I always pick my own helper and it's not usually not a 10yo boy (no offense to all the guys!) Pre-adolescent boys are just chomping at the bit to get their hands on a snake! Actually, my daughters are usually my helpers unless I'm doing a birthday party.

When I take the snakes around for petting, I position the snake so that the head is turned away from the kids and they are petting the mid section. Just one or two hands at a time is enough. If the kids don't behave, I take a step or two back until they behave. I'm very nice about it, but they MUST understand. I have a lot invested in my business, I love my business, and I won't let anything jeopardize my business. Plus, my mission is to help people overcome their fear of snakes. Witnessing a bite would be disastrous! Kids do crazy stuff and you have to be prepared for anything. I've also been a K-8 classroom science teacher for 8 years, so I really think that kid experience helps just as much as animal experience.

As for the animals, they are very carefully selected and I won't bring anything out (or close to people) if I think there's a remote chance it will strike. An animal that bites is a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I don't want to be all negative, though. Enjoy what you do, teach the kids well, but be careful.. If you think it's stressful then that's a good sign that you're thinking.

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