I think kids are born with a phone sensor. They wait to ask you something or postpone screaming at the top of their lungs until the phone rings and you need to take the call. As soon as you hang up, they’re fine and go along their merry way until the phone rings again. I’m speaking from personal experience and the way I solved that was by perfecting “the look”—a skill not everyone has—that turns your face from sweet to she-devil in seconds. It works on spouses too.

M. Felicity Chapman, an interior designer, tried a different approach to working with kids around and created Cubes & Crayons (love the name). This new level of co-working provides a professional place to work with on-site daycare. Chapman bills her business as “Office space for adults who need to work.” She has a co-working site in silicone valley and one in San Francisco. Cubes & Crayons charges a monthly fee and members can reserve a space either online or over the phone. The cost goes down, the longer you commit.

I trained my sons years ago to stop interrupting me on the phone. Unfortunately I can’t get my dog to respond to the look.