Persuading Someone

[martyb]

Has anyone else had to pesuade someonelse to let you buy and have a snake in the house any tips would be appreciated plz

______________________

Want a ball but not allowed!

Being 15 sucks

[juddb]

Im assuming its your mom.... If so there isnt much you can do. What mom says goes, but you can have her read up on bp's and maybe she will change her mind about them.... Good luck

[Bright202]

Has anyone else had to pesuade someonelse to let you buy and have a snake in the house any tips would be appreciated plz

______________________

Want a ball but not allowed!

Being 15 sucks

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=51065

This is a forum I started, people gave me great advice, and now I have a ball Python!

[frankykeno]

It is tough being a teenager. As a mum of 4 I can tell you what would impress me when it comes to any of my kids wanting something, especially a living animal and especially if it was one I was nervous of having in the house.

1) Show your committment through research. Taking the time to really understand the snake you want, what it requires to care for it and showing your parents that you've done this plus joined a forum to receive common sense and real help should help them see you are very serious about this.

2) Be serious about other things like chores and your schoolwork. I know as a parent I won't take a kid seriously about being responsible for a pet if they can't even be responsible to turn in their schoolwork (in fact we have a requirement that the kids have a certain grade level to earn the right to have a snake).

3) Pick an appropriate snake for your level of knowledge and your interest. Take the time to find a breeder, pet store snakes tend to be more trouble than they are worth.

4) Find a local vet that will care for snakes and ask their office for some basic costs of care (like sexing, etc.). Show this list to your parents and explain how you would be responsible for any vet costs. Start a fund now for snake supplies, weekly feeding and an emergency vet visit. Planning ahead and being responsible for costs always impresses parents.

5) Don't whine for it. Whining equals immaturity and that won't get you what you want.

6) Don't expect to get it now. Show your parents you can be patient and do all the pre-planning as far as type of snake, where to get it, how to house it, how you plan to afford to keep it.

7) Think about the future. You're only a few years away from college. Have you thought about what will happen to your snake when you leave high school behind? Make that plan and explain it to your parents.

8) Locate your feeder supplier. Find out exactly what it will cost per month to feed your snake and how you plan to afford this. Check on any local laws about owning herps in your area. Show your parents your plan in writing.

Basically approach this like a school project. Investigate, research, write up a plan and ask your parents to sit down and quietly discuss this with you. This sort of mature planning will certainly at least open your parents minds to the concept of a snake as a pet. You might also encourage one of them to open an account here and present their questions and concerns. Our members will be quite happy to answer those.

[martyb]

Ty for the in fo i think i am doing most at the moment i have been reseaching for a moth or so

i had the converstions and answered all the questions she has and have started a snake fund. my dad said if i still want it after christmas he will think about getting one but my mum is adament that there wont be a snake in the house.

me and my mum both have a guinea pig in the same cage which we share cleaning out i have to admit i have forgot to do it once or teice but done it the next day if she hadnt got the strop and done it already

what it comes down to is that she doesnt like the way they move my brother in law has got one (different household) and she did even try to look at it which really annoyed me becuase she wont try to see my point of view

anything else i could do? plz help

______________________

Want a ball but not allowed!

Being 15 sucks

[wolfy-hound]

If she's really firm you might have to wait until you're on your own.
Write out your plans, with moneys where appropiate. Especially show what youw ill do when you leave home for college, as most dorms do not allow snakes. Try taking on extra chorses to prove you can handle the extra responsibilty. Offer to do more chores every week in trade for getting to keep a snake. Make sure to say it will be only in your room, and show her examples of locking enclosures, so she can be assured it won't be climbing out of a half-hearted set-up.
If she goes to pet stores, show her the locking set ups and explain how they work.

[stangs13]

Just last year my mom wouldn't let me, but I showed her I could take care of them! And now I have 8.

[shhhli]

i'd save up the money to buy the snake yourself, and clean up your guinea as well/best you can.

then i'd tell her you can house the snake in a plastic tub- you could get a black one or a clear one and spray paint 3/4 walls on the OUTSIDE black or something dark (do this and let it dry well looong before you put a living animal in it). tell her she'd never have to see it, and you swear you wont chase her around the house with it ^^

honestly i keep a dont ask dont tell with my mother. she keeps out of my closet and we're all good

:B

and hey, if you do have to wait till you move out, you could grow a HUGE piggy bank for it and probably buy a nice morph as your first

[Shadowspider]

Seeing as how, from your second post, Dad seems to be a bit more inclined to go for the idea, perhaps let *him* deal with Mom when the time comes. If he's willing to consider getting one for you after the holidays, be patient with that, continue doing your research and saving money.

As a parent of 4 myself (granted none of my kids are teens yet) I would be viewing it the same way as Joanna; be mature and patient about it and in the mean time, make sure that your priorities are in order and that you are fulfilling your responsibilities.

If your mom has problems with actually looking at snakes then so be it. When the conversation presents its self, let her know that she will *not* have to see the snake. You might also want to let her know that it's not something that you're going to be taking out every day draping it over your head and running around the kitchen with while you're making yourself a sandwich.
When the conversation comes up, perhaps explaining to her about BPs might help to ease her mind. Let her know they are rather shy snakes that often prefer to hang out in the seclusion of their hides rather than being toted around the house and that having them out all the time would be more inclined to stress them out.
*If* I were disturbed by snakes, I would probably feel a little better knowing that the thing would not be out and about all the time, every day and I might even make my kids put a sign on their bedroom door letting me know when they are in there with the snake out of its container... that way I don't walk in and freak out.
Don't try to "persuade" your mom to look at them, that will likely only annoy her. If she doesn't want to see snakes, don't show or try to show them to her.

What I, as a parent, would want to know from my kids would be that they understand and are prepared for the responsibility of caring for a snake. I would want to know that my kid *knows* that this is *not* some disposable toy that he/she can just pawn off on someone else when they get bored with it.... especially if they're spending several hundred dollars for it and its supplies.
And yes, you defiently need to consider what you're going to do with the snake when you leave home, be it for college, the military, or whatever you decide to do after high school. BPs can live a long time and, just like human children, they are a "lifetime" commitment.... you'll be the snake's parent and solely responsible for it now and later.

You might also want to... when the conversation presents its self... just briefly let your mom know that BPs don't get as large as other pythons or boas, that they are less likely to go psychotic on you and mistake you for a meal.
Also, be open to looking into other types of snakes besides BPs... just in case. Perhaps a smaller snake would be less intimidating.
I know when I got my 05 MBK she was a tiny little thing and not very imposing. Now she's a big, fat girl and beautiful as all get out, but she'll never be as wide as a BP. However, she's just as calm and mellow as can be (unless you're a mouse ).
Oh, one last thing. *Why* do you want a BP? As a parent, that would be the question I'd be asking my kids.... why?
Keep your options open, don't be afraid to ask questions and be patient.

Good luck!

[martyb]

i am glad she has made me wait becuase i have done a lot more research than i would have