Denise Harrington's Blog

The worst mother in history -- that was me today. Oh my god, how can I even admit this?? You know I'm a cleaning freak. Like full on. This evening Cashlin and Ava were playing in the den while I was vacuuming. Ava fell on the ground and just stayed there. I said, "Ava, move for Mommy." But she didn't move. And for some reason, I honestly don't know what happened, my arm stroke went out super far ... and ... well, I vacummed up her -- hair!! Oh my god! It was horrible. Horrible. She was crying. So loud. And it all happened so fast. I slammed my foot into the vacuum trying to turn it off. Of course, I missed the button and had to go for it again. I ran to her yelling, "AVAAAAAAA!!! DON'T MOOOOOOOOVE!!!!!!!" Okay, I've sucked up one of her doggy's leashes before, and all I had to do was pull the doggy and the leash came out. SOOOOO, I kind of thought it would be the same with her hair. Her big chunk of hair on her left side. Oh my god, at least I prayed it would be the same. I was in total panic mode. What the hell would I tell her Daddy?? What would I tell my family?? I just pictured Ava with half her hair chopped off. I pictured me getting out the largest scissors in the world and cutting off a massive chunk of her blonde hair. Holy shit. DAMN!! -- it wasn't the same as the doggy leash. I couldn't just pull her hair loose. It wouldn't just come out. I ran for a knife and took apart my vacuum... the part that turns around and around. Slowly I unraveled her hair losing quite a few strands, I must admit. All while my daughter lay still, crying, staring at me with huge bug eyes...probably thinking I am undoubtedly the worst mother in the world. I feel awful.