It may be hard to believe that I have made it to my 28th birthday largely afraid of bugs. Up until recently if there was a spider in the bathroom it would drive me to distraction until I could get someone in there to kill it for me. My dad was the first person I would call (my mom if he wasn’t available). Later my husband fit the bill. But there were times when he wasn’t around, then what was I to do, ask my son? No I knew I had to face the music.

When we first started our farming classes last fall and I heard about “beneficial insects” I was sceptical. There are some bees by our field that really bothered me though I knew logically we actually needed them much more then they needed us. It wasn’t until this weekend though that I really had any sort of sizeable break through in my bug phobia.

Ticks have always been one of the worst offenders in my mind’s eye. Growing up in the city I didn’t come in contact with them much. I was so disturbed by them I would even avoid activities specifically because I might get one on me. On the occasion when I felt that creeping sensation and my hand actually touched a tick that was on me there was reason for screaming, again not logical or intended. Often it would end in a flicking of the tick anywhere away from me. I was then convinced it was dead and would not resurface.

However there is a dark side to avoidance. Our dog got lyme’s disease I am sure partly due to negligence, (and partly due to not understanding possible medication, with a dash of chance thrown in). Since then I have been more vigilant, but still in the avoiding category.

I have heard our farm has ticks on it, but it wasn’t until our first camping trip of the year this weekend I really had to face the music. I know the dangers of ticks first hand and now was the time to protect my children. If they had a tick on them, I needed to get it off and make sure it didn’t have an opportunity to get on them again (ie make sure it was dead, by fire, water or squashing). I did get a couple on me as well but the majority were on the kids that love playing in the woods and grass. Oddly Avril wasn’t as freaked out by them as I thought. If the country is really to be our home I know ticks and other such inconveniences are unavoidable and a natural part of life. I hope to be able to pass this mindset on to the children.

So now an element of fear is gone, though I still worry about disease, I know that I can at least do my part to protect the children.