Mama Scaredy Cat And The Little Mouse That Could

Confession: I'm freaking terrified of the birds and the bees (literally, not figuratively). And mice? Well let me tell you a little story about mice.

I've recently had a few visitors in my office, of the four-legged variety. Don't get me wrong, I think mice are adorable - when they're securely locked in a cage. But when someone calls out that a mouse is running into my office, and I see the little critter making a mad dash for my desk, I tuck my legs up and scream like a little girl.

Today was a little worse than the last visit from my little mouse friends. I was in the middle of a meeting, when I saw a larger-than-normal mouse make a mad dash through my legs and behind my desk. I had slipped my flats off, and was terrified that the mouse had hidden inside my shoes, so I ran barefoot down the hall, screaming in a high-pitched voice, and flailing my arms above my head. I jumped onto the desk of a co-worker and tucked my legs up. Totally normal and mature reaction right?

Some guys in the office attempted to guide the mouse out of my office, and what did it do? Made a mad dash down the hall, and right under the desk that I had secured myself on. Again, with the company of three other girls in the office, I hopped off and ran down the hall screaming. Imagine three grown women, running in a huddle down the hall, arms flailing. Behind them, a tiny little mouse, running for its life. And closely behind the mouse? Three grown men armed with hockey sticks.  

Long story short, the mouse was captured, my shoes were returned to my feet, and I was back to work, shaking and maybe a little teary eyed.

This incident has reminded me that I'm a mom now, and that my actions - and more importantly my reactions directly impact my children. I used to freak out when a bee would buzz near me - flailing my arms, twisting my head back and forth, and screaming. One day a bee flew near my daughter, and she reacted in the very same way. I quickly realized that she was doing this because she had seen me react in the same way, not because she knew that bees were capable of stinging.

I've done my best since then to clench my jaw and freeze in my place, with a crooked smile on my face when a bee comes close, to show my children that there is nothing to fear.  Am I still scared? Hell yes. But I don't want my children to be afraid of something solely because they have a wimpy mama.

So I'm reminding myself that in the face of fear (ie: the presence of birds, bees or mice), this mama needs to suck it up, act tough, and set a good example!

Say hello to my little friend Mr. Mouse

Is there anything that freaks you out? Do you try to act tough about it when your kids are around?