Phobia abating

[Nurse Ratchet]

So I know having a few T's has helped my arachnophobia greatly. A few months ago I couldn't even see a photo of a spider without cringing away, but now I stare at my T's far too frequently in awe. Last night I was put to a unexpected test. While wrestling around on the floor with 180lbs of dogs and my teen son, I caught sight of movement on the floor beside me. Great, a loose cricket, I think, and go to capture it. But lo, it was no cricket. A common wolf spider had made its way into my home. Formerly such a discovery would have elicited a strangled sound of fear as I fled far enough for safety, but close enough to keep an eye on it while I yelled for my son to do something! But not this time. To my son's amazement, I caught it in a catch cup and released it outside. Still can't use my hands. Nope. Not yet anyway...
Is it weird that afterwards I thought about whether or not I should have built it an enclosure and kept it as a pet?

 

[Reptisect]

It's all up to you. I do the same thing and end up wondering why I didn't keep the spiders.

 

[Jeef]

That is an impressive bit of progress!

My daughter wants jumping spiders. Thing is, my house is covered with them in the summer. I tell her they are short-lived and probably better off outside. We are kinda spoiled with some of our tarantula's life-spans.

There is no rule that says you ever have to use your hands. I do with small spiders that I don't think will bite me too bad if they are so inclined, but I don't handle my tarantulas at all.

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Thank you! The only tarantula handling I intend on is the accidental kind. I've been bitten twice by local arachnids growing up. That's enough for me.
That's awesome your daughter wants a pet jumping spider! You could always let her keep one for a day or two at a time so she doesn't have to face their passing. That's what my parents would do with all the critters I would bring home. They could stay with me overnight, but I had to "put that thing back where it came from" before sunset the next day.

 

[WolfSpider]

So I know having a few T's has helped my arachnophobia greatly. A few months ago I couldn't even see a photo of a spider without cringing away, but now I stare at my T's far too frequently in awe. Last night I was put to a unexpected test. While wrestling around on the floor with 180lbs of dogs and my teen son, I caught sight of movement on the floor beside me. Great, a loose cricket, I think, and go to capture it. But lo, it was no cricket. A common wolf spider had made its way into my home. Formerly such a discovery would have elicited a strangled sound of fear as I fled far enough for safety, but close enough to keep an eye on it while I yelled for my son to do something! But not this time. To my son's amazement, I caught it in a catch cup and released it outside. Still can't use my hands. Nope. Not yet anyway...
Is it weird that afterwards I thought about whether or not I should have built it an enclosure and kept it as a pet?

You did well. I strongly believe Wolf's DO NOT belong in a cage. They are active free ranging territorial hunters whose life range can bring them miles away from their birth. Caging such a creature, imo, is a pity.

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Good to know. He's back with his buddies.