We’re in the homestretch of 2025, and Christmas is creeping up faster than the Amazon delivery guy on a Friday night. By the time this goes to press, we’ll have only seven weeks until Christmas. Yes, you heard me right—panic has officially set in.

I don’t know why this happens every year. My boys’ birthday is 11 days before Christmas, and here I am already deep in party planning mode—cake flavors, decorations, the works. So why do I still act surprised when Christmas rolls right in afterward? No clue. But somehow, every year, we pull it off—fueled by caffeine, chaos, and a little bit of Christmas magic (mostly caffeine).

We teach our kids so much—kindness, honesty, how to look both ways before crossing the street. But there’s one thing we seem to have skipped entirely: how to actually use a phone. And no, I don’t mean how to scroll, swipe, or record a TikTok. I mean answering an actual call—or making one—without sounding like a confused telemarketer. We give them these devices so we can stay connected, especially once the extracurricular chaos kicks in. But when I was growing up, we had a landline. And not just any landline—one with my very own phone number. I had a clear plastic phone with the colorful wires that lit up when it rang. It was glorious. I also had a pager. Yes, a pager. We were so cool. But here’s the thing— we learned how to answer the phone. We didn’t have a caller ID at first; we just picked up, said hello, and politely told telemarketers that we were minors. Today’s kids? Let’s just say they could use a little guidance.

With Christmas coming and many parents thinking about gifting that first phone, here are a few mom-approved etiquette lessons to include consider them the “charger cord” for good manners.

  1. Answer with a simple “Hello.” Not “What?” Not “Yeah?” Just “Hello.” It still works.
  2. If someone doesn’t answer, don’t call back five times. It’s a phone, not a doorbell.
  3. When you’re done, say “Goodbye.” Hanging up mid-sentence is not a personality trait.
  4. Rule number one: Your phone must never die—or you lose it. End of discussion.
  5. A phone is a tool, not a toy. Repeat as needed.
  6. Think before you post or send. Messages and photos can last forever.
  7. If you get a mean or uncomfortable message, tell an adult right away.

And if you want to make it official, consider creating a family phone contract. It sets clear expectations, and everyone knows the rules from day one. Here’s a sample.

We think we’ve covered everything in parenting—until these random teaching moments pop up and remind us otherwise. I never had to be taught how to answer a phone, but in today’s technology-driven, AI-powered world, I guess we really do have to teach it all. Not just reading, writing, and arithmetic, but how to communicate, interact, and show respect in the digital spaces that shape their lives.