I’m not exactly sure when it took hold, but Thomas has had a fascination with snakes for the better part of this year. I am 100 percent terrified of them, and I have bred a child who is 100 percent fascinated by them!
Maybe he gets it from Tom, because when he was a kid he also had a fascination with snakes and wanted a pet snake. One time he caught a snake in their back yard and put it in a little aquarium to keep as a pet. The next morning, much to his mom’s chagrin, he discovered the snake had given birth to a bunch of baby snakes. Needless to say, the snakes were soon returned to their natural habitat outdoors.
Sometime last spring Thomas brought home a National Geographic kids book about snakes. He was so fascinated by it that when it came time to bring his book back to school the following week, he asked the librarian if he could check the same book out a second week. She complied and by the third week when he asked to recheck the book she declined his request, saying something to the effect of giving other people a chance to check it out if they wished.
I can’t be sure but it’s possible some other books about snakes came home throughout the rest of the school year. Then one day this summer at the bookstore he stumbled upon the same National Geographic book and asked if we could buy it. His reasoning: he wouldn’t need to check that one out at school because this way he could read it whenever he wants. We walked out of the bookstore, snake book in hand, and I can assure you it’s been read a time or two.
He’s now been to the library twice in this new school year and what books has he chosen to bring home? Some variety of snake books. He wants me to look at them with him and read parts he can’t, and honestly it gives me anxiety to look at some of them!
I don’t know how long this fascination will last. Being the prepared child he is, he’s already made a list of things he would like for Christmas. Number one: a real live snake! I hate to let him down but that will definitely not be happening.
