Turns Her Stomach? Really?

she sounds like a bitter female.

When I call my boys (I work from home) I use my "pet" names for them. If someone didn't like it? I would politely tell them to kiss my grits and not change a thing. DO NOT go to some other office. Take a trash can over to her and say-I'm about ready to call my boys - here's a trash can to vomit in. And NOT CHANGE A THING!!

She doesn't deserve an explanation. If she says something again I would just say, "Welp, you don't like it you can hit the bathroom while I call my kid."
What a grump.

I'd be tempted to find a place very close to her to make my next morning phone call. Bring a bucket. As soon as I was done greeting the family, I'd hand her the bucket with a huge smile :)

Ha! I would be super tempted to turn it into a big joke with my husband and son. Next morning my call would go "Good morning, darling husband, my moon and stars! I couldn't bear that my face was not the first thing you saw on waking, so I had to be sure you heard my loving voice! I shall count the moments until we are reunited!! Now, please fetch the perfect being that we created with our love, that I may begin his day as well!!".

Followed by: " See, charming co-worker, you know nothing of how saccharine really sounds! But you have inspired me to reach new heights. Have a GREAT day!"

I'm sorry. Not for you, but for her.

Now, I do think that when I hear two people going on and on, loudly, in a public place, swooning over each other, having some kind of contest about who can come up with the smoochiest nickname, licking each other's earlobes, making out with no regard for others around them, etc., that sometimes can be a bit much. Not to the point of vomiting, however.

However, to greet one's immediate family with a cheerful greeting, to carry on a brief conversation, sounds very nice. Saccharine? Vomit? I think she's just wishing she had someone who cared about her welfare like your family does. The problem lies with her, not you.

I would not excuse myself, justify my actions or change anything, if I were you. It sounds like you are not taking up office time for a personal phone call, not jumping on your desk like like Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah's couch and shouting "I love this person!" or making annoying kissing noises on the phone in a business setting.

I would continue to demonstrate love to my family, and send a positive thought or prayer to this woman who is so unloved that overhearing a cheerful greeting makes her want to vomit. And I want to encourage you to keep making those brief but reassuring phone calls.

No, wait...next time you're at work, instead of saying "good morning sweetheart", why don't you sing, in your most lovely lilting voice, the song from Sleeping Beauty (I know you, I waltzed with you once upon a dream) or some other sweet Disney song! (just kidding. you might have to supply her with an actual airplane barf bag if you did that!)

Your co-worker is jealous of you. She is jealous that others care that you made it to work safely and she is jealous of the relationship you have with your son. I do not think you should leave your desk to make this phone call although I might sweetly give her warning that your are going to call home so if she wants to step away from the cubicle so she doesn't vomit she may.
Happy New Year to you and your sweet family!

Please don't change your routine. Your children will remember your thoughtful communication with them every morning. I am happy to know you're not going to change your routine but will change location to be professional. I believe you're taking the absolute high road in how you've handled it so far. I speak to my kids the same way when I'm out of town or not there in the morning for some reason. I want my kids to know/hear positive tones from me when they wake up and before they go to sleep. It's important to me. I will tell you my mom raised me the same way and no matter what had happened (how I had screwed up or if we were at odds) the next day was a new morning full of possibilities.

Truthfully, I probably wouldn't have said anything to her when she made the comment. If she makes it again, I might say something like wow. And just stare at her.

Hi, S.. Wow, I would be furious! But to answer your question, I think I would have explained just the way you explained to us by stating that you leave home by 6:30 a.m. & the family is still asleep..that you find it important to speak with them so they don’t have to go until evening just to hear your voice. And I’d leave it at that! No further explanation & certainly no changing my daily routine because of her or her rude comments!

And if it truly bothered her, what would possess her to tell you about it during a holiday luncheon and in front of other people!? How did the others react? I’m sure others that heard were in shock, too. I think you handled it appropriately since there were others there. I don’t think I’d address it with her again..I’m sure she’ll “get it” when you continue making your morning calls. I might, & I emphasize might, talk softer so if she happens to hear you, it’s more of her eavesdropping & being nosy!

Don't let this rude woman or her nasty comments ring in your head..let it go & enjoy ringing in 2016!

Okay, reading this, I'm feeling violated too. What the heck is wrong with this woman??? You just don't say something like this to someone.

Sometimes the best thing to say is nothing, but just stop what you are doing and stare at the person with a totally shocked look on your face. And continue to say nothing. And more nothing. Making the jerk uncomfortable with your silence and shock. Instead, you tried to make HER feel comfortable and justified in what she said by apologizing.

Have you seen the movie "You've Got Mail"? Meg Ryan tells her email friend that she never can think of a zinger for when someone is rude to her. That's you too. Don't feel bad. Many people are like that.

So move on from that and define your work relationship with this woman in your own head. You didn't say if you were having lunch alone with her. I would no longer have any personal dealings with her at all. Just about the job, and nothing off hours like lunch. Don't share anything personal with her.

