Monday, July 27, 2009

Another bad parenting moment

Yesterday, on the way home from church, Naomi declared that she wanted her ears "pier'ed". I responded, sweetly and reasonably, that our family rule was that you have to be 12 to get your ears pierced.
Mimi responded that she could "pier'e" her own ear with a pin, "It wouldn't hurt at all."
I thought this through for about 2.4 seconds and decided it would be a good lesson to learn, and said "Okay, Mims. If you want to pierce your own ear, go ahead." There's no way, I thought, that a four-and-a-half year old can pierce her own ear. It will hurt when she pokes it, and she'll decide not to try it again.

Score one for the four-and-a-half year old.

Here she is with her supplies. John made her get an alcohol swab, just as a precaution, from the first aid kit.
She's poised and ready for action.Her will almost gave out, and she asked for help, but I said I wasn't going to help someone who wasn't 12 get their ears pierced.So she did it. To clarify, this picture was taken a couple seconds after the deed was done, when I had recovered from my shock. That large hand is indeed mine, but I am removing the pin, not placing it.

Parenting Lesson #483: Don't give your children permission to do something you really don't want them to do. (Even if you think they'll never do it.)

19 comments:

Kate said...

HOLY COW! It doesn't even look like she's crying (from the side view). How crazy! Did she learn her lesson? I can't believe she actually got the pin through.

adventure knitter said...

that's gross. what a crazy little girl.

Millie @ The Busy Butlers said...

Oh my. That is amazing. Did she cry? Did you let her do the other one so they're even??? :) I can't believe she did it. Caroline would have chickened out. I think. Hopefully I don't have to find out!

Elizabeth Reid said...

WHAT!??! I can't believe her! But my real question is: did she do her other ear? Oh, and my OTHER question is: is she wearing earring/s in her ear/s?

Emilee said...

Oh no. Absolutely not. I revoked my permission for the piercings immediately (I spit on parental consistency). Plus, her first piercing was insanely crooked. It wouldn't have worked for earrings anyway. I wasn't about to let her try on her second ear.

Lyle said...

Emilee, I think I suspected this before, but now I know it. You are going to have some very interesting experiences parenting this one.

Shelly and Ken said...

I can't believe she actually did it! She is one tough cookie to actually pierce her own ear. Wow, I am in shock.

Kenna said...

WOW!I cannot believe she did that! And the picture is gross!

Lindsay said...

MIMI!! What a stubborn, gutsy little girl. Ouch!

dockters said...

She went through with it?! Wow! She's definitely a girl who knows what she wants! This is too funny.

Sara said...

Geez! Mimikins! Crazy! We're all dying to know if she learned her lesson. (Or in other words, do you think she'll try it again?)

dusty and meag said...

HONESTLY...I have never! ever! She may just be my hero...bravest person I know for sure.

Jenny and Jake said...

I'll take note of your experience for future reference. I would have had the same logic. Hopefully my girls won't be as brave:) I love your parenting stories. You are such a fun mom!

Irish Cream said...

I think it's all been said, but WOW! I cannot believe any child would go through with that! What got it into her head that she needed to pierce her ears?

If anything, your post is a good lesson in caution of what choices you'll let your children have... and I won't offer to let my child pierce their own ears even if they are willing! :)

Doubly glad she swiped with alcohol before the deed!

Kent and Leisy said...

I just can't believe she could do it. I would definitely have attempted something like this as a child- but I don't think that I would have been successful. I can't believe she didn't chicken out before she poked it through all the way.

Denise said...

wow! That's crazy. So are you letting her keep pierced ears and getting her some earrings? oh, I just went and read the comments and see that you aren't. That is a funny funny story. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Was looking for another mom's blog and came across your. Was interested in the story of Mimi piercing her own ears. Hope you don't mind me adding my $0.02.

Mom, it is time for Mimi to have her ears pierced. She is determined as shown by her own efforts to obtain pierced ears. She really own wants to emulate you since I suspect you have pierced ears too. It is only normal for little girls to want to look like mommy.

Compromise with her and agree to let her have them done if she achieves a milestone for you in terms of behavior or attaining a positive goal.

Hope you don't mind me adding my thoughts, but my 2 year old ran around with one of my earrings and wanted to put hem in her ears so I know how you feel. Finally, dh said I should take her and have them pierced, I did and she is fine!

Amy
amyswor@hotmail.com

brittani c. said...

Now that clarifies it...I had to read further down to see more about this ear piercing shindig. Between you and John, which of you does she get the gutsy moves from?

Aaron & Nancy said...

I think I attempted this at one point, but never carried through with it (I was even much older and wanting a second hole!) Wow, that girl has guts!