What to do???

Ok...first off a little history....my son still believes in Santa. I go through great strides to ensure this!!! (you are only a kid once and it is fun to believe). He talks about some of his friends that don't and the other day asked if I ever got coal from Santa. (apparently one of his friends got coal and he is convinced it was because his friend said a bad word).....lol. He was worried as he got busted a few weeks ago saying a really bad word out on the playground. ANYWAYS...onto my question...

So we put up stockings every year...clearly Santa fills them. We do this for ALL the pets in the house as well as the ppl. Here is the dilema....this year he is like....OH Mom...we have to get stockings for the snakes....:O:O:O

What in the world would you put in a stocking for a snake....oye...honestly. I am certainly not putting a F/T mouse in there. I thought about new hides....but they have new ones.

I know this is a funny question...but any ideas??

Hmm,

Tough one.

A temp gun.
Some nice soft bedding.
A nice book with gorgeous pictures of their extended family - the VPI or the NERD one have great info and Cinderbirds book has all the photo's of Adams animals.
Some nice fake plants for cage decor.
A sexing probe set. (possibly not needed )
Some snakebytes swag.
Dvd's to train their owners with?

Oh and another snake. :snake:


dr del

You could always tell him that stockings are only traditional for animals that have feet. :O

:)
Maybe get one large stocking forall of the snakes "collectively.." And put in a nice BP book or some bedding material.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

You could always tell him that stockings are only traditional for animals that have feet. :O

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Nice try Mark, snakes have feet!

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Originally Posted by Jenn

Nice try Mark, snakes have feet!

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Uum not any of the snakes i have seen before :rolleyes:

I would do one stocking for all the snakes, get anything you can think of that you might need for the snakes and then get some Christmas decals that your son can place on the outside of the snakes enclosures.

On a side note, it may be time to explain to your child that Santa is not real. I for one would not want my child's Christmas wonder shattered by some cruel kids on the playground. Its better that you explain it to him. Kids can handle a lot more than people give them credit for. I have explained the Santa, and the Tooth Fairy situation to a few of my cousins and as they got older they came to me for the truth about much harder topics, like sex, drugs and issues with parents. I recently spent many nights talking with my 18 year old cousin about how even though his mom cheated on his dad 10 years prior, its not her fault for ruining his childhood and in fact his childhood may have been a lot worse had his parents stayed together. I bring all this up because I feel that something as simple as explaining the truth about Santa to a child makes a life long impression. Its not an opportunity I would want to miss as a parent. I would like to think that I am a good person for my younger cousins to talk to, based on my education, experiences, and honest concern for their well being but having spoken to my aunts and uncles they all wish that their children were coming to them.

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Originally Posted by Egapal

I would do one stocking for all the snakes, get anything you can think of that you might need for the snakes and then get some Christmas decals that your son can place on the outside of the snakes enclosures.

On a side note, it may be time to explain to your child that Santa is not real. I for one would not want my child's Christmas wonder shattered by some cruel kids on the playground. Its better that you explain it to him. Kids can handle a lot more than people give them credit for. I have explained the Santa, and the Tooth Fairy situation to a few of my cousins and as they got older they came to me for the truth about much harder topics, like sex, drugs and issues with parents. I recently spent many nights talking with my 18 year old cousin about how even though his mom cheated on his dad 10 years prior, its not her fault for ruining his childhood and in fact his childhood may have been a lot worse had his parents stayed together. I bring all this up because I feel that something as simple as explaining the truth about Santa to a child makes a life long impression. Its not an opportunity I would want to miss as a parent. I would like to think that I am a good person for my younger cousins to talk to, based on my education, experiences, and honest concern for their well being but having spoken to my aunts and uncles they all wish that their children were coming to them.

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:O:O:O:O:O........lol

well most of his friends still believe and since he is my one and only...I am going to keep it going for as long as I can. The magical part is so exciting and fun for them. Not to mention for me too.

As far as everyone else....WOW...you all came up with some AMAZING ideas!!! I never thought of that stuff. I was so hooked on...OMG...what in the world..that those things never occured to me. Thank you so much for the ideas!!

