The fears we have at birth

I have often hoped that I would not pass along my fear of snakes to my son. And for several years, I think I did a pretty good job. He eventually learned that I was afraid of snakes, but he still doesn't seem to be afraid of them. So, yay me.

Pictured: Not a snake or a spider.

But I don't really know where I got my fear of snakes from. I remember almost stepping on one in my friend Nicole's backyard once. And there were a few at Girl Scout camp that we avoided. But it isn't like any of them ever came after me.

But new research indicates that we may have been born with this fear. Fear is probably the wrong word to use, though: It turns out that the eyes of babies dilate (indicating an intense focus) when shown pictures of snakes and spiders (as opposed to flowers and bunnies.) Obviously some of us lose any feelings of anxiety along the way and people get snakes and spiders as pets, but the rest of us go through our lives looking down intently when walking through the woods.

And science hasn't really figured out why.

So, for now, I will do my best to not show my intense fear around my son. I will continue to go to zoos and other exhibits with him and comment on the snakes kept safely in their tanks and prevent myself from running screaming from the room.

What are you afraid of? Tell me in the comments.