My mother was the same, she would always say " you're not bring one of them yokes into this house""not in this lifetime",, i rang her just after i baught cliff,and she wasnt happy but she got used to it,then i got carmen just over 2 months ago,she now comes in to my room to watch them feeding,she wonthold them yet,but in time she will, she loves snakes now but wont touch them.