I'm sorry this upsets you EV. (((((EV)))))

Is your mom a phone person? I personally HATE the phone. 4 minutes sounds like torture to me. In fact, I make my hubby answer the phone and talk. I don't talk unless I HAVE to. My mom is the same way...we talk face to face or on the computer. My dad loves the phone, so I try to put up with it for him. But I never talk longer than 5 minutes or so. He just calls more frequently (2 or 3 times a night...oy).

Could your mom try IM or Yahoo or ICQ? Something like that? I loved that when I was in school. I could talk to my folks...but I didn't have to talk to them on the phone.