I need some snake people!!

[stratus_020202]

Well, I talked to my mom last night. She knows I have ball pythons, and she doesn't really care for them (I don't care, I'm not asking her to like them). I mentioned one shed, and she snapped. She said, "you have to get rid of them I can't stand it anymore!!" I simply said no, and tried to explain they are not dangerous. She asked if I had heard about the guy who was mauled by a tiger. WTF! How can you compare my baby ball python to a tiger!!

I explained a dog could do more damage than a snake, and that no one in history has ever been killed by a ball pythong (I hope I was right on that). So, then she brings my dog into the picture. FYI: they put him down on my birthday last year, because he growled and jumped at my sister's new boyfriend. "you know what we did with the last mean dog!"

i am so frusterated right now. How can I explain to her, my baby balls are not going to escape out of their enclosures and murder me in my sleep. I know the risks, and I except them. I'm not asking her to fall in love with them, but she's my mother. I'm 27 yrs old, my own house, and I expect her to at least have a little respect for the animals I choose to keep. I don't worship the devil, and i'm not going to snap one day and start murdering people.

How can I show her, my babies aren't the monsters people make them out to be? I'm not getting rid of them, and if she chooses never to step in my house again, that's fine. I can go and visit her anytime.

[wilomn]

Ummmm, at 27 Mommy should NOT be putting your dog down or telling you what to keep in your own house.

Stiffen that spine and stand up for yourself.

[LadyOhh]

I agree with Wes..

You are a grown person..

She should be your mother, but not tell you still what to do.

If she doesn't understand that, make sure she is aware how you feel.

You should not need anyone else to "back you up" on this.

You need to take a stand.

[stratus_020202]

Ummmm, at 27 Mommy should NOT be putting your dog down or telling you what to keep in your own house.

Stiffen that spine and stand up for yourself.

Yeah, I started yelling. She just said, "that's it. I don't want to talk about it" I would love to give her a piece of my mind, but she's my mom. I can't exactly alienate my mom, because she's afraid of snakes. There has to be a smooth way to get her to understand my point of view.

[ballpythonluvr]

I kind of know how you feel. My mother knows that I have a ball python and she will not even come into my home because of it. I have tried to explain to her that they are very docile snakes and that they are harmless. My mother just does not like snakes period. This is her choice and if she doesn't want to step foot into my home, then so be it. My mother and I do not really get along to begin with. I wish I could offer you some advice but I really do not know what to say other then that it is your home and your mother should repsect that.

[kc261]

Some mothers will do this kind of thing as a way to attempt to control their adult children whom they can't directly order around anymore. If this is the case, she may or may not consciously realize what she is doing.

It is also entirely possible that she has a genuine (if unfounded) concern for your well-being. Maybe she hears the word "python" and can't get past the mental images it conjures in her mind to internalize what you have told her about them being harmless.

Without knowing whether it is one of these things or who knows what else that is behind her words, it is hard to know how to approach the situation.

One thought I had is that you might try turning the tables on her. You have explained that they are harmless, but she is not taking your word. So ask her to help you understand why she is concerned, and tell her you'd like to see real evidence. You need to be absolutely sincere when you do this. I predict 1 of 3 results. 1) - She'll realize she isn't honestly concerned enough to be bothered to do the research. 2) - She'll do the research, and when she finds nothing, realize her fears are unfounded. 3) - Probably the most likely, she will stick to her beliefs and never do the research, but at least whenever she brings it up, her position is weakened because you have asked her for help in understanding her side, and she has provided you with nothing.

[wilomn]

Yeah, I started yelling. She just said, "that's it. I don't want to talk about it" I would love to give her a piece of my mind, but she's my mom. I can't exactly alienate my mom, because she's afraid of snakes. There has to be a smooth way to get her to understand my point of view.

Protoplasmic Pete, Pelagic Wonderer and Lover of Rubber Boobs says welcome to the Jelly Club, the only prerequisite for acceptance is total lack of spinal chord.

Yay you.

[shadraak]

Makes me so happy my mom loved snakes, my friends used to bring gophersnakes etc. over when i was little in potato sacks and say look we're gonna scare david's mom, i tried telling them but they wouldn't listen lol, they'd open it and drop it on her lap and she'd pick it up and talk to it like a little puppy,, awww are they scaring you, you poor little thing, etc... they'd always say, david your mom sucks lol...

but yes i would say grow a spine and say if you dont like it dont come over, or dont go in that room, and putting a dog down cause it growled and jumped up on someone, dogs do that to new people if he just jumped up and not nipped or anythign that's normal dog behavior and she should be repremanded for animal abuse

[llovelace]

Like Wes said, stiffen up that spine. I know she's your mother but you are 27 and she needs to have some respect for you and what's yours. Personally she seems to have some control issues, I know I can relate my mother is, or rather was a control freak, I had to break her of that.

Simply explain that the snakes are not going anywhere, that she can either lay off or don't come over, it's her choice.

And on a side note, no one would have ever put my dog down because it snapped or jumped on someone.

Time to cut those apron stings

[Buttons]

27 years old
Live in your own house

Where's the problem??