Can you mutli-task and/or sit still while talking on the phone?

[Mynyel]

I can. I can talk on the phone and deal with the kids, if need be. I can sit down and talk on the phone.

 

Mh dh, however, cannot! He paces around like a Keystone Cop. You know like this :willy_nilly:. It drives me NUTS! I don't know why, it just does. He also can't deal with the kids. Apparently it is too much for him to say "Hang on a sec" and deal with a kiddo.

 

:001_rolleyes: Just drives me bananas.

[Unicorn.]

I usually wander, but that was developed from a need to get away from rude children who don't understand that when I am on the phone is not the time to tell me everything that happened that day or about so and so's party next week. :glare: I have tried doing dishes, but it gives me a crick in my neck. Sometimes I do wipe down counters or something, but usually I accomplish nothing. :tongue_smilie:

[Catwoman]

Dh just shouts at the top of his lungs. We have pointed out that both the landline and the cells convey the sound electronically, but he still thinks it's by tin can and string...

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tap]

I can. I can talk on the phone and deal with the kids, if need be. I can sit down and talk on the phone.

 

Mh dh, however, cannot! He paces around like a Keystone Cop. You know like this :willy_nilly:. It drives me NUTS! I don't know why, it just does. He also can't deal with the kids. Apparently it is too much for him to say "Hang on a sec" and deal with a kiddo.

 

:001_rolleyes: Just drives me bananas.

 

Dh is Exactly the same way! LOL He paces and can not do anything else. I will ask him to fold a load of laundry or some other simple task and he can't do it!

 

I would rather be doing something while I talk, but I can sit also. Pace....not on my list of things I want to do, but I guess I could if the urge hit me. LOL

[swellmomma]

I pace, from room to room, head outside, walk around the yard, come back in. If I am not pacing than I busy myself doing dishes, or cleaning something or on the computer. I can not focus properly if I am not in motion while on the phone, otherwise I get distracted by other things. I do think it developed due to a) avoiding interrupting children and b) monitoring quiet children. My children always seem to do their worst when they think I am distracted by the phone.

[Catwoman]

I sort of wish I could pace while I was on the phone, but the coffee would keep sloshing out of my cup. And would I have to carry the cookies with me? Logistically, the whole pacing thing seems impractical. :D

 

OTOH, Pacers burn more calories than Sitters. Even without taking the cookies into account. ;)

[swellmomma]

I sort of wish I could pace while I was on the phone, but the coffee would keep sloshing out of my cup. And would I have to carry the cookies with me? Logistically, the whole pacing thing seems impractical. :D

 

OTOH, Pacers burn more calories than Sitters. Even without taking the cookies into account. ;)

 

Ahh see I can not eat or drink on the phone, and if someone else is when I speak to them I usually tell them I can't talk to them right then. I have major sensory issues with the sound of people eating (including myself if the phone it on my ear it amplifies my own chewing back to me).

[happypamama]

If it's a social call, I multi-task. I often call my mom when I'm doing something like folding laundry or cleaning the kitchen, and I'll find that she's doing the same while we're chatting. She doesn't mind if I take a second to deal with something the kids need, though if it's protracted, I'll call her back.

 

If it's a business call, then I really don't multi-task, unless it's nursing the baby.

[Night Elf]

On phone calls, I devote myself to the caller. I don't do things like housework or sift through paperwork. I don't have that kind of attention span. I sit still in one spot though. Pacing around would make me feel restless. However, I will certainly ask the caller to hold on a moment if my kids or DH are asking me a question. Even when the kids were little, it was never anything big.

[Plucky]

I deal with the person on the phone only. If it is business it requires my full attention. If it is personal I still need to give them my full attention. I don't like talking on the phone a lot.

 

I can multitask many things but communicating with people in person or on the phone doesn't seem to be one of them.

[LaxMom]

I usually wander, but that was developed from a need to get away from rude children who don't understand that when I am on the phone is not the time to tell me everything that happened that day or about so and so's party next week. :glare: I have tried doing dishes, but it gives me a crick in my neck. Sometimes I do wipe down counters or something, but usually I accomplish nothing. :tongue_smilie:

 

My first thought was "how would I sit? The children find me when I'm moving!" I have much better conversations when I can find my bluetooth earbuds. Then, I can do the dishes, fold the laundry, etc, and not just walk from room to room looking at the things that need to be done. Bonus: both ears are blocked, so I can't hear the unabridged history the child has decided he/she must share at this.exact.moment. :D

Edited May 28, 2012 by MyCrazyHouse

[SwallowTail]

I pace, clean, unload dishwashers, deal with child, etc. while ont he phone. DH has to hide in a room away from us. I can't do business calls w/ dd around htough. She immediately senses the importance/tension and begins making annoying noise and demands.

[Soror]

I cannot sit still- it drives me crazy. I do my best cleaning and talking at the same time. I focus on the talking but working on mundane tasks helps me focus on the talking. It is very hard for me to just do one thing at a time.