When you *have* to talk on the phone

[Josiegirl]

I try very hard to not take phone calls during the day for obvious reasons. But I had left my car off at the mechanic's last night and he called me today to discuss what needed to be done. We happened to be outside. Stupid me thought I could get far enough away from them so I could hear him. I told them to please play quietly, the phone call was important. All of a sudden 3 out of 6 of them come screaming(literally)up to me yelling and yelling. I tried to shush them by pointing to the phone and putting my finger motioning to be quiet.
The little &$*&^%. They had no inkling of being quiet.
By the time I was done on the phone my blood pressure must have been double. How do you all deal with phone calls? Like I said, I don't talk often because these kids can be downright loud. Well, it's really only the one who leads everybody else *the Boss*.

[knoxmomof2]

We homeschool, so I have DD11 come and sit with them and go to the next room with the door partially closed so that I can hear the call AND the kids. It's okay in a pinch. We're buying a house right now and I try to tell everyone who might call (realtor, lender, etc.) that email is really best if possible.

What I hate is when a parent calls and gabs on and on... Do you NOT realize I'm trying to watch your child and 3 others right now?! Seriously?...

[Play Care]

I try very hard to not take phone calls during the day for obvious reasons. But I had left my car off at the mechanic's last night and he called me today to discuss what needed to be done. We happened to be outside. Stupid me thought I could get far enough away from them so I could hear him. I told them to please play quietly, the phone call was important. All of a sudden 3 out of 6 of them come screaming(literally)up to me yelling and yelling. I tried to shush them by pointing to the phone and putting my finger motioning to be quiet.
The little &$*&^%. They had no inkling of being quiet.
By the time I was done on the phone my blood pressure must have been double. How do you all deal with phone calls? Like I said, I don't talk often because these kids can be downright loud. Well, it's really only the one who leads everybody else *the Boss*.

At that point I would have told the caller "Is it possible for me to call you back in two minutes? I am working right now and need to get my class settled." If the answer was yes, I would have hung up, brought the kids inside to the table with firm instructions that Ms.K had a very important call and they were to (insert very quiet table activity here) and kids who were good might get a treat when I was done (and treat could be a sticker for their chart, a home made fruit Popsicle, etc) Because YES, BTDT ::

If the person would not be available or couldn't call me back at a more convenient time, I would make it clear that I was also in the middle of my active work day and they needed to wrap it up.