Most people have an unrealistic fear of them, mainly due to alot of wrong information about them.
I recently got my SIL to touch and hold one of mine. I've been working on her for months. Like your mom, she wouldn't even be in the same room with my animals.
What I've found that works well is education....it's the key. When I show my animals to people who are scared of them, I give them a basic run down of mine (down to each animal if I'm showing off more than one), from history to basic anatomy. I also offer to let them touch them near the tail, making sure to keep the head of the animal away from them so they don't fear it's going to bite them just for touching. Usually once they figure out they aren't slimy and aren't going to snap at them, they really start to come around. Each species feels different so I use that to bring out my other ones for them to touch.
Good luck with your mom. Plant the seeds and watch them grow. Take it slow and she should eventually come more to accepting them.
Threaded Mode