So tonight I got the opportunity to introduce one of my snakes to my Ophidiophobic family and it ended up being a very positive experience. They learned that snakes are in fact NOT slimey at all and are actually really amazing animals. I even got my mother and brother to hold him.
The biggest win was with my nephew. He is three and turning four in July. His first ever experience with a snake went through three stages: interested but terrified whenever it moved to curious and willing to just barely touch it with the tip of his finger, and then wanting to pet and hold the backside of the snake. He had a nonstop flow of questions at that point.
Before he left he dropped the, not so subtle hint, that he really liked my snake and he has a birthday coming up this year. Lol
I always love hearing stories about people who changed someone's mind about reptiles, but it is so much better to experience it.
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