Snake Update

Our last installment found The Intrepid Three imploring their father for a corn snake. In their efforts to show responsible pet ownership, the kids have researched corn snake care online & at the library.

Additionally, I had the kids go to four different websites today & create a cost analysis for start-up, as well as weekly maintenance.

The kicker was today’s return visit to the pet store. The kids observed a corn snake devour a live pinkie mouse (squeaks and all). I thought if they observed this aspect of the life cycle and were okay with it, it would bode well for them. I feared that just researching it and knowing the “facts” were one thing, but if we got the snake and they cried or felt sorry for “the cute little mouse” they would decide it wasn’t the pet for them….and guess who would inherit the snake?

Surprisingly, they were very accepting of this reality of life. They watched the whole thing in rapt fascination, and still want one. They held and played with one of the corns. He had such a great personality, and they really loved him. He liked them, too.

The kids were invited to come as often as they want to gather more information and experience (it’s a very homeschool-friendly shop…we’ve gone independently and with homeschool field trip groups).

I’ve spared you (okay, *me* the chicken mama who didn’t look!), the graphic photos