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 du 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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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?
