Facing His Greatest Fear

Barrett is officially terrified of bluebonnets. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that his first experience with them was when I sat him in an ant bed!

I went back to Grandma's to try again. This time I had Doug with me because Barrett always smiles for him. We ate lunch and then took him outside. The moment Doug lowered him into the bluebonnets, he started screaming.




We tried having Doug sit next to him, but that didn't work either. So, after ten minutes of torturing our son, we decided bluebonnet pictures could wait until next year.

We went back in to visit with grandma a little more, and then it was time for Doug to get back to work. As we were leaving, I decided that I would try one more time. Doug wished me luck and left.

I decided to ease our way into it this time. I laid a blanket on the ground near the bluebonnets, and we sat on it to play. After a few minutes, I picked a bluebonnet. (Yes, I know that it is supposedly illegal to pick the state flower, but my grandma owns these. Besides, she mowed a bunch of them off, so if anyone should be in trouble, it's her!) I played with the flower and then Barrett got a little interested in it. I let him touch it a little. I don't know if it is possible, but I think I could tell that he was proud of himself for facing his fear.



I then decided it was time to really conquer his fear.

Unfortunately, he didn't agree. He freaked when I put him on the blanket in the well mushed down, ant free spot in the middle of the bluebonnet patch.

I think my son is as stubborn as I am.

In the end, we compromised. I held him with my legs in front of the patch and took a few photos. They actually came out pretty cute, but I still have visions of my little man sitting in the middle of a bluebonnet patch. I'll get those pictures next year. :)