Holes

I don't have any qualms with my children wanting to have piercings--- as long as any piercings are done in a clean environment and the resulting hole is properly cared for by the kid in question. (This discussion only applies to holes in ears.) They also have to ask. (I can see the benefit of getting the momentary pain of piercing over with when they are babies.) I just figure that if they want holes in their heads, they can decide to get holes poked. If they do not want holes poked in their heads, and I get their ears pierced before they can even speak, then it's too late.

Katie wanted her ears pierced at two. She also attempted to flee into the mall while screaming after only one ear was done. (The piercing lady was trying to let her settle down in between ears. The lady didn't get it. Just get it over with so we can leave.) Katie's response to piercing helped me to develop a more thorough set of questions to determine readiness for piercing. All Katie was asked was, "Do you want to wear earrings?" (The flaw in that question speaks for itself.)

Erin began asking about wearing earrings about six months ago. In the time since, we have experimented with stickers, magnetic, and clip earrings to avoid that hole-poking thing. (They all fall off.) My questions regarding desire and preparedness were broader in scope and more explicit for Erin than Katie. Here's a partial list of questions that had to be answered to my satisfaction. (My satisfaction just means she actually answered. Erin frequently just walked off after acknowledging that she heard my question.)

• You want someone to poke holes in your head?


• Do you know it hurts when someone pokes holes in your head?


• If the first ear hurts, you have to sit there and get the second one done anyway. Can you do that?


• Can you sit still while someone pokes holes in you?


• Are you going to be okay with a stranger touching you and likely saying things like "It won't hurt" when you know it will?


• Are you going to be okay if it hurts for just a second on each side?


• You don't get to wear dangly earrings, are you willing to wear the pair you first pick out for six weeks... and maybe longer. You know Katie didn't wear hers long enough. (Katie joins in here. If she can't derail Erin, then nothing will prevent the piercing.)

I don't think we could have been any more prepared. Erin sat and waited with minimal fidgeting while fixating on the sparkly flower earrings she chose. (It's good to be the baby. Mom made Katie get the plain silver ball earrings. Erin gets the fancy crystal flowers.) The reality of the piercing took only moments. Tears welled between ear one and two, but a reminder that one must stay put (and a lady smart enough to just get on with it) helped Erin stay her course. By the time I paid for the earrings and cleaning solution, Erin was dancing around the store clowning and sticking out her lollipop green-tinted tongue.