No friend of Jack
I have this problem with my oldest.
You see, this house we live in is surrounded by wildness. Alligators, foxes, bobcats, coyotes.
And my son loves wildlife. He loves it in a way that is visceral and instinctual.
This weekend my friend S and her dad both smiled and laughed when I vained bewilderment about where he gets it from. They know me and are perfectly educated about my animal exploits.
So yes, I was like him, but he is so….much braver. Much more aggressive and forward with his passion. Maybe the difference between male and female, I don’t know. But some of the stuff he does I would never attempt.
Yes, I have a problem. It looks something like this:
What? You don’t see the problem? Here, take a closer look.
And closer yet.
Hint: “Red on yellow, kill a fellow”
My husband, the genius, came inside this morning saying, for the second time since living here: “Cory, blah blah blah, CORAL SNAKE, blah blah blah” and we all ran outside to VIEW the pretty little snake. View I say.
Only, while I was standing there, wondering how in the hell I was ever going to let my barefoot children step foot in the grass EVER AGAIN, to my horror, my son reached down and plucked it up by its tail.
Yes, that is what I said….HE PICKED UP THE CORAL SNAKE WITH HIS BARE HANDS.
And I died. Right then and there. It was insane. But I didn’t go to the light. Instead, I had flashbacks of kissing his fat baby feet and hands and now I was watching as those same hands held deceptive beauty. Bill said something like “My God son, put that down”. I was calmly hysterical, yelling “Drop it. Drop it”.
See how well he listens.
Yes, I know. You are all agast. How could I let my son pick up a poisonous snake. Well, you tell me what you would have done???? Reach over and yank it out of his hands? Ground him off the Wii? This is so much bigger than that. 2 weeks ago a Copperhead found its way to our fence, and my son had hopped the fence with me and was begging me not to kill it with the shovel. Instead he grabbed a long stick and the shovel and maneuvered it safely away from the house.
I said “Cory, I can’t have that thing near my yard” and he replied “Mom, if you kill that one, there are probably 20 others watching from the grass out there. You can’t kill them all, you know”.
We have told him repeatedly not to pick up snakes in the wild. We have said this until we are blue in the face. We have grounded him. Taken away privileges. We think it sinks in, and then our 10yo will tell us that Cory chased a Cottonmouth at the creek. So we ground him forever from the creek here…..seriously.
I am thinking we must build on this…whatever it is he has…this snake charming, amphibian loving gift.
I will be making some calls etc to people I know in the field……he needs a professional herpatologist to discuss the safety issues with him. He is 13 and we are his ignorant parents.
And beyond a shadow of a doubt, he has surpassed his mom in his animal exploits.
Just last night I changed the background of my desktop to the photo of my husband with our 9 foot python wrapped around his shoulders.
What can I say? Except that pythons are not poisonous! LOL. This would be one of those moments in parenthood where you want to squinch your eyes tight and open them when the snake is safely moved away and your little precious baby boy is safe and sound… back in the house.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am freaking just reading this. Definately someone who knows there stuff on this for sure that could really make Cory think about the danger AND the ecitement all rolled into one.
I know there is a balance but it is also scaryyyyy when kids have no fear, they are young and think they know it all. I pray Cory finds the balance.
I am with you Jody this is veryyyy serious.
It also doesn’t help that I am terrified of snakes though. Great pictures and I will be praying for Cory’s safety!
Ok I had to re-read this, and have to say the paragraph where you say I died right there and did not go to the light? And Bill saying “My God son put that down” cracks.. me.. up. You two are so darned cute!! Well you wanted adventure you got it LOLOL!!!!
I’m back because I went and looked up Coral snake on the web, not that I didn’t believe you but I wanted more info about them and they are DEADLY!!! AND he reached down and picked it up!!!! I am praying for you too Jody!
I wish he would have been at my hose a couple weeks ago when we had a possum in here for 2 weeks and I couldnt get him out lol!!
Ok I promise I wont come back and read this again.
Oh yikes! I would have passed out if my son had that snake in his hands! I am huge baby when it comes to anything slithery.
I would have told him that the 20 watching would go to another yard in fear.
This is probably why I am thankful that God sends girls to me, I would have so many mini-heart attacks that eventually I would have one giant end all and be done.
I can’t help but shudder…Snakes creep me out, even harmless little tiny snakes.
Thankfully, none of my boys seems to have the desire to pick up snakes, and I don’t think we have any poisonous ones around our immediate area. But I think you’re right – he needs some direction or he’s going to get hurt.
In the meantime, can you buy a snake bite antidote kit to have on hand?
We, too, live in a land of a billion creatures. My 11 year old is EXACTLY like your 13 year old. He is not afraid to handle anything, and seems to know just how to hold each and every one of them…Damn the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet!! I think my son truly believes that he is, by some mysterious force, the spawn of the Crocodile Hunter and Jeff Corwin. The best part is that he is so very careful to be humane, and always puts the creature right back where he found it. I wish I could tell you that I have come up with some amazing motherly wisdom, but alas, no. The best I have come up with was to hold him while he cried when Dad had to kill the diamond back in our yard that had just tried to strike my 13 year old.
Yup. He’s topped you. I am totally speechless — I wouldn’t have been able to take the photos. Good grief, Jody. Isn’t there a good zoo in that city to your south? Get some help from a herp. dude down there. Good grief — I cannot believe those pictures…
I am thankful that my son does not like to even pick up toads or lizards. He has said that it is embarrassing that his mom will and he is too squemish. I will hold harmless little garden snakes but I don’t really like snakes.
As soon as I saw that pic I started saying that little poem in my head and I realized he had the BAD one! I think you are thinking totally in the right direction. You are not going to change his personality so you are going to have to get him the best training you can.
I suddenly am no longer jealous of your lifestyle…
Does the zoo have a snake/reptile education section? I would be taking him there.
Um….I feel like I need to go check under all the beds now.
Remember how I arrogantly said I was thankful God sent me girls for this reason?
We found out we are having a boy! HAHAHA! God has a great sense of humor!
I now will learn lessons from you!