I discovered yet another parenting “hot button” topic this week. In the past, I’ve been sucked into every controversial parenting topic possible. We’ve all beaten a dead horse talking about our stance on different types of vaccinations, circumcision, breastfeeding – the list goes on and on.
And now, the hot topic de jour is ear piercing for kids. It came up in a discussion with a group of moms. They asked my opinion and it turns out – I have one! They wanted to hear it, so, let’s chat about it.
I have three daughters who are tweens. None of them have their ears pierced. There has been some mild interest from one or two of them occasionally, but nothing more than that.
I must admit – I’m not a fan of ear piercing. And I quickly talked them out of it for a few reasons:
- I kind of like my kids exactly how they are the day they arrive from my uterus. They just seem so perfect. Mother Nature is good that way. It’s the same reason I don’t circumcise my boys. If my kids want to alter their bodies, they are more than welcome to when they are older. They can have all the tats and piercings they want – on their own dime – when the time comes.
- I worry about the notion of “beauty”, and wonder if putting holes in their ear lobes sends them the message that it’s OK if it hurts because it makes you “beautiful”. I also don’t take my daughters for manicures or pedicures. I don’t want them associating being made “beautiful” to be relaxing. I like them to relax by shooting baskets or walking the dog with the neighbourhood kids. Besides, I don’t enjoy getting “pampered” so, for me, it wouldn’t be the mother/daughter bonding thing that I think it is meant to be. Again, they can have all the spa days they can afford once they’ve paid off their student loans.
- I have no cultural or religious reasons compelling me to partake in body-altering activities.
We have not delved into shaving or waxing yet, so I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I honestly don’t care what other people do with their children’s ears, penises or toenails. As always, mama knows best for her own peeps.
Has your family gone through the ear-piercing debate? Any conflict between parents on the issue? What age did you do it and how did that work out?
1 thought on “Kids Ear Piercing – For or Against?”
I’m totally PRO infant ear piercing: the younger the better.
Nothing cultural, there’s no such tradition in my family nor in my DH’s one. I’ve always loved earrings, I love how they look on girls and women and IMHO tiny blings are so cute on female babies and toddlers too. When I was young I was mad to get my ears pierced but I was so scared and wished my mom had pierced them for me when I was too young to remember. I managed to have my ears done at 12 and enjoyed wearing earrings so much (6 more holes added during college.)
I’m not into body mod things, I’ve got no tattoos and didn’t pierce anything besides my ears (lobes and cartilage) and the navel piercing I later regretted but I don’t know a single woman who regrets having had her ears pierced.
Since I’ve always been a fan of ear piercing I decided to pierce my DD’s earlobes when she was 4 months old (first time in my family) and I’m so glad I did. My parents and did not agree with me at first but eventually changed their mind. I must admit I received mixed reactions from friends and relatives.
The procedure performed by her ped was easy and clean. She cried for less than 3 minutes when the deed was done, then was all smiles, really! It was easy to take care of her newly pierced ears, she didn’t even care for the earrings and didn’t touch them with her hands. She’s now 9yo and LOVES her earrings! We agreed next year she can have them double pierced.
Please don’t misunderstand me, IMHO earrings are cute but are just one more fun thing to play with regardless of your age. Your “earringless” daughters are really really beautyful the way they are but I don’t think earrings would change things so much. I respect your parenting rules, each mom knows what’s best for her children.
BTW I did not circumcised my boy.