answer and say we're eating dinner I'll call you later she proceeds to launch into a lengthy conversation usually primarily about herself b/c she's pretty selfish like that.

    Like you said, I think a lot of people don't think about it b/c family dinner time isn't as much of a priority as it used to be unfortunately.

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  • JLGYJLGY member
    I was never raised with the dinner rule, especially since people's dinner times vary so much. If you tried to avoid everyone's dinner time you wouldn't be able to call anyone past 5pm! I figure if someone's busy they will not answer. My only rule is not to call anyone after about 10pm (unless it's someone who I know doesn't care). 
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  • NewFamily09NewFamily09 member

    image2-Step:
    I was raised that you don't call during these times, however I must admit that I do call my mom and my BFF on the way home from work at 5:30 almost every day. My mom usually talks while she is cooking and BFF is usually on her commute too. So I think it applies in general, but if you know the person's schedule and know it isn't likely they are actually sitting down to dinner then I don't find it offensive. When I get a call from a random stranger or a sales person during dinner hours I get ticked off though.

    I agree completely.  If you know someone's available or they request that you call at a certain time, then I'd definitely do it.  But yeah, sales people shouldn't call during dinner hours. 

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  • melodied70melodied70
    This is very true and the last thing you need when you are dealing with little ones. The title of this thread popped up in my Google alert box because I've written a book called Whatever Happened to Dinner? and it includes chapters on stuff like this and about 90 recipes. Food editors for the book were two moms with five kids between them ages 4-13. Check out the FB page for the book by looking for Whatever Happened to Dinner.
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