But I want to have MY ears pierced!

sschwege

That ear piercing post from several days ago got me thinking, what happens if my son wants to get his ears pierced?  We fully intend to let DD pierce her ears if/when she wants to provided she is old enough to care for them herself.  I'm thinking 7ish and up, but would be open to doing it sooner if I thought she was mature enough.  So what happens if one day DS comes up to us and says, "Sister got her ears pierced, now I want my ears pierced!"  There is a part of me that thinks, fair is fair if we let DD do it we should allow DS to do it at an appropriate age as well.  But in reality, it's not going to happen.  If he wanted it done as a teenager, maybe, maybe, maybe, but definitely wouldn't even entertain it before then.  Unfair?  Maybe, but that's life I guess sometimes.  What would you do?

keniialise

I think I'd try my hardest to convince my boys that temporary tattoos are more fun! Or some other compromise I suppose.

Ckorines

I would ask my husband to take care of this one! He went thru the piercing and tattoo stage and now lives to regret it. I would probably not allow it.

kyrenora

Personally, I would allow it. I have two piercings in each ear, and hubby pierced both his ears when he was in high school (he stopped wearing earrings a few years later, though). 

asun123

My Fiance has stretched ears and probably about 10 other piercings and I have 6 piercings and we both have lots of tattoos

And probably more than half the men around my family have stretched ears, I wouldn't be surprised if my son's wanted the same.

My fiance works for Harley-Davidson and I just recently took a leave from working there until after I have this baby (that's where we met and are getting married in the dealership this year!) So we are around lots of pierced men and women. Our friends are all bikers pretty much. 

But since we don't have a daughter and maybe won't ever, I hope they don't ask for anything until the are older, since they wont be seeing a sibling getting their ears pierced before them while they are little.  

Chellz84

I will do it too. My husband has both his ears pierced. Where I live Hartford CT. It is extreamly common for a guy to have both his ears pierced. I've been working in the school system for 5yrs. And I can't tell you how many little boys have both their ears pierced along with most Dads that come in. It's all personal preference I guess.

mseale

I'm a bit more traditional and don't feel it is appropriate for men to pierce their ears. My mom always told us that if we came home with peircings or tattoos we would be kicked out of the house. I"m not sure I will say that exactly, but I will probably instill from an early age that they can not just do these things without our consent. Once they have moved out and are providing for themselves, I don't care what they do, it is their choice. Hopefully at that time they will make responsible decisions. 

I'm not against tattoos or piercings, but I also want to try and protect them from making foolish decisions that they will have to live with forever. I'm hoping with those rules they will be old enough to make a mature decision about what they want on their body permanently.

kacdanz

Depends on your parenting style. My dad told my brother absolutely not and my brother is now very thankful that he does not have piercings.

JHaworth84

@sschwege - you're the mum and you're in charge so it's up to you. I remember hearing a lot when I was little that 'life's not fair'!! On reflection they didn't do a bad job xx

aschoppers

My son had his ear pierced three times, one fell out at school and teacher refused to let him go to nurse, one he removed for baseball and one I think he took it out and it closed. He was in second grade so seven and right tests old. He's now 12 and hasn't asked about it. I let him choose.

sschwege

Chellz84 said:

I will do it too. My husband has both his ears pierced. Where I live Hartford CT. It is extreamly common for a guy to have both his ears pierced. I've been working in the school system for 5yrs. And I can't tell you how many little boys have both their ears pierced along with most Dads that come in. It's all personal preference I guess.

Maybe that's a difference too.  I have never seen a boy with earrings, adults sure, but even then it's not that common.  I guess if it was more mainstream where we are at I would be more open to it.

leelee977

My son got one of his ears pierced when he was about 5, at his request. I think it's fine. Looks so cute

agt104

**My thoughts is to let them get it pierced when they can take care of it themselves So it depends on your child. I didn't get mine done until I was 10. I had to earn it and show responsibility.  I think that's a great age for both.

I also don;t think its a great idea to give a child something just because "they asked for it"---that's prob. not a good strategy, how often does that happen in life? 

But as a PP said "you're the mom what you say goes"!

kladd7182

Personally, if my sons asked for it I would let them. My girls both got their ears pierced at 8 weeks. My 8 year old already has 3 holes, I allowed it because they distract from her hearing aids. I'm laid back when it comes to that stuff, as long as they are well behaved caring people I don't mind. Earrings and piercings can always be taken out, attitude is harder to change. My focus is on their inside, not their outside