I almost hijacked another thread....so I had to come back to my own.
Ok, so the kids call him every night to tell him goodnight. When I place this phone call do I have a polite conversation with him or do I just pass the phone off to the kids and take it back when they hang up?
Am I basically building a friendship devoid of any and all relationship type talking?
Polite, yes. Be a great conversationalist, no.
I'm not familiar with your sitch, Praying in Georgia (btw, didja know that if I abbreviate that, I'm going to have to call you "PIG"? ). Is there OW involved?