Epiphany - (awakenings)

[infernalis]

Does it make me a bad mom that I'm already thinking of converting the kids' rooms into snake rooms as soon as they move out? My oldest will be a senior in high school next year.

My kids are already sleeping on the lawn, so I guess your not a bad person.

[anji1971]

And mine are still in grade school, and have already been warned that the decision to move out had better be well thought out and definite, because they won't have a room to come back to!

[Garter_Gertie]

Does it make me a bad mom that I'm already thinking of converting the kids' rooms into snake rooms as soon as they move out? My oldest will be a senior in high school next year.

No. It makes an intelligent, far-thinking, reasonable adult and *good* mom to realize and want a life seperate from her kids.

[anji1971]

As far as keeping snakes, it's not something I "planned" to do growing up. I always liked them, but was told repeatedly that they "needed to be left outside".
I remember going for walks with my dad, in the very same area I go herping in now, and catching them to hold and examine. My dad was very clear about the fact that he "really didn't like snakes much", but he always showed enthusiasm to match my own about them. And one day when I had a snake in one hand, and something else grabbed my attention, I just kind of thrust the snake at Dad, said "Here, hold this!" and went running to catch the other critter. I returned to find my father, still holding the snake, with a look of pure shock on his face. But he kept holding it, and to his dying day told everyone that he loved me so much, he'd even touch a snake for me!!
A few years ago, my kids found a garter in my mom's backyard, and they wanted to keep it. And rather than using the old "No, they belong outside", I decided to give it a go.
So there began the journey of snakes as pets, and I've never looked back.

[el lobo]

The first time for me was when I caught a smooth green snake at 6 years old at castle rock, MI.

[el lobo]

I wanted to keep that one, but at the time, my parents were adamant that I not take animals out of their natural environment...they still don't like it, but they ignore it now haha

[jitami]

Then one day, Samantha (My daughter) captured Xena and asked if we could keep "it",

Sounds soooo familiar. I was a tomboy growing up. My cousins and all the neighborhood boys were always catching something! I don't think I ever caught anything bigger than a "blue-belly" lizard, but was always holding some snake or lizard for the boys.

Then a little role reversal. Met my husband, became room mates with another couple and both my (then boyfriend) husband and the other guy were laughingly afraid of snakes. The other guy would scream like a girl and my husband just didn't care for them... said they smell... sigh. So I never pursued snake ownership.

Skip forward a decade or so and I have boys of my own, dancing around the front yard with 4 or 5 other boys, passing this cute little garter snake around. "MOM, can we keep it?" All the while they're dropping it, it's flailing wildly, musking, generally very unhappy. I rescued the poor thing, now named Sly, from the tortuous little boys and it's lived a life of luxury ever sense.

Way back then I got some great advice from the kingsnake forum and KitKat in particular. I had read or heard that their lifespan was about 6 years. So, skip forward almost 6 years and it's time for Sly to come out of his self induced brumation and he's staying hidden. I get a little stressed, thinking, this could be it. Finally get up the nerve to check on him and he's fine, but that little scare reminded me of how much I've come to enjoy the little guy and how much I would miss him if he were gone

Soooo, I take a couple new pics, get on kingsnake and post an update on my little man and soon learn that a 10 year lifespan is common in captivity In the meantime someone has pointed me this direction and I quickly discover that I'm going to *need* more garter snakes in my life in the near future.

[Lori P]

These are all great stories!!

I've always loved snakes, but it never occured to me to keep any... until one day I got a call about a neglected ball python. It totally blew my mind... a ball python was such a foreign concept to me. But I'm up for any critter in distress, so while a friend of mine went to get her, I got on the internet and started reading... and that was the end of my snake-free life. LOL

Over the next few months, in my travels over the internet reading everything I could about snake care, I came across an ad for a Puget Sound garter, and HAD TO HAVE SOME!!!!! Then I found this site and lived happily ever after!! :-)

[NikkiSixx]

i have owned/caught snakes my whole life... witch has only been like 15 years! but yeah i have always been catching snakes with my dad ssssnakeluvr.

[Garter_Gertie]

i have owned/caught snakes my whole life... witch has only been like 15 years! but yeah i have always been catching snakes with my dad ssssnakeluvr.

I *thought* that was your dad, Nikki! Welcome! Glad to have you here and see you're picking up your dad's great habits!