Conquering Fears (:

Cute/funny story I thought I'd share!

My mother is TERRIFIED of reptiles. Absolutely terrified. And when she would come over, and I'd have Zeus out, she'd stay in the other rooms. Well my boy Zeus is super calm and sweet. My grandma (who also doesn't like reptiles) has started petting and holding Zeus. So my mother came over about a week ago, and saw my grandma petting him. She decided she would try to touch him. Well with one finger she touched his tail. He cocked his head and looked at her, sweetest little face, and she FREAKED. But a little while later she touched him again and realized he was just looking at her and he wasn't going to bite her. Well a few days ago, she came back over and pet him a few times. Well I decided it was time for her to hold him. What kind of daughter would I be if I didn't try to annoy my mom So I quietly walked up behind her and set him on her shoulder. She cringed and yelled at me to take him off! I told her if she wanted him off, she'd have to take him off, which of course she was terrified to do. So he sat there. A few seconds later he moved to her neck and nuzzled her. She thought it was adorable! She's still terrified of reptiles, but is slowly getting over her fear all thanks to my little man Zeus! :love5:

 

[ddcairns]

thats really sweet

 

[jeritta]

awwww! you should have got a pic. that is so sweet

 

[nair88]

good to hear! i've never understood it when people are afraid of reptiles. seems so weird to me ;-)

 

[NCSUCarrie]

That's a cute story. I had a similar experience with my mom. I came home from college with a juvie beardie and a container with crickets and she wigged out and informed me that "she had taught me to not bring lizards or insects into her house, and here I was bringing them both in !" My dad was amused by the whole situation and took to my dragon Pogo with no problem. But Mom refused to even touch him. So after about a year and several visits she touched his tail a few times and that was it. But they were going to have to dragon sit at some point so she finally touched him and let him sit on her leg... after that it was history. She'd feed him salad, put him in the bath, let him snuggle up under a sweatshirt and carry him around for hours in the winter time. But she never did touch the insects.... :lol:
Bearded dragons have certainly won over many people!!! IF my mom can learn to love and handle one, anyone can !!!

 

[kelseyinchains]

good to hear! i've never understood it when people are afraid of reptiles. seems so weird to me ;-)

Me neither! I've always wondered how they got such a bad rep. I've always loved reptiles. When little girls were wanting puppies and kittens, I wanted to play with the snakes and lizards

 

[kelseyinchains]

That's a cute story. I had a similar experience with my mom. I came home from college with a juvie beardie and a container with crickets and she wigged out and informed me that "she had taught me to not bring lizards or insects into her house, and here I was bringing them both in !" My dad was amused by the whole situation and took to my dragon Pogo with no problem. But Mom refused to even touch him. So after about a year and several visits she touched his tail a few times and that was it. But they were going to have to dragon sit at some point so she finally touched him and let him sit on her leg... after that it was history. She'd feed him salad, put him in the bath, let him snuggle up under a sweatshirt and carry him around for hours in the winter time. But she never did touch the insects.... :lol:
Bearded dragons have certainly won over many people!!! IF my mom can learn to love and handle one, anyone can !!!

Why are mothers always like that? XD

 

[rusty559]

good to hear! i've never understood it when people are afraid of reptiles. seems so weird to me ;-)

Me neither! I've always wondered how they got such a bad rep. I've always loved reptiles. When little girls were wanting puppies and kittens, I wanted to play with the snakes and lizards

ive studied quite a bit of human psycology (and a little herppsycology) and my aunt was also afraid to death of reptiles. even my harmless little leopards. from what i can tell it has to do with a past memory of a bad experience with animals, be it a dog or lion. then of course every1 knows of gators and what they do, so when people see a reptile so close to them, they fear the animal may attack, thats why the slightest movement will make them jump.
im not sure how to stop this fear other than subconsious reprogramming, but you could try by letting it roam around the room with the scared person, and you of course. then let them reach their hand to their face and hold it there, after they see its not doing a thing, tell them to pet it, then get them to hold it sometime, probably not same day.