Life Lesson #15 is....

Don't call someone and then carry on a separate conversation with someone in the room with you.

There is nothing more rude or more frustrating then when you are busy (or not) and someone has called you.  You stop what you're doing to have a friendly (or not so friendly) chat and the person that initiated the call carries on a conversation with someone else.  It is just the most frustrating thing in the world. 

Now I'm not saying that you can't correct something your kid is doing, or yell to your husband on his way out the door not to forget the milk, but don't be rude.  You called them, don't act like their time is not important and dismiss them while you talk to someone else.

Now there is a flip side to this scenario....if someone calls me and I am in the middle of something...I might feel free to finish my thought, or even deal with my daughter while the other person is on the phone.  They called me.  They interrupted my life.  And it's not that I'm not happy to hear from them and appreciate the break, but you do have to be understanding that their lives were carrying on as usual when YOU called.  So cut them some slack there....but it really should not continue beyond the first five minutes.  Anything after that is rude and inconsiderate...at that point, offer to call them back at a time that is good for both of you.

Pay attention to the people you are on the phone with....they are important to you in someway...so as I always say....Listen....