When i was about twelve or thirteen the girl next door used to have a pet spider that she kept in a match box, it was a big black hairy one, barely fitted in the matchbox, anyway she used to let it run all over her hand and arms and i did too lol
Anyway when i was pregnant i developed a phobia about spiders, i think it's fairly common for women, something to do with ancient instincts coming out to protect the children, and would go into hysterics if i saw one.
But now i can pick them up and put them outside, have been much better the last couple of years. Not the really big ones though, i have to get a brush and pan for them.