Mason and the Vacuum

It is official.  Mason is obsessed with vacuum cleaners.  Every waking moment he is talking about them, playing with them, trying to break into the room where it is kept.  For example…
When I get up in the morning I have to make sure that the door to Logan’s room is locked.  We do not have a coat closet, so Logan’s closet is where we keep the vacuum.  Once it is secure, then I can get Mason up.  If he gets up before I do, he makes a bee-line to get the vacuum.  He even woke up at 5:30 one morning and got the vacuum out of the closet…while Logan was asleep in the room.

Why don’t we put a safety lock on the door you may ask?  We have, safety locks do not keep him out. He breaks them. 

Why don’t we tell him no, or punish him if he gets the vacuum out of the closet?  We do…it doesn’t reduce his obsession.  He stomps his feet, screams blood murder and get put in time out.  We have tried spankings, too, but he doesn’t care. 

When he wakes up, he tells me how the vacuum is locked up and he want me to get it out.  When we are playing in the playroom, he tells me about the vacuum.  When I want him to stay out of trouble for any length of time, we give him the vacuum to play with.  Which is probably why he doesn’t understand when we take it away.

The problem with him having the vacuum is that he runs into everything.  David sees the vacuum falling into the TV or through our windows.  He knows how boys are and how accidents happen.  I don’t think in those terms.  To me, it is 2 hours of peace, to David he might as well be playing with a wrecking ball.



If I need Mason to eat something, I give him the vacuum.  If I want him to stay out of trouble, I give him the vacuum.  If I want him to stay put in one room....yep, you guessed it.  I give him the vacuum.  Nothing distracts him from his love.  Not TVs, not toys, not even playing with his brothers or me.

It isn’t just our Bissell vacuum, it can be the shop vac or the little Shark vacuum.  He will play with them at school and at church.  He makes mad dashes through stores and other people’s houses to reach their vacuum cleaners.  It is comical when you think about it.  He is single minded in his determination and obsession.  I think that trait or characteristic is common with children with SPD.  They are stubborn and will go to any means to avoid or pursue the object that causes sensitivity.  In the case of the vacuum I think it is a type of weight therapy that is recommended by his OT (Occupational Therapist).  Whatever the reason.  Mason loves the vacuum cleaner.  He is getting his own “Little Henry” for Christmas.  Let’s hope it holds the same appeal (though I doubt it, not heavy enough).

As focused as he is on the vacuum, please do not turn it on.  He goes from a happy little camper to a child screaming in terror.  The transition is instant and viscious.

10 months

2 yrs old

I hope that one day his determination and ingenuity for reaching the vacuum is transferred to his love for Jesus.  If only I loved Jesus enough to run to Him in the morning.  To talk about Him through out the day.  To find hours of peace in his presence.  And finally, if nothing would keep me away from Him.  Not locks on doors, or people who dissuaded me or tvs, or computers or books or toys.  I pray that for my Mason.

Mary

ps:  at dinner he was singing about vacuum cleaners :)