Facing one's fears is never an easy thing. If you're arachnophobic, suddenly being face-to-face with a giant, eight-legged creature is never a good thing. And if you're scared of flying, (aka pteromerhanophobia) every time the plane takes off down the runway, your heart skips a beat and your panic doesn't subside until the plane has safely landed. Another common fear that many people suffer from - acrophobia - being afraid of heights - can make someone very anxious. Having astraphobia - being afraid of thunder and lightning - can be quite scary, too. Especially if you're home alone, worried the power will go out at any moment, leaving you completely in the dark... and thinking all sorts of horrible thoughts - well, let's just say, all these fears are very real, and can be debilitating at times. I suffer from all these fears, to some extent.
But there is something I fear much more than all of those 'other' fears combined together. I suffer from mysophobia. The fear of germs. I'm not insane, although I do Purell a bit more than is even recommended. My children know the importance of hand-washing, and my oldest son, after he sneezes and sees my eyes growing as large as saucers, says to me:
"Don't worry, mommy, it's not H1!"
Well, I had to face this fear of mine in a huge way this weekend.
There is nothing like having to take your child to the bathroom for 'number 2' at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere to put you face-to-face with your biggest fear: germs, bacteria and of yeah - H1N1! I was in this situation yesterday, as we were driving back from a day trip to Montreal.
"I have to go to the bathroom!" my 4 year old exclaimed from the backseat.
Secretly, I was hoping there would be no rest-stop in sight, so that he would just have to hold it until we go home, but 'home' wasn't for another hour, so I knew we had to stop.
I contemplated letting my husband take Christos to the bathroom, but I had a feeling the state of the men's washroom - in the middle of nowhere, Canada - would be more... um, dirty than the ladies room.
With Purell and baby wipes in hand, I took my son into the rest-stop, and decided to go to the 'family bathroom', thinking it would the 'cleanest' of all our choices.
I covered the toilet seat in paper towels and toilet paper, and my son said:
"Well, where am I suppose to go to the bathroom?" I had covered the seat so much, the opening was almost not visible at all.
"Right here, sweetie", I said to him, and lifted him up.
I don't know about your children, but my oldest son prefers going to go the bathroom with his clothes off. Yet another challenge in a public restroom, that in my mind, was just swimming in all the germs I did not want to encounter. I took off his shoes, placed them on the counter, and held his pants and underwear.
"Christos, don't touch anything! There are so many germs in here... it's so icky!" I said to my boy.
I realized I was a little insane, as I was giving my son ridiculous fears, fears he didn't need, especially because he's only 4 years old. But I could not help myself... as I imagined little H1 bugs crawling all over the place. I begged him to hurry up, as this was not suppose to be an enjoyable experience, certainly not as relaxing as it is at home.
"Hurry up, darling... daddy and Dimitry are waiting in the car!"
We talked about why there was a shower in the bathroom, and we figured out that it was there for all the truckers to use. Great, I thought to myself, just thinking of all the people who had showered mere inches from us that day.
Luckily, this experience didn't last longer than 10 minutes, and after I dressed my son again, ever so carefully, we washed our hands well with soap and warm water. I then used paper towels to open the door, and told my son that since his hands were so clean, he should avoid touching anything until we got back to the car.
Phew... we made it back to the car in one piece. And we're both fine today.
Note: I have always been a clean person, as I am sure you all are, too, but this 'fear' didn't really enter my life until I became a mom. I can't even tell you how many things have changed since I've become a mom! I mean, I used to be the girl who would have no problem lying down in an airport terminal to wait for her flight! Hmm.
Anyway, so I faced my biggest fear. And we survived. However, it wasn't exactly something I look forward to doing again anytime soon!
But there is something I fear much more than all of those 'other' fears combined together. I suffer from mysophobia. The fear of germs. I'm not insane, although I do Purell a bit more than is even recommended. My children know the importance of hand-washing, and my oldest son, after he sneezes and sees my eyes growing as large as saucers, says to me:
"Don't worry, mommy, it's not H1!"
Well, I had to face this fear of mine in a huge way this weekend.
There is nothing like having to take your child to the bathroom for 'number 2' at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere to put you face-to-face with your biggest fear: germs, bacteria and of yeah - H1N1! I was in this situation yesterday, as we were driving back from a day trip to Montreal.
"I have to go to the bathroom!" my 4 year old exclaimed from the backseat.
Secretly, I was hoping there would be no rest-stop in sight, so that he would just have to hold it until we go home, but 'home' wasn't for another hour, so I knew we had to stop.
I contemplated letting my husband take Christos to the bathroom, but I had a feeling the state of the men's washroom - in the middle of nowhere, Canada - would be more... um, dirty than the ladies room.
With Purell and baby wipes in hand, I took my son into the rest-stop, and decided to go to the 'family bathroom', thinking it would the 'cleanest' of all our choices.
