Dear Blake,
My husband makes me very angry when he answers his cell phone during our meals together and in the middle of our conversations. He often gets up walks away while we’re talking and it drives me crazy!!! He never apologizes and I want him to stop. Your thoughts?
Signed, Marge
From Chicago, Illinois
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Dear Marge,
I absolutely understand how you feel when his attention is diverted from you each time the phone rings. But if he finds you extremely boring, then it’s not entirely his fault. When you do talk to him for a sustained period of time, is it difficult for him to keep his eyes open due to an uninteresting subject you’re blabbing about? Does your mere presence cause him to yawn? It’s entirely possible that he has people on a schedule for them to call him, so he’ll have an excuse to step away from your continuous monotone ramblings. It might be a good idea to only talk about topics that appeal to him, because that would make it easier for him to stomach you when you’re both in the same room. But on the other hand, it might have nothing to do with you, and your husband could simply be inconsiderate and rude. If that’s the case, give him a reason not to answer the phone. Such as, from now on when the phone rings and he answers it, shout out things like, “do you mind, he’s trying to paint his toenails” or “if you hear an explosion, our crystal-meth lab just blew up”, or maybe even, “can you call back later, he’s busy strangling some puppies”. Eventually he’ll be so rattled, that when the phone rings, he’ll immediately have a panic attack. Fortunately, he can pick up some over-the-counter medication he’ll need to calm his nerves, in any nearby liquor store. I hope this helps.
Blake