giving and being appreciated

[ball python chick]

its not a typical day for me.ive been off for a week already.christmas break im a teachers assistant.life is crazy.almost 7 year old twins,a fiance,my dog,a morgage,and 50 boas and pythons.between the all of those i have my fare share of burnt out days.i started my morning at winco at 6:50 this morning to get the grocery shopping done.then off to spent half the day helping my corn breeder friend clean tubs,(his artheritis is terrible).only to come home clean house,make a late lunch,kiss the dog and start to clean my own tanks before its time to hop on the treadmill(thats my 45 minutes to myself everyday).then to dinner.anyway life is hectic.too hectic. i check my animals at least 5 times a day.im always aware of what they are doing.walking past the living room i looked in on precious.my biggest boa.i remember how little she was like 4 ft when i got her. now at somewhere between 7 and 8 ft weighing in at over 25 lbs i realize just how much shes grown up.after that i went to each of my vivariums and gave everybody another look and realized its time to slow down.i dont just want to see that they are ok everytime i look in on them i want to see how much theyve grown.i want to take in the small things.i realized that i spend more time taking care of my animals than i do enjoying them and i miss them.so starting tomorrow i catch up with my animals.im going to notice all the small things and give that extra attention they deserve.after the snakes get there time ill think about the kids(just joking) happy holidays

[Jem_Scout]

I don't have near as many snakes as you have but I catch myself thinking the same thing as you do....then I take one out and spend time with it and go right down the line and hold them all for a bit. Don't beat yourself up about it. Life happens and they will still be there waiting for you when you get to them.

[ball python chick]

thanks jem

[Sphynx]

Originally Posted by Jem_Scout

I don't have near as many snakes as you have but I catch myself thinking the same thing as you do....then I take one out and spend time with it and go right down the line and hold them all for a bit. Don't beat yourself up about it. Life happens and they will still be there waiting for you when you get to them.

I agree with you 100%...I think we all feel like this sometimes, especially around the holidays when everything is going nuts...when you put jobs, kids, snakes, chores and men in the picture, it really does leave little time for us and things do get CRAZY....LOL but I think, in general, it's appreciated, even if they never tell us.. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

[ball python chick]

its nice to know im not the only one and that others think the same.

[Jem_Scout]

Nope, you're not alone here! And you're welcome!

[jojo6199]

Oh can I relate about this topic, with 4 kids, the holidays, the snakes, the bills, hubby's job, etc. and just unending to-this-NOW stuff! I hate when things get so busy I only do basically maintenance husbandry with the snakes and don't get to spend time with any of them.

I'm trying to make time even if it's only 15 to 30 minutes in the evening to get at least one snake out and just sit quietly appreciating it. I've told the herd of hoodlams (errr my loving children) as well as the hubby that unless someone is bleeding, not breathing or the freakin house is on fire I don't want to be bugged LOL. Actually since most of the kids are bigger they like to have snake time too so it's becoming a nice quiet family time which is always hard to find in this day and age. Nice to turn off the xbox, the computer, whatever and just remember why we own snakes.

You are not alone sweetie. Life sometimes just gets so crazy busy that it's hard to find that time to appreciate the snakes let alone the kids, the husband and the plain little blessings of life.

[Heidi]

The smaller things are the best things to enjoy in life. I am another busy mom and I also work part-time at home (in my spare time) but try to get in four hours a day. I made a little promise to myself that when it gets to the point where I am overwhelmed that I will not push myself. You give yourself daily exercise time and that is important to me. No matter how busy I am I give myself 50 minutes at least three days a week, preferably five. My family knows that that is my time and you can watch, participate, whatever, but leave me alone to do it.

As far as the pets go, I feel badly a lot. I don't have all those snakes (phew!) but I feel badly when I have to shoo away a cat or dog, or hear them throwing their food bowls around because I forgot to feed them two hours ago. I actually had a dream a couple nights ago that for some reason I kept Casey (BCI) at church and when I went in on Sunday she had terrible scale rot and half her tail was missing. I startled myself awake to run downstairs to make sure she was really here, safe at home and healthy. I realized that I have refreshed her water and got her out to hang out on my arms while I cleaned her cage but that was not quality time.

We are only human. Keep your priorities and realize that nothing can be done 100%. Let the kitchen floor get a little dirty, vacuum tomorrow. So what the kids room isn't tidy, get the kids and dogs and go for a walk.

[ball python chick]

its nice to know there are others like me.i always feel like theres not enough time in the day.i just think of how busy i am being off work for 2 weeks and wonder how i do it when im working 8 1/2 hours a day.i just took out 2 of my balls who were roaming there tanks.i only had them out for 10 minutes but its so good to see them and then i realize whats neat is 10 minutes is enough time out.they dont need to come out for an hour.i would say i dont handle my animals enough but to me its better than handeling to much.i checked on my boa in the middle of the night last night to find her tank sitting at 94 degrees ambient.freaked out.the thermastat is malfuncting(figures).my worst fear is them burning up in there tanks without being able to get out.ill replace the thermastat monday.i hope everybody has a awesome christmas with there animals and family and im going to do the same.