Lost & Still Not Found

So, what is it with toddlers and their obsession with taking things and hiding them, especially things of importance? The item in question at this particular moment is my cell phone. Ahh, yes, the trusty cell phone. About a month ago, my 2 1/2 year old daughter got in my purse and took my cell phone, and to this day, it's still unaccounted for. I wasn't too concerned at first, because I figured it would turn up somewhere. Boy, was I wrong?! We have searched every nook and cranny, every hiding place we thought it might possibly be, and still no cell phone.
My mother is highly irritated because she can't get a hold of me, and because it's her phone. I'm on her plan, and she is upset because the phone was expensive. I understand that, but does she honestly believe that I'm excited about not being able to communicate with any of my family and friends because I left my purse to where my daughter could get it? I'm really frustrated, with not only my daughter, but with myself as well.
Maybe one day, it'll turn up. But my gut tells me that it's sitting at the local landfill in a million pieces. Yes, I think it got thrown away. My kids love to hide things in the trash can. I've found everything from pacifiers to sippy cups to baby dolls in there. Unfortunately, the trash can was never a place I thought of looking the night the darn thing went missing. Until then, I'll keep looking.
In closing, I have learned a very valuable lesson from this experience, and that is to always keep my purse away from my kids AND to ALWAYS check the trash can when things go missing!
Thanks for reading!
Until next time....