the duckling syndrome!

Everywhere i go in this house i am tripping over a child or animal, so much so that I have named it 'The duckling syndrome'.  Rather like a mummy duck being followed by her babies I am followed by small children, animals and clutter!!!

It starts early in the day - as soon as my eyes are open in fact - I get up to go to the toilet and am followed by one or two children demanding milk or orange juice, this line gets longer as the cats join in meowing for breakfast.  Once downstairs the dog joins the procession, usually at the front, demanding cuddles and pats as he has been on his own for at least six hours!!!!!! and he is desperate for love !!

Throughout the day the line continues but is usually accompanied by whines of needs - i need something to eat, i need you to fix this, i need you to play with me etc.......  The dog whines for walks, food, going outside etc.... the cats whine for food or attention etc..... and i just want a glass of the stuff!!!

On more than one occasion during the day, i can be found in a heap on the floor as i have turned and fallen over said child, dog or cat!!  And the look of disgust on the face!! 'Hey!' I feel like saying, you were following me!! you were in my way!!! you caused the accident!!! not me!!!  but then again when is it ever their fault ! (butter wouldn,t melt in the mouth of my angelic daughter!)

The best time to find this accompanying conga line seems to be as soon as the phone rings..... its almost like a calling card, ring ring, ring ring, make a line, make a line, all talk at once, all talk at once.  Although cooking, putting washing out, tidying up and needing the loo myself all have the same affect !!! 

Just once i would like to walk from one room to the other and not have to watch where i put my feet. Just once i would like to sit on the loo or have a shower and not have an audience.  Just once i would like to have a hot cup of tea that is not interuppted by an ever growing line of ever growing demands!!

Once they are all asleep at the end of the day and you are just about to revel in the silence and the ability to turn on a sixpence without tripping over anything small another obsticle appears, larger but just as demanding ....... the husband!!  and so the duckling syndrome continues  as i have another shadow following me from kitchen to front room  and if allowed the bathroom .. but hey there has to be a cut off point somewhere right!!!!!!!