Help, I hate returning phone calls when I get home....it's never a convenient time for me to chat, ever.?

How can I escape having to return phone calls at home? I turn my answering machine off but I still have caller i.d.

The telephone is such a huge waste of my time....it interrupts whatever I'm concentrating on. The older I get, the more I despise this freakin' phone.

One of my kids has a new friend in the neighborhood, the friend's Mom calls me psychotically over silly things (i.e. i have some clothes that might fit your kids, etc.). I feel obligated to call her back but she wants to talk forever!!

I hate, hate, hate calling people back!

Any advice? Anyone else feel this way?

I have a husband and three sons...this woman has a travelling husband, a newborn baby and two boys who would practically live with my family if they could!


I've already set so many limits with this woman...the phone is just another one to add to the list.

Her boys used to come over to play or invite my sons to play EVERY, SINGLE DAY...I put a stop to this rudeness. The Mom would pull in my driveway and wait while her kids ring my bell...begging to have my kids play, etc.

On several occassions, when I'm home and don't answer, she'll drive over to my house anyway.

I made the mistake of giving her my cell number because her Son was on a family outing with my Son. Now she takes it upon herself to call my cell phone...not just a time or two either! She'll call at least 10 times in one day...even after she leaves a message. She doesn't give a person a chance to call her back.

Thank you so much for all your input...all of you are awesome and so helpful!!

I know what you mean, I also hate the phone. I also avoid picking up sometimes and make excuses later.
I must say, though, I find there's no way around this issue. You either bite your lips and do it (with people who talk too much you just have to have an excuse ready from the start so they know you only have a few minutes to talk); or don't do it at all, but then you risk coming across as snobbish and even hurting people's feelings.
one thing is for sure, they will stop trying after a while, and then you might find yourself a bit isolated, so just think what's worse for you: putting up with calling someone back or risking losing that person as a friend/contact?

i know exactly how u feel. i text people. or send emails. the only people i call are immediate family and couple of friends............all others they get text messages

relax.. take a deep breath... we all have our issues.. get some help

It is part of life. They are trying to be nice. I hope that you can do more than one thing at a time. If you have kids you learn to cook, talk on phone andhelp kids with homework. I am sorry but that is what it seems like to me. Be nice and tell them you have to get off the phone.

dont call back...except for emergencies....if its important enough to the caller to talk to you...let them call you back....and they will.