Wow, I thought this was a FRIENDLY community of people who were here to help each other out, not play the ja****s card. Did it ever occur to you that maybe Melody was hoping that someone could give her some good pointers on how to ease her son back into not being so frightened? You automatically assumed that she was complaining because her son was scared, instead of realizing that she actually came here in hopes of making the situation better. Get off your high horse, please. Sorry for the rant, but nothing makes me more angry than a smart alec.

Now then, Melody. My suggestion would be to let your son ease back into it at his own pace. Don't force him to hold the snake or even come near it if he doesn't want to. In doing that, you will only traumatize him further than he currently is. However, I do think that maybe you should do some research and maybe pull up a few videos on YouTube of people getting bitten. Watch them with your son and explain to him what is happening and that the snake is only striking out of fear or hunger. Remind him that your BP was hungry and maybe thought your son's hand/arm was a tasty mouse! Be sure to tell him how BPs don't see very well at all and have to rely upon their sense of taste and smell to find food. Show him that your BP isn't the evil villain that he thinks it is by handling your BP often and maybe go over the specifics of what happened the day that the snake struck at him. Ask specific questions: Did you try to touch the snake's face? Did you maybe almost drop the snake? Reaffirm your son's questions and answer them fully to your abilities (even doing lots of research with him on the computer about it). Then.....just give him time. I do think that if you let him come back to the snake on his own, he will feel more confident about it. I really do hope that he will get over his fear quickly and will be back to handling them in no time. Best of luck to you!