I would not stop calling from your desk. I just wouldn't. Golden Rule? What about the golden rule as applies how she has treated you? If you go somewhere else, you are telling her that she was right and that she should expect you to change anything else she doesn't like too.

You don't have to have a personal relationship with people at work. You really don't. Don't have it with her.

That's when you say "oh, well, if you ever swallow any poison, I'll know just what to say!" And laugh.
I wouldn't hold onto this. You now have a plan which works for both of you.

I'm also going to say this: whether or not I felt someone was being fake/'saccharine', I would never, ever call them out on it unless it was directed at me. Most especially not in public or among coworkers. There's no purpose there, other than to humiliate. If it were truly an issue, she could have asked you politely, privately, to make those calls elsewhere. My guess is she has a bit of a limited lexicon in how she expresses herself. Let it go.

There's nothing inherently wrong with wishing your loved ones a good morning in a sweet tone. Maybe she's one of those people who never ever uses a higher pitched voice when talking to someone she loves, a child or even a pet, but that doesn't mean you're wrong. To say after several years that it "turns her stomach" is a bit over-dramatic on her part. If it's convenient for you on a particular day to make the call elsewhere then do so, but I overall agree with JC that if she doesn't like the tone she's also welcome to get a cup of coffee. I would wonder what brought this on after so long? Did someone pee in her stocking? Did she have a breakup or recent holiday loss? "I'm sorry you feel that way," is probably all I would have said once I got over my surprise.

My sister-in-law always addresses us (me too) with "Hellooooo, lovey!" It's endearing and it's just her personality.

I think you're very gracious even to consider making your call from somewhere else out of office etiquette. But please don't let her comment, which was utterly unprofessional between co-workers, by the way, change what you do. She can tolerate one "Hello, gorgeous" a day; coworkers put up with many things and if that's her personal irritant, she can just deal with it. She should long ago have learned how to tune out other people's talk within their cubicles. I can't imagine why she felt compelled to mention it even if she dislikes it. If she does bring it up again, I think I'd say in a very calm, take-the-high-road tone, "I'm sorry you feel that way." And then nothing else but a cool stare and moving on to something work-related: "Now, how about that report that's due tomorrow?"

Think of her as someone to pity rather than someone to be angry with or someone to worry about upsetting. I think you're already on that track, which is good. She likely is a person who has little or no experience with expressing affection the way your family expresses it, or she had some bad experience earlier in her life with someone who was verbally affectionate but treated her badly. Either way, or if something else is her issue, it's more sad than anything else.

I totally get how something as personal as her comment can eat at you, though, even if you are the one in the right. Just bear this in mind -- you are worrying about it right now, over the holidays, and very, very likely she has not given it another single thought since she said it. Don't expend any more of your precious mental energy on her vulgarity and intrusiveness, and enjoy your family this long weekend!

What a cold person this woman is! Does she not have children? There is nothing wrong with what you are doing and I do not think you need to leave the room or change what you are doing. I guess I would have said, "Really?! I am talking to my kids and I'm sorry if it offends you."

She is just bitter, I am guessing that she may be lacking that same kind of loving affection in her own life and so your warmth with your family makes her feel badly about her own life. This is not your problem and there is no need for you to change your behavior, or the location of your behavior. If she ever says anything again just tell her that you are sorry if your love for her family "turns her stomach", but your family is your joy and you think expressing love is normal and healthy and will continue to do so.

What a miserable person!

Do NOT change your routine. You’ll reinforce her negative behavior by giving in to it. AZneomom’s answer cracks me up.

I’m guessing she’s a miss-crankypants in general. Just be polite, let it go, interact as little as possible. And if she says it again, tell her you aren’t going to change your family routine because she’s not comfortable with it.

Ugh!! Talk about a jerky comment!!! I would try and shake this off by telling myself "Oh well, she's got some issues and I'm not going to let her crappy comment ruin my weekend." Perhaps turn this situation with her into an office joke/playful moment by greeting her every morning from now on with various cheese filled and saccharine soaked comments like "How's my favorite sweetie pie pony coworker"

Wow. Isn't she a pleasant one to be around....? It's normal that you would be at a loss for words because of the abrupt rudeness of her comment. It's easy for us to say what we would have done but I doubt many of us could have thought fast enough to get a zinger out. Shake it off. She isn't worth your time.

Aren't coworkers the best? I agree with all the responses here. Don't change a thing. If you do want to let her know that you received her harsh and mean spirited words, you can just give her a "heads up" every morning before you call. Something along the lines of "I would hate to ruin your breakfast, so you may want to step away for a moment while I check in with my family who loves me". EVERY DAY! I truly do hope she isn't the lonely shrew she must be to have said that to you! Hug your family, you are loved!

I would bluntly yet politely tell her to "deal with it". I would also not go somewhere else to not "turn her stomach" while you make your call.

You don't need to change what you do or say to please her or anyone else.