I covered the toilet seat in paper towels and toilet paper, and my son said:
"Well, where am I suppose to go to the bathroom?" I had covered the seat so much, the opening was almost not visible at all.
"Right here, sweetie", I said to him, and lifted him up.
I don't know about your children, but my oldest son prefers going to go the bathroom with his clothes off. Yet another challenge in a public restroom, that in my mind, was just swimming in all the germs I did not want to encounter. I took off his shoes, placed them on the counter, and held his pants and underwear.
"Christos, don't touch anything! There are so many germs in here... it's so icky!" I said to my boy.
I realized I was a little insane, as I was giving my son ridiculous fears, fears he didn't need, especially because he's only 4 years old. But I could not help myself... as I imagined little H1 bugs crawling all over the place. I begged him to hurry up, as this was not suppose to be an enjoyable experience, certainly not as relaxing as it is at home.
"Hurry up, darling... daddy and Dimitry are waiting in the car!"
We talked about why there was a shower in the bathroom, and we figured out that it was there for all the truckers to use. Great, I thought to myself, just thinking of all the people who had showered mere inches from us that day.
Luckily, this experience didn't last longer than 10 minutes, and after I dressed my son again, ever so carefully, we washed our hands well with soap and warm water. I then used paper towels to open the door, and told my son that since his hands were so clean, he should avoid touching anything until we got back to the car.
Phew... we made it back to the car in one piece. And we're both fine today.
Note: I have always been a clean person, as I am sure you all are, too, but this 'fear' didn't really enter my life until I became a mom. I can't even tell you how many things have changed since I've become a mom! I mean, I used to be the girl who would have no problem lying down in an airport terminal to wait for her flight! Hmm.
Anyway, so I faced my biggest fear. And we survived. However, it wasn't exactly something I look forward to doing again anytime soon!
Comments
My fear? Birds. Yep. And I hardly think there are "immune systems" to combat that fear. Whenever we are around birds (with the kids) I put on my big girl panties and act perfectly normal. Thus far, none of them have inherited this phobia that I picked up from my mom.
I have a similar affliction. I actually don't use Purell 'cause I would get addicted to it. I really avoid it at all costs because I fear once I start, I'll never stop.
Hotels are my worst fear, but I am always conscious of who might have touched what (with what) and what they might have just touched with it! (Pin pads make me absolutely cringe). I refuse to use a public phone and avoid anything 'communal'
I am not afraid of getting sick, though. I just am not a fan of 'human dirt' 'cause I think it's gross.
Ironically, I've become more laid back since I've become a mom. I am not nearly as fanatical about it - mostly because I don't want to model my fears to my son. It's a concious effort.
Thankfully, he's still in diapers, so we don't have to deal with him using public washrooms, yet. (I recline his stroller and change him in it!)
With you about germs. I'm not OCD but I definitely am careful, especiallly in washrooms. Yuck.
I take my daughter in there, pull down her pants and set her on the potty with strict instructions NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING BUT MOMMY!
I know I sound like a crazy person to the people out of the door, but EWWW. gross.
Now i am wondering what will happen when I can no longer lift them. I guess it will be the paper towel covering that you do, agh.
Actually I used to be so bad that I wouldn't open a door in a public place and would sanitize till my hands were raw. I got that way from working in a lab and having to be so clean we even had to change shoes when we came in.
I am learning to let up a little but it is terrifying!
My other fear? Falling out of the sky in an airplane hahaha. But I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in that.
Good for you for conquering your fears!
When I first had my son I wasn't too worried about germs....and then he got sick. Now I'm a germaphobe too! I've even put off enrolling us in Mommy and Me classes because I'm worried that he'll get H1N1! Hmmmm, this is probably going to backfire when he doesn't have any friends because his Mom was too scared to let him play with other kids!
After this weekend, I can relate to this. We did our first public restroom break with my newly potty trained toddler. I have a folding potty seat because he's still too small to sit on a toilet without it. And he gets very upset if he has to leave his clothes on so there we are in the public restroom (it was decently clean but still germy I'm sure), stripping him naked and putting him on the folding toilet seat on the big toilet. Add to that I'm 7 months pregnant with a big belly and I'm sure it was a sight.
And then, to get him to relax, he insisted I sing "Twinkle Twinkle". I can only imagine what the other restroom users were thinking but I figured if they ever had kids, they would understand.
Wow! What a stressful trip to the restroom. My son, on the other hand, thought it was great! All you can use TP!
I wipe down grocery carts before letting my kids sit in them. And washing your hands as soon as you enter the house is a must.
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
I must say "ugh don't touch that" a hundred times a day. They listen to me and then I look over and they have their mouth pressed up against a window or a railing. Bathrooms are the worst. I am sure I sound like a lunatic with all my ranting about germs. GROSS.