For weeks now both my 7 year old and 10 year old daughters have been working on me. They really really wanted their ears pierced.
I have heard every argument under the sun.
All their friends have theirs done.
We are so much older now.
We will be completely responsible.
It would be such a lovely thing to do together. (that was a good one)
The thing is I didn't need them to convince me. I have no problem with pierced ears, I just wanted them to be ready. Old enough to take care of their ears themselves, and responsible enough that they would not lose their earrings as often as they lose their socks!
I did my research, found a place that specializes in piercing infants and children's ears, and picked a wonderful woman with 15 years of ear piercing experience. Have I ever mentioned that I am a planner and a worrier?
Yesterday after school was the big surprise.
"Daddy is coming home early from work. If you still want to, we can go get your ears done tonight!"
They were all kinds of excited.
I got out the camera and took pictures of those virgin ears. Kissed those baby ear lobes good bye and away we went.
Oldest first into the chair. BlueEyes did fine until the marker went onto her ear lobe. Fear set in. Face went pale. Tears were visible...they threatened to flow out of those big innocent eyes. I assured her it would only hurt for a minute, but she could still back out. NOPE. She was determined.
The wonderful ear piercers lined up (Oh TWO of them...they could do both ears at the same time...THANK YOU) and KA THUNK.
OH she loudly proclaimed. "It hurts" Yep tears and drama. That's my girl. Apparently the noise of that stupid ear "gun" had startled her more then anything. Good lord I had my ears done like 30 years ago...I had forgotten about the noise! Geez... Half of my friends used an ice cube and a safety pin!
She only cried for a minute, but it was enough to set of 7 year old SweetGirl who was waiting and watching from a safe distance in the hall.
Her story. Much the same, but with more...I don't think I can do it...I don't think I can do its. And a lot more.. Oh she is so cute, you will be fine sweeties from the small supportive crowd that was gathering. Why do adults all crowd around to watch such an event?
I did take pictures...I'm strange like that, but I really don't think you want to see them.
They both recovered from their ear piercing trauma in a matter of moments.
It might take me a little bit longer.
I wasn't allowed to get my ears pierced until I was in Grade 8. My Father always said...."If God wanted you to have holes in your ears you would have been born with them." I believe now that making me wait, that rule, that line, was more for my parents. I think it was an excuse. A way to keep me younger, more innocent, to force me to slow down.
As I look at my babies now I swear to you they both look years older.
This morning they bounded out of bed like spring time bunnies. Requested hair up and ran to the car for their ride to school. Anxious to show off the new look.
We both learned hard lessons yesterday. They learned that it is sometimes hard work to be beautiful, and I learned you can't slow them down, so you might as well enjoy the ride.
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14 minutes ago
32 comments:
They grow up sooo fast. Regardless of us wanting them too, or not.
I was young when I got my ears pierced (maybe only 3). I am grateful I have only boys. I don't know that I would be as liberal with my own kids.
This is why I had my daughter's pierced at 4 months! My mom made us wait until we were 14, so she was very disappointed to see my baby's ears pierced, but she got over it :)
Congrats to your girls ~ that is so exciting!!
I think I had my ears pierced only when I was already in university. My parents used pretty much the same line as yours, LOL!
With my girl, well... we'll see. She's only 2 now, but she loves it when I wear earrings and she would gently touch them whenever I carry her. :)
i bet they were so cute! and i waited a while top pierce mine... i may have been 10 or 11... mo mother wouldnt do it till i said i wanted to!
I love letting my boys do things that my parents would not allow us to do!!!
... then I love telling my parents what we have done :-) To see her face, she never comments. LOL
Just kiss my ass granny!!!!
Love this story!:) Oh!!!how I will miss out on the joy of getting my child's ears pierced!:( :o Maybe my boys will want to join a punk rock group later on in life! LOL. Just what we need! A vibrating bed!
This is a great post. I had mine done with a needle and ice when I was about 8. I had my girls done when they were little and have had no regrets. Yes, they do grow quickly, so you have to run to keep up AND of course, enjoy the ride.
Aww! So sweet that they both got their ears pieced together. But seriously - emotional time for mama, no? They go grow up so fast!
Great post! Love the story. I bet your daughters are darling. :)
We had my lil girl's ears pierced when was something like 6 months old. She has no memory of it. lol
LMAO - "If God wanted you to have holes in your ears you would have been born with them." Such a Dad thing to say!