Some other suggested replies:

Bite me!
Your face turns my stomach!
Go away!
Stop eavesdropping on my calls!
F%@ Off!!

She sounds miserable. You just keep on keeping on with your sweet self!

Nope you aren't doing anything wrong and that coworker is a jerk for saying anything to you. She must be pretty miserable about something and picking on you makes her feel better; more powerful. I wouldn't change a thing about your routine by moving to another location to make your call. Changing would mean you feel she's right and she just isn't.

I don't blame you for being stunned.

I think you can spend a lot of time trying to figure out her reasons - her family, her upbringing, her jealousy, whatever - but there's no point to it. You've established that you aren't too loud, which is good. There's nothing you can do about "saccharine."

I think you can consider using another room since it's a private conversation going on at work, especially since she's now made you self-conscious. It would be a shame for your children if you were editing your calls now for fear of hear reaction - your kids will pick up the difference. Or you can make the call at exactly the same time every day and just let her know that's your plan - then she can turn up her radio or go get a coffee or put on headphones or go the ladies room to fix her hair. There's nothing you can do about the cubicle set up so it stands to reason that everyone, at some point, is going to hear stuff that's annoying.

Bottom line - it's her problem, not yours, as long as your volume level isn't an issue. Otherwise, avoid her as much as you can.

Wow. Sounds like a bitter woman who doesn't like you to be honest. When we have friends who we like, even if they have little irksome habits (in our opinion) we don't lash out like that.

I get it that work is routine and irritating, and things get blown out of proportion because they are daily. Once this started bugging her, it hit a raw nerve each and every day thereafter when you did it, I get it...I've had coworkers with behaviors I didn't like and inside I would cringe when they did them, and I'm sure I had habits others didn't like..again, work is the breeding ground for all kinds of annoyance..But if she MUST express her annoyance, why couldn't she have said something like, "Wow, I can't believe your sons like that tone!" with a chuckle or something...but I mean even that would be sort of pointless.

I had a coworker once who talked baby talk when she ended calls with her husband at work. It made my skin crawl, only because she already annoyed me other ways and it was daily and I hated being in an office with her, but it was her right to do that so I never said anything because it wasn't my business if she wanted to take a few seconds to say, "I wuv woo" at the end of each call...

She's out of line is my point. If you want to say anything to her about her rude choice of words, you should! She has no problem being blunt about your behavior, so feel free to throw that same treatment right back at her. Maybe look for a habit of hers to pick on rudely.

I'm dying to know this woman's situation, what she's like otherwise, does she have any kids etc.
Whatta b----.

I say this kind of stuff to my sweet son, too! I think I would just pity her for not having this kind of love in her life. I also love the bucket idea!! Maybe decorate it with her name and flowers and rainbows and unicorns!

This is strictly is a personality issue. She was out of line for speaking out about her thoughts.

You should have just smiled and told her everyone is different and she should have stopped at the apology. Everyone is different and that is as much explaining as you needed to offer.

Clearly she's lacking a filter. In an open office setting, I could puke at every "love you more" or "wuv you" or 30 minute personal business call, etc. but how COMPLETELY UNFILTERED would O. have to be to actually SPEAK those words to your face?!
I wouldn't change a thing.
Sounds like it's a brief, daily, check-in call and its YOUR business, not hers!
(I do love Suz Ts suggestion to give her a garbage can prior to your call!)
Look, when we KNOW better, we DO better. Like Amy J said, now you have a glimpse into the real nature of this wacko.Treat her accordingly!

OMG so sorry that the person was so rude to you about your love for your son. I say sc#* her. Me I would have said something smart a#* to her but I understand that's not everyone. Plain and simple she is jealous. She does not want to admit it. For her to have the guts to say that to u to ur face u should say something to her. (After phone call with DS) say oh did u get sick? Then laugh it off. That sounds rude but she was rude to you. Don't go in another room just because of her. If u took a poll most people at ur job would not be bothered. Good luck and again I'm sorry u had to go thru that.

Perhaps you can miss the phone calls and concentrate on work or something instead. I know you enjoy this but I think you could could call from your car before you come into your work place. I don't know if "I'd" like to hear my neighbor at work calling home every day when they're on the job.

This would keep her out of your business and your business at work, well, work.

I think I would have made a life changing comment to this person and they'd have never wanted to be at lunch with me again. Because I'd have been rude. But that's me. I'd have also stopped making the calls from my desk.

If you are supposed to be at work, at your desk and ready to start phone calls, getting through stuff, etc...at 8 then by 8 you should have your personal stuff done. So I'd sit in my car a few moments and call from there.

I'd also ask how old your "boys" are. If the little one is really young it's okay to have that artificial voice and stuff but if they're older then you might want to start talking to them like their young adults or older. I know you think it's "your morning thing" but it sounds like it's for a very young, like 2, 3, or a 4 year old you're talking to.

I would suggest that she invest in a pair of earplugs.