Rite of Passage

If you have a daughter, then you know all about the earring controversy.

How old should a child be before she gets her ears pierced? Is she too young? Is the hole in the right place? What method/place is the BEST to get the piercing done? Can she handle the pain? Can YOU handle HER handling the pain? Is it just a decoration or rite of passage?

I've been through it 3 times in my lifetime. First, with myself. I can't remember my ears getting pierced because my Mom did it herself with a sewing needle when I was about a few weeks old. That's how it was done back in the day if you had a Hispanic mother. I wore those 24K gold ball earrings with style I'm sure! There was no doubt that I was a girl with those things in my ears.

Because of my story, it never dawned on me that it was any big deal to get your ears pierced. I totally didn't understand why my pre-teen friends from middle school were so excited to FINALLY get the OK from their parents to get theirs pierced. I'm like, "Big Deal."

When I had my first little girl, I COULDN'T WAIT to get her ears pierced. I was however a little more civilized and had my doctor do it. My husband was absolutely horrified! He didn't stop me, but told me that he didn't think it was a good idea. I should have listened to him.

I waited until she was the ripe old age of 3 months. It was all good until the doctor came in and the nurses were all atwitter that he was going to pierce a little baby's ears. I started to have some serious doubts. I should have picked her up right then and there and made a run to the car! I didn't.

Well, this is what happened. Just about when the doc shot the gun into her lobe, she turned her head. The earring shot into the part of the ear where he hadn't put numbing cream! Needless to day she SCREAMED BLOODY MURDER! I was in a state of shock. I should have left again, but of course I didn't so he did the other ear quickly and SHE SCREAMED SOME MORE! I almost passed out. Then, he had to go back and put the earring in the first ear lobe and SHE SCREAMED EVEN LOUDER! That was when I noticed that they were uneven, but there was no way I could utter the words, "Can you re-do it?".

I felt like a murderer. I drove home in tears and just sat for 2 hours rocking her and telling her how sorry I was to let them hurt her like that. I then spent 2 years obsessing that I let my daughter have earring holes that were uneven. The only good thing is that she doesn't remember anything and they don't look too uneven anymore.

Well, daughter #2 comes along and there was NO WAY I was going through that again. That is until she started begging to get her ears pierced like her big sister. So, today was the big day for her to get hers done.

Needless to say, I was a basket of nerves. She knew it would hurt and thought she was ready for it. I knew that I was not. I tried to talk her out of it. No good. She wanted earrings badly.

It was much easier this time. I went to the same doctor because he uses disposible piercing guns and he did a fine job. Just one do over, but her ears were pretty numb so it was OK.

They look fantastic! I am estatic that it is over. The day I dreaded for years came and passed... and I survived.

I think the rite of passage was mine in this instance. I feel like I have crossed over and now have my two girls in "Big Kid School" and they both have their ears pierced.

Happy Birthday Old Gal!

She's fabulous. She's fifty. She doesn't look a day over 17, and she has more plastic in her face than Joan Rivers. She's Barbie! Fifty years ago today, she was first introduced to America, and she has impacted our society in more ways than ever imagined.

I love this Barbie fun fact that I found at this web site (The Facts of Barbie), "If Barbie was human sized, she would stand 5 foot 6 inches tall, weigh 110 pounds, and have a 39 inch bust, 18 inch waist and 33 inch hips." In a culture where so much pressure is placed on size, looks and weight, I think it is safe to say that many of us have a love/hate relationship with the Barbie's of our world. As a mom of a very busy boy, I am so tired that I would rather spend 5 more minutes sleeping than primping, and let's not even mention the gray hairs and stress eating!! I myself feel especially glamorous on days when I actually blow-dry my hair and put on jeans instead of sweats.

In honor of her birthday, I think we Motley Moms should create a pact concerning beauty.

1. If you show up at a play date with oatmeal in your hair, I promise not to roll my eyes when you say it is a beauty treatment.


2. When you decide to go on Atkins to loose the pregnancy pounds from your five year old, I will not bring cookies, brownies or anything but celery to Bible studies, girl scout meetings and/or all play dates.


3. When you decide that Atkins isn't worth it and you love your curves, I will be the first to hand you a Mallomars or other confection of your choice.


4. When you FINALLY decide to cover your gray, I will smile and agree that "it must just be your new shampoo."


5. When you show up to MOPS without concealer, I will tell all the other mom's that you are just going "Goth". I'll say, "It's the latest rage in Hollywood. Katie Holmes is showing it off on the cover of People."

I am not sure if it is because I am older or wiser, but I am happier now with my looks than I have ever been. Maybe its just that I am too tired to worry with such things, or maybe my vision is just bad enough that I can't see the crows feet and wrinkles. I was in high school in the late 80s and early 90s, so my hair was under a lot of pressure back then - the perms, the Aqua Net, the rat-tailed combs. I haven't had a really bad hair day since I quit spending so much time trying to make my bangs defy gravity. That was also about the time I got married. I wonder if the two are related.

I hope you all have a beautiful Monday. May you get enough beauty sleep today, and if you are really lucky, maybe you will have time to blow dry your hair. If you didn't have enough Barbies when you were little, you can purchase a re-issue of the original at Target this week for only $3. I actually never had a Barbie, so I think I might get one today and see what I have been missing. Maybe she will inspire me to put on more makeup than just lip gloss.