The Big Bad Bissel

So my two little guys, the same boys that approach rabidly barking dogs with giggles and hang precariously from the highest bars at the playground, fear our vacuum cleaner.

This is a more recent problem. We had always lived in spaces with hard wood floors so I had never really used a vaccum cleaner. Our new house has three levels of carpet.

I have tried various approaches: Having the boys make friends with the vacuum, warning them when I would be turning it on, making them play in the opposite corner of the house while I quickly vacuumed a room. It's always the same reaction, loud wailing followed by hysterical and aimless running with their arms raised up in the air like little cartoon creatures. This reaction continues until I turn off the vacuum. Then they both help me shove it into the closet and slam the door shut....like they are locking up a bad guy and throwing away the key.

I think this is a real fear and not an attention-seeking behavior. I mostly think this because I reacted the same way to noises as a young child. I would hide under the bed when the vacuum or blender was on. And I hated SM for years for fear of the "hot mic" (I actually still can't stand the sound of a screeching microphone).

Right now, I vacuum when the boys are out of the house (not exactly my ideal way to spend my child-free time), or I'll make a frantic attempt at a room or two when they are out in the car waiting with DH to go on an outing.

Has anyone else dealt with this fear at their house? Is there any hope that my carpets will ever be clean on a regular basis again? The easy solution would be to install hardwoods...which we may be doing anyways...but it really doesn't get at the heart of the problem. I am torn between letting them "outgrow this", like I did, or coming up with some intervention plan. All suggestions welcome.