Smart ways to get husband off the phone

DEAR AMY: My husband travels by car all week long for his job. He feels the need to be in constant contact with me via his smartphone. He calls and emails constantly while on the road. Even though I work part- time, he feels I should be in constant communication with him. It was fun while we were dating, but I no longer have that much to say during the umpteenth phone conversation that day. Plus, I'm too busy to constantly answer his texts, emails and phone calls. He feels it's my responsibility to talk to him while he's away from home. I have very little downtime, and while I want to talk to him two or three times a day, 10 texts and 10 calls is too much for me. How can I get him to understand that it is not that I don't love him, but I just don't have that much to say! I'd like to have an hour or so each day by myself to read or catch up with others instead of talking to him. Too Connected

DEAR CONNECTED: Your husband may be using his contact with you as a way to pass the time between sales calls, when he's tooling through lonely towns in his car. (At least, that's how I picture him.) My first suggestion is that you two negotiate a settlement to (at least) cut in half the number of phone calls during the day. It is not your responsibility to take all of his calls, regardless of whatever else you have on your plate.

Your husband needs to realize that the less time you spend responding to his calls, the more time you will have to build up some good old-fashioned longing for him.

Before his next trip, spirit a little surprise into his car. Stick a note to the steering wheel that reads, "I can't wait to talk to you tonight, Honey." This might inspire him to hold off on calling until day's end.

My second suggestion involves downloading the audio version of a few good books onto your husband's phone. This might inspire him to take in a little learning while he's tooling around. This could transform his business week.