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Originally Posted by MarkS

You could always tell him that stockings are only traditional for animals that have feet. :O

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:rofl::rofl:

Yea I can see that one going over.....he would be like WHAT...that is soooooooooo mean. lol

He already thinks that if they have babies and we sell them that I am being cruel becuase I am taking away their kids....lol

I love kids...they have such a hilarious point of view....and totally serious about it.

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Originally Posted by Jenn

Nice try Mark, snakes have feet!

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Ha, not if you use the metric system... :D

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

:O:O:O:O:O........lol

well most of his friends still believe and since he is my one and only...I am going to keep it going for as long as I can. The magical part is so exciting and fun for them. Not to mention for me too.

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If most of his friends still believe then why spoil it? I just think that the parent should be the one to spoil it. I think more life lessons need to come from parents and less from school lunch tables and buses. I hear you on the magic part too. Don't think I am some uncaring scrooge. Well actually I kinda am. I would much rather give gifts to kids than to adults. There is just so much more wonder and excitement.

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

As far as everyone else....WOW...you all came up with some AMAZING ideas!!! I never thought of that stuff. I was so hooked on...OMG...what in the world..that those things never occured to me. Thank you so much for the ideas!!

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Hey now I did suggest decals before I got into the deep stuff. No credit for me for decals?

I am so sorry....I do give you credit too :oops:....and the decals...actually he would LOVE those!! lol

I don't think you are scrooge at all...lol. I do believe when the time comes...it has to be us sitting down and having the convo. It is amazing what they hear at school. UGH...scary. I work at the school so I think it is also amazing what kids say to me. Egads...you can tell a lot about home life sometimes and it is amazing!!

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

What in the world would you put in a stocking for a snake....oye...honestly. I am certainly not putting a F/T mouse in there. I thought about new hides....but they have new ones.

I know this is a funny question...but any ideas??

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A box of Peeps...

Most people I know would call me a scrooge but I think holidays should be about spending time with family and not about spending money. I always tell people to save the money they might spend on a gift for me and buy something they really want.

Also, why are you lying to your child? I don't understand giving credit to someone who doesn't exist when you're doing all the work.

And to add to the thread on topic, you could give them a coupon good for "One hour of cuddle time. Redeemable all at once or multiple occasions."

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

:O:O:O:O:O........lol

well most of his friends still believe and since he is my one and only...I am going to keep it going for as long as I can. The magical part is so exciting and fun for them. Not to mention for me too.

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I agree, dont ruin christmas for him as a child!!! I know santa isnt real now obviously, but my mom still likes to tell me he is :D LOL ... It just ruins all the fun of christmas!!!

Sex, drugs, etc.. is a whole other topic and that will come up in a few years, and its best to let your child know they can talk to you about that stuff, but those thing have nothing to do with Santa... LMFAO!!

And as for the snake stockings, i think it would be best to get a large stocking and call it the "Snake Room Stocking", and fill it with some supplies you already need for the snake room (Spray bottles, tongs, temp gun, hides, etc)...

Good Luck :D
~Brandon

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Originally Posted by DBD

I agree, dont ruin christmas for him as a child!!! I know santa isnt real now obviously, but my mom still likes to tell me he is :D LOL ... It just ruins all the fun of christmas!!!

Sex, drugs, etc.. is a whole other topic and that will come up in a few years, and its best to let your child know they can talk to you about that stuff, but those thing have nothing to do with Santa... LMFAO!!

And as for the snake stockings, i think it would be best to get a large stocking and call it the "Snake Room Stocking", and fill it with some supplies you already need for the snake room (Spray bottles, tongs, temp gun, hides, etc)...

Good Luck :D
~Brandon

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How old are you again Brandon. Raising humans is not as easy as just saying "Hey you know you can talk to me about sex, drugs, etc.." When your sub-adult encounters sex, and drug related things and wants to talk to someone they need to look to you as someone who they trust to tell them the truth, to be frank and honest. If they think you are going to sugar coat the topic and say "sex and drugs are bad, um kay" then they are going to talk to someone else. Part of having a sub-adult that trust you is being open and honest with the juvenile when it asks questions. Now your 8 year old human is not going to open with a tough sex or drug question, they are going to open with "My friends say there is no Santa, is Santa real?" How you as a keeper handle that question is going to effect whether or not you get asked the future tough questions. Your statements are pretty naive. I may be a bit off topic but I am not crazy.