So... I had to go on a business trip to NYC from Austin. Since my husband has family in NYC, I took the family (we paid for part of the trip - anything that was over what I would have spent for just me). Anyway, we got home at 12:30am Sunday night/Monday morning due to traffic and construction. DD was fast asleep in the truck so I brought her in and put her on the couch so I could keep half an eye on her while we unloaded the truck. She woke up about 30 minutes later as I was putting the cooler items into the fridge.
She was standing next to me holding onto my leg, when all of a sudden, she let out this blood-curdling, make-Jamie-Lee-Curtis-proud scream which stopped my heart. My husband, who at that moment was standing on a kitchen chair in the pantry putting away unused plasticware, fell off of the chair and rushed into the kitchen. DD was trying to climb me and then began to scream "BUG, BUG, BUG".
We then noticed the water bug running in circles (probably because he'd been disabled by the sonic blast from my 2.5 year old). So, said bug was quickly dispatched into the garbage. It took us 2 HOURS to get our little one back to sleep. Ugh.
We got up the next morning, I got her ready for school and opened the front door and darn if a water bug didn't have the audacity to die right in front of the door. Needless to say - meltdown #2.
I had my husband go through the house and check for remaining bugs. But, she's now terrified of them. I think the water bug must have crawled on her.
Anyone have any suggestions to get her over her fear of them? Or should I just ignore it and not make a big deal of it?
I'd start to introduce books about bugs (real life pictures) and buy plastic bug toys - but not all at once. And maybe show her the movie, A Bugs Life. You could even get a butterfly garden. Somehow butterflies aren't as scary as bugs.
I have an extreme fear of bugs just liek your daughter. I alwasy have! I cannot stand them, for me its the way they feel....thier legs on me just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine!
Don't make a big deal of it and do NOT pick on her or punish her for it. She can't help it....its a fight/flight response that she has little control over. If its really effecting her life, like she's unwilling to go outside, tec...speak to the doctor about treatmetn....but for me, I live with my fear of bugs. Thanks to a really good pest control guy :).
Poor thing! My DD is deathly afraid of stink bugs, she would give off that same blood curdleing scream and not go anywhere near them. I've tried showing her that they won't hurt her. Whenever she freaks out over one I calmly get a tissue, pick it up and get rid of it. She no longer does the blood curdling scream, but neither will she go anywhere near it. I have to remove it immediately.
Try to have her watch "Miss Spider Sunny Patch" on Nick Jr. Its a cute cartoon show all about bugs. They use the word "bug" a lot. It couild help. Good Luck!
We have not punished her for the fear of them as a matter of fact, we've been very consoling. I'm terrified of spiders so I know how she feels. I honestly think it crawled on her and she didn't see it before it did so that's what kicked this off. I would have had a meltdown, too.
We do have several books with bugs and have A Bug's Life. Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, though. :) Maybe we'll try to watch the "Miss Spider Sunny Patch". I have noticed it in passing, but haven't ever had a chance to turn it on.
Thanks, ya'll.
Quoting corrinacs:I have an extreme fear of bugs just liek your daughter. I alwasy have! I cannot stand them, for me its the way they feel....thier legs on me just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine!
Don't make a big deal of it and do NOT pick on her or punish her for it. She can't help it....its a fight/flight response that she has little control over. If its really effecting her life, like she's unwilling to go outside, tec...speak to the doctor about treatmetn....but for me, I live with my fear of bugs. Thanks to a really good pest control guy :).
Am I overreacting?
- TerriAnne2606
on Jun. 12, 2012 at 9:37 AM