Dr. Mom Online

OK, maybe you were wondering if my daughter (and I) made it through the rest of summer day camp… sorry for the delay in posts!

The last couple of days in camp were less eventful – food and toxicity wise – than the first 3, thank goodness! I guess that was mostly because I was actually there for lunch on those days!

Anyhow, on the final day of camp, my son and I joined my daughter and the other kids for a fabulous hands-on science presentation. It was truly a fantastic experience! The very knowledgeable and entertaining nature expert brought along 5 different creatures that all had some connection to the rain forest, which was the theme of camp.

First, she brought out a beautiful 26 year old tortoise. Each child had an opportunity to touch it, watch it eat and examine it up close. Then came the macaw. Hilarious bird! Each child (and grown-up) held out an arm to serve as a perch for the gorgeous bird and experience its antics at the closest range. Next was an armadillo. What a crazy little creature! The kids thought it was hilarious! The fourth animal was an anteater. This little guy had personality galore! When he walked around on his hind legs, I thought he looked like a miniature polar bear with a squished head!

When the extra large cooler was rolled around to the front of the group, I got a little suspicious. When nature lady started describing the full grown size of the mystery creature in the cooler, I definitely felt a lump in my throat! “This next rain forest inhabitant can grow to 20, 30 even 40 feet long.” Uh-oh. My knees feel funny.

“Females can weigh 400 pounds, males can weigh 250 pounds.” Where’s the exit???

I have had a life long “fear” of snakes. Kinda’. They’ve always freaked me out… as a kid they were everywhere on the country property I grew up on. I stepped on one with bare feet when I was little. One fell out of the tree onto me when I was an adolescent. They’d be curled up on our front porch from time to time, or in the dog’s area outside when I’d go to feed it. They’ve always seemed bound and determined to freak the living bejeebers out of me! But, no matter how much they’ve frightened me in the past, I have always been curious… from a distance!

Well, nature lady pulled out a 14 foot Burmese Python – the yellow and white kind. I slowly moved to the opposite side of the presentation circle! As far as I was concerned, my kids were on their own!

But then something happened. Over the course of the next 15 minutes or so, this particular snake grew on me. Yup. It made me laugh a few times as it demonstrated its pick pocket skills! Funny reptile he was.

As the python was carried around the circle and all the kids took their turns ‘wearing’ him around their necks, I started to get a tiny bit brave! Tiny bit, I said! By the time he was at our side, I broke through several decades of fear and TOUCHED him! Uh-huh, I sure did. I stroked his back (I AM a Chiropractor after all!), I kinda’ gave him a little snakey hug with TWO entire hands on him at once and I almost touched his head… but he wouldn’t keep that creepy little tongue in his mouth long enough!

I called my husband later on that day and told him the big news. He absolutely could not believe it! We’ve known each other for 17 years, and he NEVER thought he’d see the day!

Unfortunately, I don’t think a single soul caught this life changing moment on film! And the REAL kicker, when I asked my children (who were looking directly at me as I was petting the snake) if they saw mommy touching the snake, they both said, “NO”.

You have GOT to be kidding me. The nerve of my off spring!

Oh well, at least I know! (sometimes I need a little more than that, though!)

Tags: breakthrough, overcoming fear