Katie: Reptile Convert and Love of My Life - Post about converts you know!

[SilentHill]

my mother is terrified of snakes. she refuses to visit our home if there are snakes out in the open and she won't stay overnight unless they're all on a different floor. they make her physically ill for whatever reason. i can understand b/c i used to be physically afraid of clowns to the point i would hyperventilate and pass out. i really wish she would come around b/c our snakes are obviously a HUGE part of our lives.

we don't have company over much since we're hermits so no real opportunities to convert anyone LOL!

i love this thread though! thanks for sharing everyone.

[dakski]

my mother is terrified of snakes. she refuses to visit our home if there are snakes out in the open and she won't stay overnight unless they're all on a different floor. they make her physically ill for whatever reason. i can understand b/c i used to be physically afraid of clowns to the point i would hyperventilate and pass out. i really wish she would come around b/c our snakes are obviously a HUGE part of our lives.

we don't have company over much since we're hermits so no real opportunities to convert anyone LOL!

i love this thread though! thanks for sharing everyone.

Glad you love the thread.

I've converted everyone from friends and family to workers in the house (electricians, contractors, etc.). I've actually invited people over just to show them how calm and chill the snakes are.

[dakski]

Katie grew up with Billy, who has special needs. He has become part of our family and started out very hesitant of the reptiles. At first he didn't want to see them. Then over the next year or so, he would look. When I got Behira, and told him she was a baby, he kissed his hand and touched her. As time went on, he would let me bring out a reptile or two and show him, but he would refuse to hold them.

To be clear, Billy is not very verbal, but can articulate his feelings with his words to those who know him and can understand him (well some of the time anyway). He's a really great guy and good people.

Tonight, we were downstairs near the reptile area, and Billy asked about, "big snake." That's Behira and he seems to like her the most. I asked him if he wanted me to take her out and he said, "yeah."

So out Behira came and Katie got some good shots of Billy petting her. He still won't hold her, but he was happy to pet her.

After Behira went back I asked if he wanted to see Frank, the "big lizard?" He said yes again and pet Frank as well.

We were doing so well that we had Solana come out too. He liked the way she felt.

I am not sure Billy will ever hold the reptiles, but he's come a long way to be asking to see them. I am proud of him.

[dakski]

Katie's/SunshineWalker's cousins came over last night. Alex is 16 and Meghan is 15. Meghan was interested in seeing the snakes and Alex, well he was a little apprehensive.

Katie helped with showing the reptiles to them and I think that helped the cousins to be calm. Alex even held Solana, and Meghan held Shayna and Behira after being intimidated by their size initially.

In the end, Meghan loved Jeff (BI) and Ezzy (Leachie) the most and Alex loved Ezzy. She was a crowd favorite.

Nice to see Alex come around some and Meghan to face her fears of the bigger snakes. Proud of both of them. Also really thrilled to see Katie interact with the kids and reptiles with me. She rarely interacts with them, although she fully supports my passion. She was even describing to the cousins what a Ghost Boa was genetically and how Feliz is called a red tail boa and how rich his coloring is, especially on his tail.

They met 11/13 reptiles (Kayla and Carra, Leopard Geckos, are a little jumpy and I don't like other people handling them) and held or touched all of them. I didn't get pictures of Feliz as I was cleaning his cage and Yafe was a little high strung.

[richardhind1972]

Great pics dave, looks like everyone had fun, love it when the next generation want to learn about the reptiles

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[dakski]

My mother was over yesterday and spent some time with the reptiles. I got some pics. It's really great how much she enjoys them (now).

[dakski]

My niece Meghan came over the other day. It's the first time in a while due to COVID and her being away for most of the summer.

She's almost 10 and she's really grown up with many of my animals. Shayna (BP) turns 8 next month and Meghan turns 10 in December. They've known each other for as long as Meghan remembers.

Meghan held most of the animals when she was over recently, and I asked her who her favorites were. She told me she didn't want to say while holding Feliz (BC) because she didn't want to hurt his feelings. I told her not to worry, that snakes do not have ears, so she could say who her favorites were, and if Feliz wasn't one, it wouldn't hurt his feelings.

She told me, in order, Shayna, Behira (BI), Yafe (CP), Jeff (BI) and Cleo (LG). Yellow is her favorite color, so she likes all the yellow reptiles, but she really like Behira even though she isn't yellow. She also said she likes Solana (Corn) a lot, even though she is Orange. She seems to like to visit with everyone, but it's good that she has favorites too!

Meghan has always been interested in the reptiles, but I am glad they have helped her a) grow up unafraid and b) really piqued her interest. She's even started writing reports at school on reptiles and reptiles books she reads.

I know this thread is about converts, but I think showing someone growing up with reptiles and being open to and embracing them is a good thing too and appropriate.

She may come over next Sunday night, before school starts again, and watch everyone eat.

Here are some pics of Meghan with Shayna and Behira, all in chronological order (for each snake). Behira is 4 and Meghan has known her since about a week or two after we got her.

[Bogertophis]

Sweet pics!

[Bogertophis]

I think this is one of the best feelings in the world...watching people overcome their apprehension about reptiles & see it change over to curiosity & admiration. Good "job"!

[Spicey]

When I took my baby KSB upstairs and handed him to my at-the-time 91-year-old mother, and she took him and with wonder in her voice said "I never imagined they felt like this!". Now he has to go up and visit her every once in a while.