Lindsay's Tree

My 14 year-old cat is a lot like my 11 year-old daughter. Anytime I walk in the room, he has to follow me to see what I am doing. If I move my hand, he follows it. If I make a loud noise, he perks up to see what the ruckus is about.  When I give my husband attention, the cat jumps in between us. It is as if he is saying, "Hey you! I'm here and I NEED attention. Forget about that other guy."  The cat is relentless. No matter how many times I shrug him off, nudge him aside, or ignore him, he WILL win the attention-wars game.  For a small, furry animal, with a tiny little brain, he is as smart as they come.

My daughter is very similar, if not worse. I am not much of a gambler, but I can put money on this: If I am in a room talking with my husband, I can count "3, 2, 1" and my daughter will appear. My husband and I may not talk for 2 minutes, 12 minutes, or 32 minutes. But the second we utter the first syllable to a word, the child is present. 

What is it about kids and pets that make them super sensitive to when others are getting attention, and their desire to get in on the action?  I understand the need for attention. And I also understand that some of it is just happenstance.  But when a child or a cat enters the room precisely when the other people in the house are engaged in conversation or showing affection ... COME ON!!!  It is like they have a built-in radar that senses when two humans other than themselves are engaged.  I wish I owned a kid radar or a feline sensory device.  Wouldn't that be something?  To never, ever be interrupted at inopportune times?!!!  My gosh!  I'm going to invent that device, and then become a rich, rich woman!  :)

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more wild, zany fun in Lindsay's Tree!

-Lindsay