I used to phone my mother every Sunday for all of 30 seconds to check that she was stil, um, alive. It seemed adequate to me.
Gerls (see also: Mrs Nick) can chatter away on the phone for hours
you sound like tg, his mum only lives 10 mins bus journey, and he only sees here once a month! and calls last shorter than that!
Me an my daughter can chat about most rubbish!