Vacuum Phobia

We've known for months (or even a year?) that String Bean is terrified of the vacuum. It was never more obvious to me than when the cleaning service came today to clean the common areas of our condo building. We could hear the vacuum outside our door and she shivered in her high chair with fear.

30 minutes later, we went to get the mail. No vacuum cleaner in sight. After picking up our mail, we could hear the vacuum cleaner start on the floor above us. Oh, the sheer terror and extremely cautious steps my two-year-old took were fueled with adrenaline. I had to carry her halfway down the hall until we couldn't hear the vacuum anymore.

Oh the innocence of a child! I can't imagine having one fear in life--a fear of a vacuum which can easily be turned off. I hope she stays innocent like this for some time to come.

Ollie

When I was in 2nd grade, we had a class hamster that my friend Elizabeth (who was always super-intelligent) named Ollie after Oliver North who shredded documents in the 80s. I guess she figured the hamster would be chewing up stuff like Oliver.

Today I've spent the majority of the day sorting through old paperwork and shredding it just like Ollie. Of course the shredder has jammed on me twice so I've had to spend time pulling the paper out of every nook and cranny of it. Every time the basket would fill up, I'd have to empty it which would mean little papers everywhere. Since String Bean is Mommy's little helper and picks up everything. So, out came the vacuum cleaner to clean up the little bits.

Vacuum cleaners and shredders make terrifying noises to toddlers, so all this was done during naps today. Now that String Bean is down for the night, it is time to shred more!

Adios!