The "itchuation"

In light of the recent PR news with Abercrombie & Fitch asking Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino to stop wearing their clothes, I thought I'd add my own spin on the catchy term to tell you about an issue that has arisen in our household...

Fear of bedbugs.

And it's all my fault.

I don't know what it is, but certain shows just draw me in immediately. I'm terrified of tornadoes, yet I watch every single Storm Chasers on Discovery Channel. A cluttered house makes me feel claustrophobic, yet I am riveted by Hoarders on A&E. And I have no particular interest in loud, drunken, Jersey attitudes, but I get so excited to watch the drama unfold on what else? Jersey Shore.

Yesterday evening, when we are typically unwinding as a family watching America's Funniest Home Videos, I came across "Bedbug Apocalypse" on Animal Planet.

"EEEEWwwwwwww" I screeched. But I didn't change the channel. I couldn't. I HAD to see the disgusting insects in all their glory. I HAD to watch so I knew where they hid in hotels and how to find them at movie theaters. I HAD to.

The boys didn't seem to be paying much attention. Until I finally flipped the channel and announced it was time for bed. And it began.

"But mommyyyyy...what if I feel bugs crawling all over me tonight? What if I see little brown bugs climbing all on my walls and in my sheets?"

With an I-told-you-so glance from my husband (who had urged me several times to change the channel), I quickly began damage control. We assured Ethan that there were absolutely no bugs in his bed. Or on his walls. He started to settle down when, "Well how come you sometimes say 'Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite'? Huh, mommy, what does THAT mean?"

Ugh.

My sweet husband rolled his eyes. "You are so the one going up there tonight when he wakes up a million times."

Luckily, the bed bug fear didn't hinder Ethan's sleep. Or ours. But you can bet I will never watch a show about bedbugs again. Well, at least not in front of the kids.