Greatest Phobias

Today was an immense challenge for me. I have determined not to pass my phobias on to my child. I have gone right up to a bee with him and happily told him how wonderful they are. I have pointed at snakes and told him that they are great.

I don't want to have them in my house or touch them.

Today, I saw this GINORMOUS spider on the wall above Carter's changing table. It might-could not have been so bad if I wasn't changing Carter's diaper at the time. He was a good 3/4" tall and easily 4 inches from leg to leg. I measured him when I caught him. Yes, I CAUGHT him. It took every ounce of my being not to wet my pants. The real hard part was not screaming while changing Carter's diaper. I had to show him how "cool" spiders are.

Then, there was the snake. My temperature gauge says 83 degrees F outside. I am wearing shorts. I was walking with Carter to the mailbox when this guy slipped off the ledge next to me, falling down my bare leg. He then slithered over my foot in his escape. I screamed. Then awkwardly, I  composed myself and tried to reassure my toddler that snakes are our friends. Very quickly, it became apparent that my dogs did not consider this snake their friend. They saw him as their toy. I had to fight them off, while trying not to scare Carter. Grrrrrrr.

I still get chills thinking about it.