I don't think it's deceitful at all. As far as I'm concerned, it's a healthy boundary. I was one who resisted getting a cell phone for the longest time because I value my quiet time, especially in the car in the few times I am alone, and don't feel the need to be at everyone's beck and call..........no pun intended:001_smile: Then I realised I didn't HAVE to answer my phone and could get back to people when it was convenient and could give them the time they deserved.
As for teaching the kids? I believe that it teaches mine to have boundaries and that you don't drop what you're doing because someone has called. Can you imagine how many dinners would be interupted if we answered every phone call during our meals? What message would that send to our kids? "Hang on kids, I have something more pressing than you."
Then there are people who think because you home school, you are available to chit chat anytime. As time has passed, people have learned that that is not true and have come to respect my boundary.
Using my caller id has never ruined any of my relationships. In a way, it actually might have helped because I set the time aside to return calls and whoever I'm talking to has all ears.:bigear:
HTH