Ever been completely amazed by a professed snake-phobe?

[jjc]

My mom came over for the first time since we got Simon. She has been yelling at me that he'll strangle us in our sleep, kill all our pets, etc. since we got him. She didn't seem remotely interested in seeing him when I was talking her into coming over before we went out for dinner.

So, she comes over, and I offer to show her the snake. I took his hide off of him, and she literally walked over, stuck her hands into his enclosure, started touching him, and only freaked out when he jerked back at her advances. I offered to take him out to avoid further freak-outs, and she immediately took him from me and held him for a full half hour or more.

She was a little perturbed whenever he started heading towards her face, but other than that, I was too busy picking my jaw up off the floor, since this is the woman who would never even consider letting me get a reptile, much less a snake. The same woman who, until Saturday, insisted my snake would kill me, my pets, the neighborhood children, and any others unlucky enough to encounter him, lol.

I've read plenty of stories about people showing their snakes off to snake-phobes and getting a positive response, but this blew my mind. I know she's upset about not getting grandkids, but I certainly didn't expect this response on the first meeting. It stings a little, since I was a bigger sissy when I brought Simon home, after all those years of wanting a snake (and then Miss Snake-phobic Mommy comes over and tries to grab him within seconds of seeing him). Can't say I'm upset, though.

[mainbutter]

Great to hear stories like this Good work!

[MattU]

Wish it was that easy for me, My sister and I live together, her and my neice still won't come close to mine ha

[jjc]

This story is even greater, since my previous pet-sitter is completely terrified of snakes (no fun stories like this coming from her!), and has essentially fired me. Now, Simon can go stay with Mom, and the pet-sitter can take care of the other creatures when I go out of town (said pet-sitter is a godsend, and she'll take care of anything with fur, so I can't whine too much). Mom doesn't know this yet, but after this, I don't get the impression that she'd be horrified to have Simon as an overnight guest. He's certainly low-maintenance enough.