Submitted on Monday, November 26, 2007
By Anna, 24, from US:

My boyfriend and I have been together for over 6 years. Between commuting and work he leaves at 6am from his house and gets home at 8pm. He doesn't call unless I ask him to. We talk for 20 minutes online a night, he then goes and watches tv or reads information online, sends me a message saying goodnight and I love you and then the process repeats. We used to talk all the time, now he says he hates the phone, that with his hectic work schedule he wants alone time but I get mad because we only see each other on the weekends. Is he giving me a garbage excuse?

VictorM's advice:

It's neither an excuse nor garbage. He really hates talking on the phone and he really needs time alone.

So he used to talk on the phone all the time and now he doesn't. Let me ask you, do you still enjoy playing with dolls? Come on, we all outgrow stuff at one time or another. When you first started dating there was a lot to know about the other, but after a while, you've pretty much told each other every story there is to tell. Forget looking for phone calls for a lifetime. In fact, that you used to talk "all the time" is what sounds unnatural.

And try to deal with your anger. This getting mad bullshit really doesn't make you pleasant company. When you have less time together, make it quality time. Use the rest of the time to get acquainted with great literature, catch up on politics, learn to knit, practice yoga, call your mom, or just plain relax.