Thursday, June 23, 2011

Today I Smashed a Spider.

Taking a little break from the 30 Day Challenge to recount an incident that occurred this afternoon. 

Do you remember how I told you about my trying to set a good example, around the bugs, for my girls?  I was determined that they would not learn to fear creepy-crawlies from me. 

Today I was in the bathroom and since Ash saw me headed there, she followed - whining.  I wanted at least two minutes to myself (is that so bad?) and quickly ran ahead and shut the door.  She did her fake cry as she followed me up the stairs but it quickly became real cries.  That meant that I didn't get even two minutes but had to rush-rush.  I went out to give her a lecture and found her wrapped around the banister, jabbering in horror, and pointing towards the twin of this nasty creature....



I was a bit taken aback myself.  It was the size of my thumbnail and unlike any spider I'd ever seen before.  I grabbed the closest item, which was a book, to keep it from going under the cabinet in the hall.  It was a fighter!!  It attacked the book and put out it's front legs like a crab!  It was probably biting too.  I couldn't believe how it stood its ground!  I called downstairs to my sister, asking for a shoe.  She obliged and the beastie speedily went to arachnid heaven. 

I am so irritated that despite my efforts to model fearless-towards-the-bugs behavior, Ash has instead picked up the attitude of her five year old aunts and uncles (who are all afraid of every bug, including flies).  Grrrr.  On the upside, by facing my fears I have actually become more brave.  That certainly is a plus.

9 comments:

Vicky said...

My girls are scared of flies too. I don't know where they have learnt that from because its only spiders that creep me out. I too had to be really brave with a HUGE one the other night, but I didn't send him to arachnid heaven, I syked myself up for 10 minutes before putting putting a jar over him. When I released him outside and I could see him running away in the dark.. thats how big he was!
I think you deserve a pat on the back for dealing with such a big creepy beasty so efficiently and calmly. x

Faith said...

hahaha, can't blame them ... spiders are def. some scary looking things, haha :)

Charmaine Poulin said...

Good for you!!!! Kids are weird! All of mine have been terrified of bugs at one point (springtime too....when we've been locked indoors for months). Clinging to me & wanting up....crying & screaming at the sight....not wanting to go outside. And did I mention that although I'm not crazy about bugs.....I don't squeal or run....just grab a tissue & squash them (and then cringe a bit when I feel the "crunch"). Hope you have a happy day!

mun said...

Spiders are scary looking things. Imagine them crawling over us while we were asleep. Yucks!

Amy said...

That thing is SICK!!!! As in, gross, ugly, disturbing, nasty sick. Not the whoa, that's gnarly, cool, and wicked kind of sick.

I hate spiders. Arachnids in general. Hate them, hate them, hate them. I found a wolf spider at my in-law's cabin last time we went. It was so huge and gross, i thought it was a tarantula at first. (There are tarantulas out there too but not inside the house. Also scorpions and black widows, but those aren't in the house either. Sounds like heaven, doesn't it. Ugh.)

Redbabe said...

hahaha.... u r so funny. Anyway, RIP spidey! Lols

p/s: children are always like that. they usually pick up things we don't want them to pick up despite however hard you try to set a good example :) From where, god knows.

Liz Mays said...

It reared up and stuck out its front legs! Eeek!!!!!! I just can't stand those ooky things.

An Apel a Day said...

Oh no! When I lived in Savannah, GA we had brown recluse spider's in our apartment! They were bigger then normal, but had a violin shape on them! I'm not too afraid of bugs, but they scared me! It's body was the size of a quarter and it's legs made it HUGE! The time I saw it was when it was in the crack of the ceiling and wall. Lovely spot! NOT! I did end up killing it later that day. Did I mention that I had no health insurance at the time?

Oh Mica kills flies with his hand! So gross! I hear him slapping the window. I get after him, and then he's like, "Oh don't worry mommy I killed it!" Blood on his hand and window! GROSS!

Milk and Honey Mommy said...

Jamie,

You go Jamie and kill that spider! I am afraid of them, but will step up if I have to (when my husband isn't around). Fortunately, my older two (I'm not yet sure what my youngest is going to do.) will also kill them for me.