Alexander Graham Bell's great invention...

I never answer my phone. I don't mind using a phone, don't mind talking to my real friends. I actually dread it when my phone rings. Usually the people on the other end could care less what is happening in my life at the time, but have this dire emergency that only I can help them with. Here are the calls I get:

• Phone number assistance: These are the calls that I wouldn't mind occasionally, but in the callings I've held it becomes an epidemic.
• Babysitting assistance: People assume all the time that because we homeschool, that I don't have a schedule, or that I can afford to switch it around anytime someone calls with a need. People also assume ALL THE TIME, that because I have so many kids, I don't mind a few more ALL THE TIME. They assume that they can drop them off, saying they will be gone an hour or two, and it turns into a full-day, and that I don't mind. IF they call while out, it is to say "I hope you don't mind, but I needed to stop by the commissary to pick up a few things" while I am waiting for them to be back so I can go to the commissary myself.
• Visiting Teaching Blackmail: I am a dedicated Visiting Teacher. I try to go every single month to see every sister on my list. I learned that from a wonderful lady in my first ward in Texas. I do whatever I can for the people I visit. But inevitably I end up with people who cannot function if I don't bend over backwards to do every little thing for them. Latest example is a lady who called me up and said she couldn't get dinner made with her 3 little girls under foot, so could I please come get them. She lives 30 minutes away. I, at the time, was dealing with dinner myself, and getting dinner to my dh to had to work shift work, science projects, 2 sick kids. The lady has asked at least 3-4 times a week for similar assistance. She doesn't NEED my help, but she just doesn't want to deal with it. I say "Feed your kids cereal".
• Too-Lazy-to-find-a-sub-and-I'm-already-out-of-town Assistance: This one really frustrates me because it usually comes Saturday night at 8:30pm. The person ususally is calling from their cell phone, about 5 hours away and doesn't have a roster with them to find a sub, leaving me no choice but to rush around calling people before it gets too late...or if I can't find one Sat night, the next day, putting people on the spot during Sunday School.
• I-need-a-ride-all-the-time-but-won't-ever-reciprocate Assistance: This hasn't happend for about 2 months because our van is broken down, but everywhere I live, people call me up for rides for their kids for every activity, but don't reciprocate. I wonder if they think I enjoy taking their kids everyweek, dragging my 2 little kids along, since there is no one to watch them at home. I actually had one lady tell me that she didn't drive, because the activity ended after her 2 year old's bedtime. At the time, I had a 2 year old and a 4 year old and a 6 year old who should've been in bed as well.

Thank Heavens for Answering Machines.