They can hear you. And they can smell food.
An apple; toast; yoghurt; cracker; cereal... whatever it is you're trying to eat know that it's not really yours. It's also very much your toddler's.
Yes, if you try to have yourself a little sustenance around your little darling,
they will want it.
With loud cries of 'SHARING' and 'PLEASE' and 'MINE' most of the time you'll just give in and hand over at least half of what you were attempting to eat.
Fear not, however. There are some key hiding places around the house that allow you to - momentarily - eat in peace.
Here are our favourites...
1) The hot-press
Even a small airing cupboard should have enough room for you to gingerly climb in on top of the towels and stuff buttered toast into your mouth. The sheets will have crumbs on them for weeks, but nevermind - at least you won't be hungry.
2) The shower
They'll still try and follow you into the bathroom, of course, but if you're taking your bi-weekly wash, feel free to bring along a jacket-potato which you can munch on in (relative) peace as you shampoo.
3) The side-passage
Putting a nappy into the bins? Stall... and in addition grab an unadulterated 40 seconds to eat a banana. Bliss.
4) The boot of your car
Pretend to be fetching something from the boot of your car... and then instead climb into it. There, you'll find yourself wrapped in a perfect cocoon of child-freeness. Eat at your liberty - safe in the knowledge that that the boot is far too heavy for a toddler to open without a struggle (just don't get locked in!).
5) The washing-machine
Emptying another batch of laundry? Stick your head into the drum and treat yourself to a dry Weetabix at the same time. Divine!
6) The garden
If you're in possession of an oversized plant-pot, a tree, or dense shrubbery, then voila! you have yourself another mummy meal-time hiding spot.
7) The staircase
You can probably master your stairs faster than the average toddler; sprint to the top while knocking back a yoghurt and be down again before they've hit the third step. Ideal.
