This probably does not help you with your problem, but it is a good "Mom" story:
My mother-in-law immediately expressed her disgust with the fact that I bought my then seven year old daughter a BP for her birthday. Six months later we had to leave town for two weeks, and I chuckled as I asked if she would mind checking on "Viper" while we were gone. I expected to hear her say "No way," but to my surprise, she agreed. I was shocked when I returned home two weeks later. Not only did she check on her daily, but she determined she was hungry, defrosted a rat (she had seen me do it before), opened the cage and fed her for us. The old maternal instinct really took over!!! She said that since my daughter loved "Viper" so much, then she accepted it as well, although she claims she will never love it!!! Meanwhile, my father-in-law, the big bury "Man's Man" won't go down the hallway that leads to my daughter's bedroom because of the snake. People are funny.