Not Like His Mommy...

Here is Zen on his first pony ride a few weeks ago, during which he screamed like he was being boiled in oil. I did manage to pry him off of me and snap one picture, but he continued his howling and attempts to climb up my arm and onto my shoulder (anywhere but in the saddle!) until I took him off the animal, thus ending his trauma.

During a trip to the Evanston Ecology Center recently, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to let almost all of the animals out of their cages to handle and play with them. It would have been a fine educational experience for Zen and his friend Bea, but for one problem--Zen was NOT impressed by mommy's animal handling skills. He was dismayed when the turtle stretched its snake-like head out towards him. The Madagascar hissing cockroaches made him scuttle into a corner, and forget about touching the gecko or the bearded dragon! He almost warmed up to the hermit crab until asked if he would like to hold it. His response was a violent shake of his head and a quick retreat!

Horrified by horses, terrified of turtles, scared of snakes, and aghast at arachnids...that's our Zen, who I am pretty sure will NOT follow in Zion's footsteps as a budding naturalist!