My mother predetermined for me that I would not be allowed to get earrings until I was 11. However, she let me get my ears pierced six weeks before my 11th birthday, in theory, so I would be able to change my earrings on my actual birthday. By this time, most of my girl classmates already had their ears pierced, but that didn’t stop me from showing off my sapphire gemstone studs as soon as my ears were pierced, too.
As a mother of twin girls, I know they are very different from each other. I’ve done my best to let them make decisions when the timing is right and allowing them to express themselves differently, so my husband and I made the decision to let them choose when to have their ears pierced.
All parents make their own decision when it comes to what seems to be this controversial topic.
If you had your child’s ears’ pierced as a baby – great. If you let them choose when to have their ears’ pierced – great. Want to let your boy pierce his ears, too? To each their own, I’m not here to judge.
On a random Friday evening last summer, as our family of five was strolling through the Fairfield Commons Mall, I noticed an ear-piercing kiosk. I asked the girls, “Would you like your ears pierced?” I had told them on multiple prior occasions at home, in the car, and elsewhere that if they ever wanted their ears pierced, all they had to do was ask. My one daughter immediately said, “No.” The other hesitated and said, “Maybe.” The second daughter and I went over to the kiosk together, while my husband took our other daughter and son to the nearby food court. Once going over what would happen if she were to have her ears pierced, my daughter nervously said she was ready.
Of course, after the pain, shock and unexpectedness of having her first ear pierced, my daughter didn’t want her other one done. I reminded her that wasn’t an option, and she quickly got her second ear pierced. The look on her face, seeing her earrings in for the first time in the mirror, could be best described as terror and excitement all rolled into one.
When my other twin came over to inspect the earrings, she was still happy to be the one who got a soft pretzel instead of her ears pierced. Fast forward a year later, and while she has told me on multiple occasions she would like her ears pierced, she quickly follows up with, “But it’ll hurt, so I’m not ready yet.”
When she is confidently ready, I’ll happily take her to get her ears pierced. If it turns out that she never wants them pierced, that’s okay, too.
As mothers, we get to share milestones, traditions and exciting adventures with our children. I remember how excited I was to get my ears pierced, and I am glad I have been able to share that same excitement with my one daughter. Only time will tell if my other daughter chooses to have her ears pierced, and it’s another adventure I look forward to.
