quick question

[mayalaen]

(People do weird things to me, and I’m never sure if it’s normal human behavior, and I can’t ask my mom because she’s a codependent person who would most likely say this isn’t weird)

Is it normal for people to call you and want you on the line while they do other things? Not in a fun friend-y way but like I dunno.

People don’t like texting me, and they don’t care that I don’t like talking on the phone. They call, and they want me to stay on the phone while they do things.

Like my aunt will call and ask a quick question, and then mumble and start doing something and tell me what she’s doing. My uncle will be restocking shelves or cleaning, and he calls me to ask a question and then wants me to stay on the line while he does the things.

Today my psych doc called to ask where I wanted a prescription sent, I told her, and she proceeded to write prescriptions for my whole family using her computer (I could hear her typing) while I sat there on the phone. I ask her a few times if she needed anything else and she’s like hang on what about such and such meaningless thing.

It’s not the first or even the 10th time she’s done it.

It’s like people just want me there while they’re doing things. I know I mentioned this a while back, and somebody said at their job their boss does this to them, but more and more people are doing it to me.

I’m busy. I’m tired. I don’t understand the point of them doing this.

Are they waiting for something from me? Am I comforting to them?

Or is this some weird thing their doing and I’m letting them and I should come up with a THING to say to end the conversation to stop this from happening?

Comments

[amalthia]

My favorite saying when I'm on the phone and have other stuff I need to do is say "Well let me let you go." and after saying goodby hang up. It works rather well and no hard feelings. I have called my sister in the past and talked with each other while doing laundry or if one of us is cooking to keep each other company. But I'm not a big fan of talking on the phone so I don't have that many conversations. Though Whatsap video chat has been better.

So I think it might be normal to talk over the phone while doing other things (as long as it's not using the bathroom) but if you're busy or don't have time that phrase I shared works 99.9% of the time. Or you can straight up ask them directly if they need you and if not say you have other things to do and have to go. Or ask them for a better time to talk and schedule an appointment. I've done that before with family when I'm busy and don't have time to talk that day I'll say I'll be available when I'm next available and plan to talk during that time instead.

[mayalaen]

I've seen people do that on TV/movies, but it's like a cutesy friend thing. I figured my family did it because they're weird and clingy, but when my psych doc started doing it a few years ago it was like wait what?!

Thank you :D

[amalthia]

I know for myself, just talking on the phone isn't enough, I have to be doing something else. Like laundry, or dishes, or playing computer games.