Looks like your attitude is a winning one! And journaling those positives is only going to help you win this war.
I have to tell you I busted out laughing about the germaphobe comment. My MIL (who died in February) was also one of these. She also had aversion to hair--both human and pet hair. When she came to visit, she would literally invoke her gag reflex by looking at my cats.
Naturally, her son and I laughed behind her back! One time we went to dinner and there was a hair in her meal and she vomited all over the table. Jeez, where do these people come from?
You know what? Some battles are really not worth fighting. I think controlling his Mother induced fear of germs is a lost battle. So why not let him deal with his eccentricities and just do your own thing? It's not like it affects you or your daily life...
Okay, so was the beach worth the drive? I'm still salivating at the thought of some malt vinegar laden fries...
Keep journaling and remember the positives. Things always seem better when you're expecting good things.
Betsey
"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
Betsey 