My parents' thoughts on my snakes was less than stellar as well. They're not too concerned about the snakes and my toddler, though. My toddler (son) is 20 years old, and has as many snakes as I do! My daughter is 17, and is the owner of our first ball python. As for my dad, I put it to him in the language that he understands, $$$. "Dad, this is a pastel. He will hopefully make a lot of babies in the spring that will sell for between $300 and $800 each, maybe more. This one's a spider, and his babies will sell for around $1200. If I put the spider with a pastel, I could possibly end up with a $5000 snake...." I'm not sure they really understand it yet, but they are coming around. It just takes time. My dad grew up in a time and place where snakes were baad news, out in the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle. Lots of rattlesnakes. And snakes that ate the chickens and their eggs. "The only good snake is a dead snake" mentality. He actually held one of my snakes a couple weeks ago. My mom is somewhat phobic as well, which is kind of interesting, because her brother is just the opposite. He was in town about a week ago, and came to my house to see the snakes. He called me a couple days later to tell me how much he enjoyed seeing them.

One thing that is amazing to see is when an adult herpiphobe sees a small child who is unafraid of a snake touching, petting, and holding a snake, a lot of times the adult's fears start to melt away.

Have lots of patience and utilize gentle education.
Good luck!!!
Steve