The sun is out and so is my irrational fear of it

There is nothing quite like a beautiful, sunny day to make us all feel happy and relaxed. And as we enjoy our third ice-cream while basking in the yellow glow, our bodies are getting some much-needed vitamin D.

 

Now I’m not the type of person you’ll find sunning themselves on the beach or in the garden - my pale, freckled skin just doesn’t bode well with it - I do love when summer comes around. Forever pale, my skin will only burn when out in the sun and never has a tan even presented itself to me.

 

But the sun brings out an irrational fear in me when it comes to skin and burning. When I look at my beautiful daughter with her perfectly pale, clear skin, I become engulfed in the fear that I will ruin it by allowing the sun to even breathe on it.

 

While on the one hand, we are all aware of the damaging effects of the sun (how could we not be?) on the other our kids are suffering from a serious lack of vitamin D.

 

But no matter how aware I am of the benefits, I just can’t shut the negatives out - they frighten me enough to want to sit my child in the shade all day every day. Seriously!

 

Take for instance last weekend, our first real proper sunny day since last year, and what did I reluctantly do – allow my little girl to take her cardie off. I know, I know, I can hear you all collectively gasp at the prospect of not allowing my daughter remove an item of clothing because she was too hot.

 

My problem was I didn’t have sun cream and I'd be damned if I was going to let the sun burn her beautiful skin! While I frantically searched for somewhere shaded that I could sit her down in, we were offered suncream from a family member and I lavishly applied it to my child’s skin.

 

But I’m the type of mother who needs to reapply it at least five or six times and check that I’ve put it everywhere, before worrying for at least three hours after the sun has gone down that I missed a spot. 

 

Once we're smart about it, being outside in the sun is such a wonderful way to spend the afternoon - but I know I'll never be able to truly relax! 

 

I’m just hoping I’m not the only mum like this.... really hoping! 

 

Mary Byrne is a staff writer at MummyPages and mum to a horse-crazy, sports-mad, seven-year-old girl.