When fear is your friend

There was a time when our cats feared the vacuum cleaner so much that I could park it in front of the open, screenless back door without worry of them darting outside. Or I could roll it next to a pile of clean but unfolded clothes and never find a cat curled up inside.

I’ve since discovered the trick works equally well with toddlers. Got an off-limits object? Just wheel the vacuum cleaner to the desired spot and leave it to stand silent guard over the area.

Yes, I turned Ladybug’s fear of the vacuum cleaner to my advantage. And shamelessly so.