Focus On: How to Handle What You Don't Know How to Handle

There are some situations that we just aren't sure how to handle:  Is it acceptable to answer the phone when you have company? Do you have to send a gift after receiving a birth announcement? Here is some help with what to do when you don't know what to do.

· When you have company over and your phone rings, should you answer it? Focusing on your guests is what's important. So, unless you are waiting for an important call, never answer the phone, whether it's a landline or cell phone. You should even turn off the ringer whenever possible.

· What should you do with the sheets and towels at the end of a stay at someone's house? No need to guess what's best. Just ask your host what he/she prefers. 

· Do you need to write a thank-you note if you open a gift in front of the person who gave it to you? For most gifts, an in-person thank you is just fine. But for a baby- or wedding-shower gift, a note should be written since the flurry of activity at those events may not allow you to properly acknowledge the gift givers.

· If you receive a birth announcement in the mail, do you have to send a gift? It is not necessary to send a gift after receiving any type of announcement - baby, wedding or graduation.

· Should you always bring a hostess gift when you are invited to someone's house for dinner? You are not obligated to bring a hostess gift at less formal parties, but it is never wrong to bring one.