Thursday, July 8, 2010

Rite of Passage

My baby recently celebrated her 8th birthday!  I'm not sure how time flies so quickly, but unfortunately it's beyond my control.

We decided to let her get her ears pierced for her birthday.  I was way more nervous about this than she was.  I was not keen on taking her to the mall and letting some 16 year old do it.  I got online to search for "best place to get ears pierced" and lots of people were recommending tattoo/piercing parlors because they are licensed, regulated, sterile and all that.

After  
1) strong objections from Pinkerbelle who did not want to go to a tattoo place (ask her again in another 8 years)
2) a "what's wrong with the mall?" from Craig, the health and safety expert, and  
3) emailing a tattooed friend of ours who said the place he goes is "no place for kids"
we went to Claire's.

Betsy, the assistant manager, appeared to be older than 16 (barely), and accustomed to nervous parents.  She walked me through the procedure and assured me that she wore gloves, sanitized the work area, and that the earrings are sealed in a package until they are fitted into the piercing apparatus and are never touched by human hands.

She was meticulous about getting the dots even.


I seem to remember when I got my ears pierced many, many years ago that the gun made a big ka-chunk-a! noise, but the kind they use now is virtually silent.

Pinkerbelle didn't even flinch; after a pause, she said "ouch" in a deadpan voice.


For the second ear, she had a curious (and slightly freaked out) audience in the mall.


P. was a trooper.  Apparently it was practically painless, and she's done a good job of cleaning her ears with the solution they gave her.  My baby isn't much of a baby anymore (sigh!).


But I told her no dangly earrings until she's a teenager.

14 comments:

Melissa said...

Holly - she seemed to do so well! My daughter cried and had to be talked into the second ear! Cute pics!

Alyssa said...

What a doll! Happy Birthday to your little girl! They grow so fast, too fast! ;)bb

Melissa said...

She looks apprehensive but determined. Sweet photo essay and good for her for doing such a good job taking care of them.

Lucy Marie said...

Way to go Pinkerbelle! What a brave girl. I saw a picture of you and your family when you were young and Katie's the other day, and my jaw dropped when I saw how identical you and Pinkerbelle look!

FrouFrouBritches said...

Did you cry? I would've cried. I'm an emotional dork though. That's the first close up pic I've seen of P. Man, she looks just like you!! Tell her Happy Birthday!! So glad she did so well. She seemed more calm than mine did and she was 10 at the time. Way to go Pinkebelle!!

Alicia said...

Cute post. I love the pictures. Times have really changed from the days of the klunky sounding guns. The earrings she chose are super cute!

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

This brings back memories. I remember when my girls got their ears pierced for their birthday. Happy birthday to your sweet girl. Love & blessings from NC!

Pam @ bibbidi-bobbidi-beautiful said...

Aw! I don't know why I got all choked up reading this! What a little lady!

Melinda said...

Very cute. I remember those days. Not once but twice and do I wear any--no.

Happy Birthday!!!


Melinda

Pamela said...

Fond memories! Sadly enough I had to get mine done four times. Turns out I was allergic to anything but 24K gold so my lobes would get itchy and infected and actually close up on the earring! These days I can wear sterling silver. Love the pink ones!

Anonymous said...

I got my ears pierced when I was eight years old, also on my birthday! It's the perfect age. My daughter got hers done when she was 4 and almost didn't get the second one done. She decided she didn't want to "look like a boy" (with only one earring) so got the second one done after a walk around the block and an ice cream. My second daughter got both of hers done at once (two people/two piercing guns) - smart!

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

The ones she picked are cute!! My dad let me get mine done at the mall when I was 5 (at Claire's). Then he told me not to tell my mom when we got home. I didn't tell her, but I *casually* swept my hair behind my ears so she'd notice. She was not pleased. But I still have the same holes after all these years. ;)

Mrs Mary Joy Pershing said...

I just LOVE this post, Holly!!!! Your daughter is adorable! I can relate to feeling like they are growing up so fast. My daughter turns 15 today and it doesn't seem possible! Thanks for helping me not feel alone for being one who cries at the little things. I felt like I was right with you, holding my breath right along with you.

Erin @ Where Beauty Meets Function said...

Awww!! I waited with my daughter too....until kindergarten!!

That wasn't originally how I had it planned out in my head. I thought maybe when she was 12 or so, she'd ask, and we'd go and do it as a mother/daughter bonding thing.

Instead she came home from kindergarten one day crying because the kids made fun of her 'sticker' earrings. It broke my heart so I took her that Friday night, also, to Claire's. But I knew she'd freak after the first one and I was afraid she'd end up with only 1 ear done...so I had two girls do both ears at the same time.

She was a trooper....until we left the store...and I held her on a bench in the mall for a good 20 minutes while she cried. :) Thanks for letting me relive that memory!! :) (BTW, she's 10 now.)