We all like hands-on fun. I am even a big fan of feet-in fun! But today was even a bit much for me.
I am all for a good petting zoo. But this guy is not my idea of a cute and cuddly thing that I would want to go and put my hand on!
Or this guy.
Or these!
I mean even this little guy could take off a hand if he really wanted to!
It is all of those thoughts that made me know we had to get to this exhibit while we were in town visiting my family. I am a firm believer in not passing on my fears to my children. They will NOT think the second a toe enters the ocean that every animal in there wants to eat them for dinner! Crazy, yes, but that is the actual thought that enters my mind when I get in the ocean.
So we went and "pet" stingrays and sharks today.
This is a horrible picture but we spent almost an hour with our hands in this big tank trying to pet the sharks and stingrays. Everyone there, including Avery, got a hand on those sting rays.
I freaked out once when the shark got too close and then had to really go into recovery mode to convince Sam it was okay to put her hand back in the water (oops!). But overall the kids all loved it and I came home with all my fingers.
If you are in the St. Louis, MO area the St. Louis Zoo is a great place to check out!
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The Nitty Gritty!
I talked about my fear a while back, here. I have been reassured by hundreds of people that it is irrational but it doesn't matter; a fear is a fear. I panic and freak out if something gets too close to me in the water or even if my imagination makes me think that something might be getting too close to me. I hate that I can't fully enjoy some of the things that my husband loves to do because of a fear. I will probably never scuba dive and my husband has logged well over 100 hours under water.
But what is even more important to me is that my girls do not have this same fear. I try to treat this the same way I do spiders, snakes, darkness or anything else that kids tend to have a fear of. Get them educated, experienced and comfortable with it so they can't be afraid.
When I first saw a billboard advertising the stingray/shark exhibit at the St. Louis Zoo I knew it was something I had to take the girls to see. I didn't even know there would be petting involved, I just thought we would be able to see sharks and other marine life up close. That alone would be terrifying for me! Because I have a fear of these things I work extra hard to appear to my girls that I am not afraid.
Sam was a bit hesitant at first and gradually worked up the courage to really put her hand in and feel the stingrays. When I got startled by one of the sharks and screamed she got really scared. I focused on her after that, trying my best to set aside my own fear for her sake. I asked her to show me how we were suppose to put our hand in. Asked her to demonstrate. Asked her if she could be brave and do it first so I could watch. Asked her to be the leader. I appealed to her need to be the "big girl". I used every trick up my mommy/educator sleeve to encourage and support her to be brave. It worked and she was able to pet them again. I truly hope that they can enjoy and love the ocean in a way that I have never been able to.
I've heard lots of great things about that zoo, we usually do a road trip to the omaha zoo but not this year with the flooding everywhere.
on a side note I sent the post you needed so sorry it took so long.
Posted by: Nature Tales and Trails | 08/06/2011 at 11:43 AM
I can totally relate to this fear! I hate swimming when there is anything else in the water, even tiny fish. They freak me out. I just can't stand the thought of them touching me. Same with birds or butterflies flying around my head. Butterfly farms are a nightmare for me!
You are doing such a great job teaching your girls to go-get-'em!
Posted by: Mama Pea Pod | 08/06/2011 at 02:38 PM
Abbie, that is a really brave thing you did!
Posted by: Family Wilds | 08/07/2011 at 08:07 PM
This blog is very nice and i like h ere every picture which is looking great and impressive. I am so impressed by that.
Posted by: Debt Advice | 08/16/2011 at 03:02 AM
That every fish looking so beautiful. I like to do swimming and when there is tiny fish in the water.
Posted by: penny stock to buy | 09/07/2011 at 04:27 AM
It is very beautiful fish seen here. In above picture everyone looking so happy. I like swimming but when there are not anything else in the water. I impressed by that.
Posted by: raspberry ketones | 03/02/2012 at 11:35 PM