Being a wife myself, I totally "saw" your wife's point once.... my husband wanted a pet snake... I flat out refused. I used to be one of those fearful "snakes will harm our children and they have no feelings" type of people. I mean really I personally was not afraid of them but I thought they were gross, just like spiders. After my husband's cat died, I felt super sorry for him and a couple years ago for father's day, I let my kids present him with a corn snake. 10" little cutie she was (now almost full grown)... but ever since then snakes have grown on me. Now it is me begging my husband for a snake (I already own 16 but want more).

By the way, you have a very good example of what a YB should look like! Very nice.