Re: Think I'm going to take a break from snakes for a while
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bruster
Thanks for the comments and not flaming me for this. It is what I feel I need to do. And if I don't keep anymore in the future then I'll be fine with that they can't show me the love like my wife does.
Fantastic point you've made. No matter how much I love my (ridiculous amount of) animals, if I had someone I truly loved and knew I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, I'd give up some of my pets if they asked me to. I understand the whole argument of your significant other being understanding of your passion, but if they genuinely frighten her then that is quite different.
Connections with your animals are great, but human companionship and true love are far greater, in my opinion.
Re: Think I'm going to take a break from snakes for a while
Thats a rough decision to make BUT you gotta do what you gotta do .... MY Wife HATES and is Terrified of my snakes but she tolerates them. Maybe a break will be ok and she will see how much you miss them. Another thing that made my wife feel better was me locking the racks with wire ties and now that I have a room for them keeping the door locked ....but I dont know why she wants the door locked they arent going to be able to turn the handle. lol
Re: Think I'm going to take a break from snakes for a while
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bruster
Thanks for the comments and not flaming me for this. It is what I feel I need to do. And if I don't keep anymore in the future then I'll be fine with that they can't show me the love like my wife does.
As long as you can avoid resenting her for making you give them up. My approach to the in laws would be to overreact. Try to make them as uncomfortable as they make you and they will stop bringing it up. You of course need the support of your wife for this. My fiancee and I agree that we are a team even if it means we have to turn on our family from time to time. She is my number one priority until we have kids. Sometimes I see in laws try to create issues where there doesn't need to be any and a strong united front is the best defense against that in my opinion.
Re: Think I'm going to take a break from snakes for a while
Quote:
Originally Posted by
grits
Thats a hard choice. If she knew about your pets and love for reptiles before getting married thats not right to make you choose.
Shea not making me choose her or the snakes, we talked some last night and she understands my facination by them, with her having a biology degree. But is terrified of them being in the house even with the enncloser having locks. I know I'll be able to have other reptile like lizard and frogs. Recently I have come very interested in Pac man frogs and bearded dragons.
Re: Think I'm going to take a break from snakes for a while
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bruster
Shea not making me choose her or the snakes, we talked some last night and she understands my facination by them, with her having a biology degree. But is terrified of them being in the house even with the enncloser having locks. I know I'll be able to have other reptile like lizard and frogs. Recently I have come very interested in Pac man frogs and bearded dragons.
its always sad to me to see irrational fears. It sounds like her parents just raised her to hate snakes. I don't mean that they went out of their way to ingrain the fear or anything just that they didn't do anything to stop irrational fears. My mother is a bit creaped out by snakes. She once asked me jokingly "How did I raise a snake lover?" I vary seriously answered her, "You taught me to be fearless, and inquisitive. You showed me that things most people consider impossible are trivial if you apply yourself. You raised me around horses which taught me how to respect animals and that a little pain is part of loving and caring for animals. That young boy you raised picked up his first garter snake and was intrigued. He had no fear of snakes for what could a garter snake do compared to a horse. He started reading about snakes and was hooked."
A snake is a lizard without legs. Nothing to be afraid of. I wish it were easier to deal with irrational fear.