Hello WI -- Here's what I do when I don't want to talk with someone for any reason -- I let my answering machine screen my calls.

If anyone complains, I say that I (a) had the phone shut off while I was sleeping and forgot to turn it back on or (b) was in the bathroom or (c) "couldn't get to the phone" if it is a business contact or (d) sorry I missed your call with no explanation if a business contact or (e) had just stepped out for a moment.

I also find that calling business contacts back, instead of answering the phone, allows me to gather my thoughts so that when I talk with them, I am prepared and handle it the way I want to. If I answer the phone, I may be expecting one person to call and it is another person. This can throw me off.

In sum, if you are using your home phone for business purposes, there are many perfectly acceptable explanations for letting the phone pick up and calling the contact back. Not answering the phone gets you off the hook with the X. It also means that you don't have to make excuses that the kids could interpret as you "not wanting" them.

OK, so maybe I am coward about handling conflict and setting boundaries.