Jonathan is Linus tonight!

[sugarplumkitty]

At about 2:30 this afternoon, I'm heading for Modesto to see Jonathan in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown."

I've never seen it before. Jonathan is playing Linus, a part he has found difficult because his voice decided to change during this play. He's having trouble with the mid-range notes. He can do the high notes and the low notes. It's the middle ones that make his voice squeak. We'll see how he does!

He called while I was in school this week. Eric talked to him. Jon failed to tell Eric to have me call him. There was a message on the machine from him yesterday where he mentioned his play. I called him back. He was upset with me for not calling him before. I told him Eric didn't tell me I was supposed to call back. Jon refused to accept that. I asked him if he told Eric to have me call him. He said he didn't. I told him if he wants people to call him, he should say that. He said if you call someone, they're automatically supposed to call back. He refuses to accept that you should say in plain words what you want from people, and called it "A Montgomery moment." We're at an impasse on that. Since Jon does call sometimes just to talk and I was very busy this week, I didn't call until I got the message about his play.

Both Eric and I are very literal people. We don't pick up on hints. It's part of having ADD from what I've read. If people tell me things in plain English, I understand.

What do you do? If someone calls and talks to a family member when you're not home and doesn't leave the message for you to call them back, do you call them back? Is this a social subtly I've missed?

Comments

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

He's wrong, period. It's not an add moment. People are being incredibly selfish when they assume you should know them well enough that you should be able to read their minds. Well, until the Martians have their way with us and then we'll all have telepathy:)

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

Thank you! He's 14 and full of teenage assumptions. Over time, he'll learn he needs to say what he wants.

[aikoheiwa.livejournal.com]

If someone were to talk to Kurt and I wasn't told to call them back, I wouldn't call them back.

[destinyblue.livejournal.com]

I don't call people back unless they have asked for me to. I just assume they were in the mood to talk to whomever answered the phone. :)

[kitfoxx.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't a called back unless the person said to. Especially if the person calling chatted with another family member and didn't just say "Oh, thanks" and hang up (when told I wasn't home). I might call back if they called and didn't chat and just hung up when finding out I wasn't home. If life wasn't crazy.

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

So? How was he?

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

he's 14? I just saw that in another comment.
Well; at that age you should tell him he's wrong and that policy asks that someone calls you back. *Mumbles something about teenagers*
It's not you Linda, and not ADD. It's his way of thinking. They assume that the entire world listens to them and do as they expect and that all comes just for granted.
He should've told Eric that he would've appreciated if you called back. (notice the words? 'appreciate'? I think that's a very important thing here)

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

We talked about it as I gave him a ride home afterward. He must have talked to people about it too. He agreed that he should have asked Eric to please have me call him. His mom didn't teach him to say please and thank you. That was something my family does as kids learn to talk. Luckily, his aunt and uncle are teaching him that. He's getting better about it.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

His mom didn't teach him to say please and thank you.

i can hardly imagine NOT to teach a kid those words. They show a matter of respect to others.
Thank God he's learning them now.
Let's hope it isn't too late

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

He knows he has to use them with me. I insist!

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

and right you are!! I'm happy he needs to use it somewhere!

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

He is finally understanding how being polite opens doors. Being rude closes them. It's amazing how many people don't know that. Our society seems to be getting ruder every generation, but then, those are the ones you notice. The polite people don't make a fuss and go quietly about their business.

There was a night I had to shop right after the TMI incident and I was feeling weak, tired and still a bit afraid. The clerk at the grocery store called out, "Here's my favorite customer!"

It surprised me. I asked him, "I'm your favorite? Why?"

He said, "You're always smiling and pleasant. Never a problem! You always make my day better."

I needed a lift that day. Just by being polite and pleasant, the way I was raised to be, set things in place to give me that lift. I walked out of there feeling a bit better.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

i agree. A smile is very important.


HUGS**
i'm glad you're the person you are.
Love ya Linda*

[sugarplumkitty.livejournal.com]

HUGS back! I'm glad you are the person you are, too!

I love you back, Bie! :)