I have spent most of my adult career encouraging children of all ages to challenge their fears by facing them head on. These fears have ranged from swimming in lake water for the first time to self-repelling from a bridge. I never criticize or belittle, I always try to validate their fears while offering counter encouragement, eg- "I totally understand that you are feeling nervous about the zipline. As humans, we are designed to keep our feet on the ground. But that is exactly what makes the zipline fun. You get to feel like a bird!" etc.
So one summer day I decided to take the kids that I nanny to Lost Creek Safari in Stillwater, OK. A relatively small outdoor safari and petting zoo. We paid for our generous cups of animal food and birdseed sticks for the aviary, and set out. Very early into our "safari" one of the kiddos spotted a worker holding a baby kangaroo and made a beeline for them.
My pulse quickened, my mouth went dry, my pits started sweating more than they already were. This was it.
I have never cared for kangaroos. They seem like a hybrid creature that was accidently created in a lab accident somehow. Improbable animals with giant feet for kicking, long heavy tails presumably for whacking, freakishly tall but choose to walk on all fours...nope. They've always freaked me out and I have never felt inclined to touch or see one up close.
Until I met baby Annie
She was the sweetest, snuggliest, most lovable baby ever. My heart melted. I wanted to take her home with me. Long story short, she changed my opinion on kangaroos ever so slightly. I still think they are improbable animals, but I really enjoyed the chance to face my fears (albeit irrational) and meet a kangaroo.
*Bonus pic of me really facing my fears and petting the larger, slightly less precious but still snuggly, mama kangaroo*
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