Getting ears pierced is a right of passage in this house. 2nd grade....lol. But, that's when I got mine. So my oldest has hers and my youngest will get hers in the fall.
I had to wait until I was twelve and my four year old wants nothing to do with it. She's not into any type of pain. lol
Ok, I'm excited for you... I haven't pierced my girls yet... they are almost 7 and 9...
But I can't wait to be there and hold their hand when we do.
hahaha.
my daughter got hers done at 5, as a woohoo let's start kindergarten kind of thing.
my daughter was 7, old enough to look after them and be sensible but young enough for them to heal up quickly. School is the biggest pain, they had to be taped for the first 6 weeks then they have to take them out for PE and if they want to go on the apparatus at lunch time. I reckon having them done as babies has advantages. Not sure I could do it though.
Its hard watching them grow up so quickly isn't it x
My daughter had her ears pierced at 5, when the neighbors daughter got hers done, and Sarah wanted them too. I asked her if she was sure, told her it might hurt a little at first... she was sure, so I said yes. Her friend held her hand and that helped, Sarah only shed one lonely tear.
They grow up so fast! I guess it's a cliché for a reason :-)
I never had my ears pierced!! I was a scaredy cat and now I'm forced to wear clip earrings.
How fun! I remember my mother taking me while I was in the first grade! One of my favorite mother/daughter memories!
OMG what a huge monumental moment... I still remember waiting and waiting to get mine done and it did hurt but you are right so worth it!
You know to this day I do not have my ears pierced....I am still too scared to this day - I have given birth to a baby boy and I ride horses every day and I am too scared to have my ears pierced.......I am a complete woose....Your girls are braver than me!!!!!!
I was 6 when I got mine pierced. My doctor did it--one ear at a time--with a needle. It was horrible. They had to bring in extra nurses to hold me down to put the earrings in because I didn't believe them that that wouldn't hurt--lol. My daddy was furious because my mom did it behind his back. Seems like such a ridiculous thing to be mad about, but I think you're probably right about the parents trying to keep their children young thing.
It is hard work to be beautiful, glad you are there to support your daughters.
We'll see how I react when my oldest requests it. Up to now, she's pretty turned off by the thought of the pain.
Glad your girls made it through unscathed!
What a great time though! I was 4 for my first set and 9 for my second set! it is a right of passage, isn't it? Congrats to them!
My daughter is 7 and hasn't asked for that yet....but I am sure it will be soon.
I love that they used the "lovely thing to do together" bit. Man when kids want something they sure know what to say
I so remember doing the ice cube and a needle! The guns were much better, and faster! I totally agree with you on wanting to hold on to that innocence but also knowing when its time to let go. So hard.
Love your redesign! It looks awesome! I grabbed your button too!
I've decided to let my girls decided if they want their ears pierced. My mom didn't do this with us. When all the girls in my family turned 6 weeks old the family tradition was to pierce them...at home with a needle. YIKES!
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
My daughter was 8 when she got hers done. I too, made sure that she was ready to take care of them herself!! I would never get a baby's ears done.
I was 2 when I got my ears pierced! Now, I just couldn't imagine doing that to my girls!
This post almost made me cry. My oldest (4 1/2) has not asked for earrings yet, but I think I will want the earth to swallow me up when she does. It really is one of those little things...
Jeez, the other day she told me she didn't like the outfit I put on her and I almost cried because it made her seem more grown up.
Oh, I let my (then) 8 year old have hers pierced last year (and I took pics, too!) I LOVE the look of pierced ears on baby girls, but I just don't have the nerve to do it! I bet your girls look gorgeous!
Oh, what a cute story. You are mom of the year for doing this for them, I am sure!
Since my mom is Hispanic I had my ears pierced without being consulted, lol, but I do remember my dad having to clean them when they got infected. Playing in the dirt is not good for little ears. So I can see the wisdom of wanting them to wait until they are a bit older.
My sisters and I got our ears pierced when we turned six. I don't remember it being that traumatic, but I know I was scared half to death when I first sat down in the chair.
I'm sure my daughter will want them done when she gets older. And I'll probably go along with it. But it is definitely something that I want to put off as long as possible. Earrings make little girls look so grown up. It is unfair for us moms.
My girls have been asking since they were 5. They're 8 now. I've said when they're 10. Their father said when they're 12. They're sticking with me ;)
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