Monday, February 4, 2008

Sssssssuper Bowl

On Sunday, while you were watching the Super Bowl, I was surrounded by snakes. Our church hosted the biggest party I’ve ever been to. They had bounce houses, crafts, games, food, a reptile show, and an important football game that played on a couple of big screens.

Now back to the snakes. I thought it would be fun for Belle and Ariel to see the reptile show. We arrived late and sat towards the back. The handler had just put away a lizard and was pulling out a Boa Constrictor. Ariel loved the snake and wanted to sit closer to the front. Since Ariel is not very tall and we were at a church event, I didn’t mind her moving up to the second row without me. The people around didn’t mind either. My little two-year old, with a stuffed sheep tucked under her arm, was met by, “Oh, how cute,” and “You can sit here.” This put a smile on my face, until they brought out the cobra.

The handler explained that a cobra is attracted to movement. “So whatever you do, don’t move,” he cautioned.

Um, excuse me, couldn’t he of said that before he put away the slow moving Boa and brought out a very irritated cobra? At ten feet away from my baby, all I could do is not move and pray to God that she didn’t move either. God must have been close enough to hear my prayers, because Ariel sat perfectly still as the cobra was brought within striking distance of her.

Once the cobra was put away, I breathed a sigh of relief and focused on Belle. Her eyes were as big as saucers. “Mommy, what is that sound?” she asked.

“Well Hon, that sounds like a rattlesnake,” I answered as the fear began to rise in me again.

“I don’t like rattlesnakes,” she trembled.

“Neither do I, but it’s important to look at that snake and listen to that sound,” I explained. “If you ever see a snake like that and hear that sound you know to move slowly away from it.”

I spent the rest of the show keeping one eye on my curious two-year old while making sure my four-year old learned everything she needed to know about dangerous reptiles. I am grateful for the education. I saw a cottonmouth for the first time and learned that a snapping turtle can bite off your finger. I also learned that God blessed me with two very different daughters. One who is keenly interested in all creatures and the other who has the sense to know that she SHOULD be afraid of snakes.

19 comments:

Mamarazzi said...

oh no...no way. no snakes for me!

The Sports Mama said...

Snakes in the Garden of Eden on a Sunday? Was there some sort of subliminal message about the evils of treating football like a religion going on there?

No? Ok then... :)

I have to say, I am totally with Belle on the snake thing. They're very intriguing creatures. Behind glass. Very thick glass.

louann said...

Sssscared of sssnakes.

And yes, the beauty of being special - each one will always be different, will always be special.

OHmommy said...

Your church sounds like so much fun! What a great way to spend a Sunday... surrounded by snakes. LOL. All kidding aside, our church has donuts each Sunday and that is what we look forward to after mass. :)

Honeybell said...

Little Miss Ariel is one fearless girl! I love that . . . "until they brought out the cobra."

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah said...

I couldn't have even pretended to be okay with that.

A COBRA???? At a church?

Don Mills Diva said...

I'm with Belle - I am not big on snakes.

Maria said...

I don't like snakes and DON'T want to learn! Glad you had a nice time, though!
Maria

Kellan said...

Wow - that sounds crazy fascinating!!! I am not very afraid of grass/garden snakes, but I don't ever want to happen upon a rattle snake in my yard (and it is a possibility)! That was a great story Amy - see you soon. Kellan

Amy said...

Sarah-
I have to admit that a cobra at church does sound a little creepy.

Maybe I should mention that the church rented out the local high school for this event, so the reptile show as actually in the wrestling room.

Also, our church is HUGE. We have 3 different campuses and the main campus has 7 services stretched over Saturday and Sunday. Each service holds 1,000 people. Which means that the Super Bowl party was a sea of people, a handful of which we actually know.

krissy said...

Oh my Lordy!

I would have ran out of there with my tail between my legs! Rattlesnakes.......ish!!!!

pb&j in a bowl said...

Snakes are fine behind glass, at the zoo. Take one out, and I'm outta there! Maddie is the complete opposite. She wants one for a pet. Not gonna happen

Hey it's Amy Benson said...

Oh what a cute story! I can't believe you didn't go get your tot! It sounds like she was very brave too ;)

Anonymous said...

I am so, so, SO afraid of snakes.

Amy said...

We went to this nature center one time and the girls were fascinated by the snakes. Especially when they got to watch one be fed a mouse. And the next day in my infinite mommy wisdom, I took them to the cheap summer movies to see Stuart Little! Yeah, that was a fun explanation...

LunaNik said...

My girls are the same way...

One is brave and curious and tough as nails.

the other

Sensitive, tender, and cautious.

Momisodes said...

Snakes!? I recently found out hubby had them for pets as a kid. And felt the need to share with me what he had to feed them......NO THANKS!

Kat said...

WHAT? I am SO GLAD the Superbowl party I attended did not have snakes. Yikes!

Kidzmama said...

I remember when my first two were this age. Clever, our oldest LOVES bugs, animals, dirt, and nature in general. Funny, our second can do without any of it. I still took them both to all the nature talks at the local parks. I love watching their reactions.

Your girls are the perfect age for this!