If You Want To Lose Something . . .

. . . give it to a crawling baby.  Whether it's your keys, your phone, or the vacuum cleaner attachments, they will mysteriously disappear if you don't keep both of your eyes on them.  Luckily, you can call your phone and search by sound (unless it is on vibrate.)  And keys generally come with a spare you'd be wise to keep somewhere safe (but don't forget where.)  But alas, vacuums only come with one of each attachment.  If your child has thrust an accessory somewhere unknown, there is a way to clean those difficult places (stairs, baseboards, etc.) without the vacuum extension.  Simply find a stiff scrub brush and acquaint your hands and knees with the floor.  Then, manually brush the carpet.  You may feel like a modern Cinderella, but it gets the job done.  I once "swept" my dining room carpet with a brush and dustpan.  It worked wonders.

I fail to see the logic in silencing a crying child with a valuable or important object.  Especially if you're a more absent-minded person.  I know keys jingle and phones light up and make noise when you push buttons, but they're not children's toys.  Besides if your 2-yr. old pushes the wrong buttons, your phone can become an uncontrollable mess with numerous additions to your monthly bill.  If you must give keys and phones to your little ones, give them actual toys.  Plastic keys and phones are colorful and entertaining.  If you must provide the "real deal," create a keychain just for the kids.  Use old keys etc. so that your necessary keys don't risk being lost in the great abyss.  Unless, of course, you have the money to throw about replacing missing keys and phones.  In that case, get your kids their own toy keys and send the money you'll save to me.  :)  Or to your child's savings account.  It's never too early to start saving for college (which gets more expensive every year.)


One final note: if you insist on letting your kids play with important items, teach them how to find missing things as soon as possible.  Help them identify the objects so that they know what they are looking for.  And try to think like a little kid when you go searching yourself.  Don't be afraid to dive beneath the sofa cushions or behind the dresser drawers.