Tickled Pink!

For the last 2 summers, I've heard the same plea.

"Mommy, can I get my ears pierced? Pleeeeeeaase?"

I said that was okay and I take Eliza to Clair's Boutique in the mall. And every time, we would walk away from the mall un-pierced. Until today. Eliza got some earrings for her 8th birthday and so has been anxious to wear them. (btw, she's almost 9 1/2. this is how long it's taken.) I was in no way pressuring her to get them done. I answered truthfully when asked whether or not it was going to hurt. A quick pinch, but then it will be all done. Eliza has been working up her courage since we got back and decided that today was the day. Although it almost wasn't. We got there and I could see her excitement deflating fast. We walked in, hemmed and hawed and then let her think, left the store, walked around and then Mairyn pipes up,

"I'm ready. Let's go get my ears pierced."

Oh, okay. That was unexpected. We kind of had an unspoken 8 year old line you had to cross before getting your ears pierced, but Eliza and Mairyn have done a lot of things at the same time. And Mairyn usually takes the plunge first and then Eliza. Alright, we acquiesced to her request. So Mairyn hopped up on the chair, picked out her studs and did it. Not even a tear shed. Then it was Eliza's turn. She wanted to hold my hand and then, once it was over, was quite surprised by herself and said,

"Oh, that didn't even hurt. Just a pinch."

And all day the two of them have been beside themselves with amazement and giddy excitement that they have pierced ears. Many a conversation has been had about what kinds of earrings will be purchased once their studs come out and again, how painless it really was.