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Madeline, let me give you a positive view from a parent's perspective. You may want to let your parents read this or print it out.
I've raised two girls into fine adults. I remember all too clearly those rocky teenage years. Those times of uncertainty, swaying emotions, raging hormones and lots of irrational thinking with only a pinch of decernment.
Those lonely times in their rooms is when they do a lot of heavy thinking, planning, and which road to take. During this time, a PERSONAL pet of their own and their own choosing can be an excellent vehicle to help in personel development.
One of my daughters wanted a rabbit. I thought that was the dumbest pet to get. But it turned out to be the perfect pet! Not only was it cool, it helped my oldest daughter in many ways emotionally that the family dog and cat could not.
Then when the younger one grew older and asked for a Ball Python that I was not wild about; what could I say. I knew that she was different and had different needs.
This snake had a great calming effect on my daughter who was filled with rage. It also taught her some empathy for others.
Another good move.
With all of the visits to the pet shop and the great research that you have done Madeline, it is clear to me that you want a Ball Python as a pet and that you will be a responsible caretaker. As to why you want one? To me as a parent, that is a nonissue. With your drive and desire the point is that you HAVE the strong desire. As long as you keep your snake in your room I just can't see what the problem is.
BTW- my oldest daughter was really afraid of the snake. What got her over the fear was when I told her that in the very remote possibility that IFFFFFF she ever got bit; the bite from playing with the dog or the scratch from playing with the cat hurts 25 times worse than a bite from a Ball Python. You could see the weight from relief being lifted from her shoulders.
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Why is such a silly question. Why does any one want any pet? The most important thing is that the animals needs are met, that it's happy and healthy. You certainly have put a ton of work and thought into your plans for a snake, and if you were my kid I would certainly be giving it some mighty consideration.
So, as a parent, let me give you some perspective that may also be a factor. As a young teen, you won't legally be able to keep a job aside from the occasional side work like moving lawns or shoveling driveways, which means financial responsibility falls to your parents. It's true that most of the cost is in the set up (looks like you've already budgeted that, so good job), but there are also ongoing costs, like substrate, upgrades to equipment, feeding and the like. And if your snake gets sick, which can happen even if you have top notch husbandry, vet bills can stack up quick. Deb already mentioned one of the other potential hang ups, and that is that as a younger person, your life is going to be going through a lot of changes in the next few years. You most likely won't be living in the same place forever, as things like collage, jobs, even dating might move you around the country. You would think that a small snake like a ball python won't be an issue to move, but sometimes things happen, and you may need to someday find someone else to care for your pet. Your parents might be wary of that someone being them.
Now, I'm not saying any of these could be's and what if's ARE going to happen, but they might be things your parents are worried about, and having excuses like snakes being evil, or dangerous are much easier fallbacks than the hard, honest talks, sad but true. If I were you, I would bring them up first. That's not a guarantee, but keep being thoughtful and doing your homework. Worst case scenario, you just have to wait until you have your own job and place.
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
I get one beginning of next school year
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
I get one beginning of grade 9
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
I got my first snake at 15, after my parents told me I couldn't have one for 4 years. I just went and bought the snake and everything he needed, brought it home and kept it in my room. My mom was mad at first, but got over it. I still live with her, and have 9 snakes now. Anytime she sees one she screams and freaks out and calls them evil and "slimy" (where does this even come from?), but she doesn't care about them when they're out of sight.
I say just getting one and proving your responsibility is the best course of action after you've exhausted yourself trying to convince them they're not devilish creatures
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by serpenttongues
I got my first snake at 15, after my parents told me I couldn't have one for 4 years. I just went and bought the snake and everything he needed, brought it home and kept it in my room. My mom was mad at first, but got over it. I still live with her, and have 9 snakes now. Anytime she sees one she screams and freaks out and calls them evil and "slimy" (where does this even come from?), but she doesn't care about them when they're out of sight.
I say just getting one and proving your responsibility is the best course of action after you've exhausted yourself trying to convince them they're not devilish creatures
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Wow no. No. That is NOT how you prove you're "responsible", that is how you prove you can't be trusted. Your mom has an obvious discomfort, and you disrespected her, and continue to disrespect her by filling her home with things that make her feel threatened. If you were my kid, I would have taken the first snake back to the place you bought it from and gotten a refund. That your parent doesn't have the will enforce you not walking all over her and :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:ting on her feelings, doesn't make you somehow magically right about it. It makes you a pretty darn irresponsible prick. From the sound of this post it almost seems like you delight in tormenting her, which is a pretty mean and nasty thing to do.
