More Than One Word Phone Conversations

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I have a 12 year old aspie son. It has been very educational reading all the

posts for the last two weeks--knowing that I am not alone. I have a concern and

would like some input.

I am divorced Dad so I like to call once every evening. My son is usually

multi-tasking (texting on the phone or playing chess online) and usually just

gives me 1 word answers. Often the conversations have much dead silence. I can

get one or two sentences on topics that interest him greatly such as the

weather, Federer, or his fav sports teams. But then the convo dies.

Occassionally, he will blurt something that he knows I am interested in like

" Daddy, the Who at the halftime of the Super Bowl " but then the thread goes away

quickly..and more silence on the phone.

Its even worse with my extended family--his gf and uncle. They live out of town

and when they call, the vent their frustration on me. They vent to me how come

my son has to multi-task when they call or cannot even do more than one word

answers. Utlimately, they call my son less. It seems like a lose lose

situation. I have to manage the expectations.

Any help or advice?