A childhood belief about crusts

I was told that everything was made of atoms, which were too small to be seen. Not wanting to eat the crust on my bread, but told I couldn't leave the table until I "cleaned my plate," I tried to break the crust into smaller and smaller crumbs until they became atoms and my mother couldn't see them, anymore. My plan never progressed to a satisfactory state of completion before my mother came to check on me, though.