What is it with teens that they don't answer the telephone.  I'm so over it.  My youngest son is worse than my oldest.  At least my oldest would answer if I sent him a text. But the younger guy. well he won't answer the house phone or his cell phone not even if I send a text. Actually he is a different sort of animal because he doesn't text, not even his buddies.

Now Facebook, he is into that.  He spends hours posting on facebook.

When the oldest was in high school I could threaten him and tell him that if he didn't anser when I called I would take his phone from him. For him that would be like death. He had a special ring on his phone for when I was calling so he wouldn't miss my calls.

But the younger guy, he couldn't care less if I took his phone. He just isn't attached to the phone like most teens are, so it just doesn't carry the same weight. Nevertheless, I hate that he will not anwer the telephone. It makes me cuz'n crazy. I call his cell, I call the house phone. He ignores it. We have talked about this. Mom calls are important.

 I think it is selfish of him not to answer the phone when I call.  Heck it could be an emergency.

 OK, so he tells me he may have to stay late at school for tennis and that he may need me to pick him up from school since staying late means that he will miss the bus and have no way to get home, other than walk. We live quite a ways from school and since it's winter I really don't want him walking home. Besides. the forecast is calling for heavy snow.

 I plan to leave work a bit early and make my way to the school to get him but of course I want to know first if he stayed late.

I leave just as the snow begins to fall. The highway is packed with cars and it ain't moving much. Everyone is trying to get home. Maybe their kids won't answer the phone either. I've already called the house about 10 times and gotten no answer so I'm figuring he's at school. But I  want to know for sure. I don't want to drive all the way to the school. It's snowing and my car doesn't do snow well. I'm not a happy camper. Why won't this boy answer the telelphone, I just don't get it. Is he home, is he ok, what?

I'm driving and every time the traffic stops I dial the number. It rings. No answer. OK so now I'm beginning to panic. Surely they did not keep these children at school for a dumb meeting on a snowy day. And if they did, they will surely get a piece of my mind.

I keep calling. no answer.

 So I drive to the school and  there are no cars in the parking lot. He is no where to be found.

I am really ticked off and in the car as loud as I can I am yelling foul language. I'm sure the drivers in the cars that pull up along side me think I'm crazy. Believe me I am ranting. Why won't this kid answer the telephone? Maybe he tried to walk home and something horrible happened.

 I have told him at least  three times now that if mom calls you must answer because it could be really important. Besides I worry when you don't answer. He promised he would. So surely this means something is wrong.

 When there is no one at the school I drive like a bat out of hell to the house. I can hardly breath.  I'm thinking I'm going to pull up and find the house ablaze or something. Or worse, I'll get there and he won't be there.

 By this time I must have called the house, I don't know, it seemed like 100 times. Actualy, it was about 15 times.

 I pull in the driveway and take a few deep breaths trying to calm myself. Hoping he is home  and at the same time hoping he's not there and just ignoring my calls.

  I go in through the down stairs and call is name. No answer.  He is not in his bedroom. My heart begins to bound. Where the heck is he. I start searching through the house and find him asleep on the livingroom couch. I'm so mad I could spit.

Why the heck  ( I didn't say heck) didn't you answer the telephone? What the heck is wrong with you?  He looks at me as if I did something wrong.  Or, as if I had lost my mind. I guess I probably did look a bit crazy, breathing hard and frantic and all.

 His answer. I was sleeping. I didn't hear it.

For a second we just stood there staring at one another. The next thing I knew I was hugging him as tight as I could. He says to me , mom are you alright?

  I wanted to start screaming at him but I held my tongue.  Instead I just said again. why didn't you answer the telelphone. You have to answer the phone when I call. It is just you and me buddy. I need to know where you are and if you don't answer the phone I worry.

 I just don't get it. Why don't teens answer the telephone. I've had lots of friends with teens tell me they have the same problem with their kids.

I'm at a loss.