I understand having disagreements, or differing points of view from your parents. My mother doesn't care for snakes either, nor does my husband's mom or his uncle. Do you know how we handle that? We keep the snakes in OUR space, and warmed them up through responsible education and advocation. They still don't like snakes, but they like seeing pics of the kids with them, they will (from a respectful distance) look at and enjoy the snakes, and even recently they've been helping me share and spread news about the Lacey ban and USARK, because they see that beyond their fear, snakes are still pretty cool, and so are the people that keep them.
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by madelion
I get one beginning of grade 9
Great news Madeline!:)
That gives you plenty of time to have the enclosure paid for and prepared befored your Ball arrives.
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Re: Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lizardlicks
Wow no. No. That is NOT how you prove you're "responsible", that is how you prove you can't be trusted. Your mom has an obvious discomfort, and you disrespected her, and continue to disrespect her by filling her home with things that make her feel threatened. If you were my kid, I would have taken the first snake back to the place you bought it from and gotten a refund. That your parent doesn't have the will enforce you not walking all over her and :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:ting on her feelings, doesn't make you somehow magically right about it. It makes you a pretty darn irresponsible prick. From the sound of this post it almost seems like you delight in tormenting her, which is a pretty mean and nasty thing to do.
I understand having disagreements, or differing points of view from your parents. My mother doesn't care for snakes either, nor does my husband's mom or his uncle. Do you know how we handle that? We keep the snakes in OUR space, and warmed them up through responsible education and advocation. They still don't like snakes, but they like seeing pics of the kids with them, they will (from a respectful distance) look at and enjoy the snakes, and even recently they've been helping me share and spread news about the Lacey ban and USARK, because they see that beyond their fear, snakes are still pretty cool, and so are the people that keep them.
Okay wow there is absolutely no need to start name-calling. Like stated, I BOUGHT my first snake at 15 after my parents wouldn't. You DO NOT know my situation, me, or my parents so there is absolutely no need to be inconsiderate. I'm a 20 year old adult with a job and college, I still live with my mom and she has never truly had a problem with my snake-keeping - what parent would have a problem with their child's passion? I have converted my sister to a snake lover, my dad doesn't care either way about snakes but enjoys my lizard, and all my family who has come over to my house has held the snakes. Even my grandma, who hates them. I made my uncle like my pied so much he wanted to take him home, and I showed my 7 year old cousin who was deathly afraid of snakes and screaming and crying when I brought them out, that snakes are cool (he was begging his mom for one at the end of the day). So no, I'm not an ignorant prick because my mom goes "ewwww those are so nasty" when I bring them out, or when I'm cleaning tubs. She does not feel threatened, so does not feel disrespected. She is not tormented. She has calmly held the snakes before. She is also an over dramatic lady (that's where all the "ewww's" and "nasty's" and "gross" come from.)
I lived with both my parents at the age of 15 when getting my first snake, as dad's rules went - as long as I cared for it, I could keep it. It's not much different than bringing home a KITTEN off the side of the road.
So don't go jumping to assumptions that I'm some wild little child who doesn't know how to handle himself. I'm a loving pet owner who has boas, pythons, colubrids, fish, lizards, cats, and a dog. Never have any of them gone hungry or suffered for any reason. I put my pets before myself and I think that makes me damn responsible.
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Hello 20 year old person still in collage and living with their parents. I'm a 30 year old person with two kids who pays rent and bills, and is about to purchase a home. I am speaking to you from the point of view as a parent. I'm sure you do love your pets and care for them, but the fact of the matter is, at 15 you were not legally an adult, you were still bound by the house rules of your parents, and you went against them, whether or not you did it with your money. It worked out for you, congratulations.
Now. YOU DO NOT KNOW THE HOME SITUATION OF THE OP, EITHER. DO NOT. DO NOT. Tell an under age minor still living with their parents to "do it anyway" and "that's how you prove you're responsible." Stuff like this is what will happen. On top of that, OP is even younger now than what you were, and not legally able to hold a job with a steady income, which means they HAVE to use their parents money. How long exactly do you think the 'do it anyway' thing would fly in that sort of situation?
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