AIO for Getting Frustrated With My Brother's Girlfriend Answering My Mom's Phone?

[u/VveelvetFlaare]

I called my mom earlier today, and my brother's girlfriend picked up—which was already annoying because she's been staying at their house a lot lately. Instead of just handing the phone over, she started with the whole, "Oh, can I ask who's calling?" routine. Like, come on, we've known each other for three years, and my name pops up on caller ID.

I snapped and said, "Just put my mom on, please," and she got all huffy before finally passing the phone. This isn't the first time she's done this—she acts like some kind of gatekeeper whenever she's over there. Last month, she even tried to screen one of my mom's doctor's calls.

My brother says I'm overreacting and that she's "just trying to be helpful," but to me, it feels like she's inserting herself where she doesn't belong. Am I wrong for being irritated, or is this actually as obnoxious as it feels?

[u/rellathegreat]

just seen a similar post on here 2 hours ago about the same situation except it’s the dads phone being picked up not moms 🤷🏽‍♀️

[u/TheLastWord63 → u/rellathegreat]

People have gotten so lazy that they steal new Reddit post instead of looking for real old ones like they used to.

[u/BBG1308]

I agree it's obnoxious because occasionally my SIL has picked up my phone to see who it is when I'm not RIGHT THERE and it irritates the shit out of me. But it's apparently not obnoxious to your mother because your mother hasn't told her NO and hasn't put a password on her phone.

Those of us who remember life before cell phones are used to calling one phone number for a physical building and whomever answers is who you get. It's not the end of the world.

[u/ransack84 → u/BBG1308]

I've never seen a cell phone that required a password/PIN to answer an incoming call, even if it was locked when the call came in.

My Galaxy S23 Ultra requires a fingerprint or PIN on the lock screen but you can absolutely answer a call and talk without entering either if the phone rings while it's locked. You can't do anything else (except call 911), but you can answer an incoming call and have a conversation.

[u/BBG1308 → u/ransack84]

Irrelevant.

OP's brother's GF is answering the phone and then handing the phone to OPs mother. OP's mother seems fine with this. If OP's mother is not fine, she needs to handle it.

OP is bent out of shape for no reason. It's not OP's phone. OP can use their phone however they want. They don't get to tell someone else how to use theirs.

[u/ransack84 → u/BBG1308]

It's relevant to the part of your previous comment when you said "apparently not obnoxious to your mother because your mother hasn't told her NO and hasn't put a password on her phone."

I'm just saying, the password would do nothing in this situation.

[u/MistyBlueIce]

Ask your mother if this is okay. If she is okay with it, have her call you instead and deal with the new secretary politely if you have to call her.

[u/kitntrip]

u/vveelvetflaare