Around our home, my girls know that you have to be 12 to get your ears pierced. For really no other reason then my Mom made me wait until I was 12 to get mine done, and I like to torture my kids that way! Plus, I figure at that age they can take care of them by themselves and it is one less thing I will have to do.
Last night was the night, she is not quite 12, but all the girls were together at the mall and it was really close to her birthday. I called her Dad to see if he objected in any way, fully expecting him to want me to wait so he could be there.
“Yeah, I don’t care, do whatever.” he says.
Not quite the response I was expecting, but then again I am not sure he gets the 12 year old girl ear piercing anticipation!
I gave her the option and she chicken out a few times, we walked around the mall for a while, got some food and were ready to leave exiting the opposite end of the mall when she finally changed her mind. I thanked her for the walking workout and we trekked back to the other end of the mall, 100 kids in tow to get it done!
As we sat there and they got her ready, I started crying. I am not sure why, it was a 100 different emotions from, “OMG I have a kid this old!” to “I remember how excited I was when I got mine done…..”
Oh yes! When I got mine done…..
As we waited, my girls recounted to the nice lady at Merle Norman the entire story of when I got my ears pierced. They told the story like I was not even there, telling her about how “a long time ago, when my Mom got hers done, they didn’t even have a place like this…”
OK, that is NOT entirely true. My Mom figured why waste the money, she would do it herself at the kitchen table. Just like she had gotten hers done!
My kids have no idea how good they have it, when I got mine done, my Mom didn’t take me to some fancy schmacy place, (I didn’t take my daughter to one, there were too many people in Clair’s so we went next door to Merle Norman who was the same price!) we sat at the kitchen table!
My Mom took a cold Sprite (which was a miracle, as were not allowed to have soda) a needle and thread and a potato. We numbed my ear with the Sprite, put the potato behind my ear and she stuck the needle through! The potato stopped the needle from going in to my neck, thank goodness, and she pulled the needle through with some pliers! Then, she pulled the string through the hole and tied the string in a loop. I had to keep the string clean and pull it back and forth for weeks to keep the hole from closing.
My sissy kids get a quick “pop” and it is done!
I guarantee I wasn’t smiling like that when mine were done 🙂 Isn’t she cute?! She also gets darling cubic zirconia ‘s and I got a string!
What a fun night we had, and what a good group of girls I have!
How old were you when you got your ears pierced and where did you get it done?
::Update::
This is from my Mom… I knew you would comment! 🙂
I was 17. And we used ice cubes to numb them before the needle was used to pierce the ear lobes with the potato. The potato was cut in half and the cut/flat side supported the ear lobe so the needle could go through the lobe better. And I think it was a can of frozen lemonade we used on your ears rather than Sprite…or maybe the Sprite was your reward when we were done. You’ve always been a brave girl. Love you, mom
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My mom made me wait until I was 13. You’re right, it was a big deal back then to get our ears pierced. My daughter is almost 8 and she’s too chicken to have hers done. I should of had them done when she was a baby cause I don’t see her ever getting them done unless she’s knocked out. 😉
Cristine
I was 10. I had to work hard my entire 4th grade year and earn all A’s in order to get my ears pierced (my mother hated all piercings and she still does not have her ears pierced). Finally, on a trip to London with my family in June of that year I got them pierced at a salon (my dad was in business with the lady who owned it). I choose a pearl stud and unfortunately they got very infected. We went on to Belgium from London and I remember swimming in a hotel indoor pool that had to be 60 degrees to make my ears feel better….such a price for a 10 yr old to pay for some earrings 🙂
I was 6months old when my mom first did mine, so I don’t remember it at all.
My 2nd holes I was 12, my 3rd ones my mom got me when I was 13 or so. And my upper ears were between 12-13. But I learned after the 2nd+ that my ears would get infected easily unless I had pure gold in them (thats what my mom had them originally pierced with too) so all are closed but my original ones.
My daughter, she will be 3 on Sunday, doesn’t have hers done. My husband and I agreed that she would have to be older then 5 and ask us to get it done. And not just a ‘so and so has it so I want it’ she has to really really want it done since she has similar skin issues as me already and the gold earrings will be spendy.
I was 12 and it was the Saturday before Easter. My daughter got hers done last year at 10 on Father’s Day. She had woken up that morning and was like LET’S DO IT! I got mine done at a jewelry shop and she got hers done at Claire’s. We had a panic look after the first one and I was like GO GO GO….it would look SO weird with only one. She cried for a second and then was good. She is SO glad she has them done now.
I love the after picture. SO CUTE!! What a lucky girl!
What a dang cutie..I had to laugh at how excited she was last night when she was texting me about it!!!
I was 12. I went to Claire’s where Emma was and Mom made the lady put the pen dot on my ear 1,000 times to make sure they were straight 🙂
Geez, my brother pierces his own ears all the time, no string involved. He even gauges them!
We got my daughter’s ears done when she was around 6 months old. I got mine when I was around 7 or 8.
I was 12!! My grandmother got hers pierced with me!! We went to a “fancy” place in Dallas called LaLobe. I begged and begged and begged. My mom had made my older sister wait till she was 16. But my mom got tired of me asking so she let me :)!! I have a 6 year old and I let her get hers done last year!! I guess I am just super impatient. She had to earn it she did lots of chores!!
I was 2. I’m sure my mom had it done at the mall. My daughter just had hers pierced this past December. 3 months before she turned 8. I took her to Claire’s.
I was 9 when I got my ears pierced at a place called Miss Bojangles that used to be in the local mall (not around any more). However, I got my four year olds ears pierced when she was 7 months old. The pediatrician recommended waiting until after her 6 month immunizations. I’m glad I got it done when she was a baby.
Mine were done by the nurse who helped deliver me, the day after I was born. I guess back then there was no fear or lockjaw
I was 13 and went to Merle Norman. I got some classy pearls. It seemed so much more grown up than at Claires. 🙂
I was 12 and I think it was at a walmart. I remember the lady making a big deal about the fact that I had a crease in my ear lobe (“birthmark” of sorts. My mom & grandma both have them. It’s not drastic, just looks like I have one ear lobe that’s fatter than the other) I never really thought about that crease in my ear until this woman spent 10 minutes talking about it and how “my earrings would never look right” and “didn’t my parents ever consider fixing it?!” I had a complex about it for a while 🙁 I remember my dad teased for WEEKS before my birthday (knowing that I was getting them pierced) about how they were going to use an ice cube and a rusty nail. (trying to talk me out of it – the women in his family don’t get piercings, so he didn’t want his little girls to either) I’m planning to make my girls wait till 12 too!!
My dad felt bad that he had to cut my waist length hair (he cut it REALLY short) because I got lice when I was eight. It was supposed to be 12, but he thought I looked like a boy without them.
Later on when I became a rebellious teenager and multiple earrings where all the rage (before the one earring per ear talk at conference) I pierced my own ears two more times on each side and pierced my own cartilage on my right ear. I still have a scar on the cartilage piercing. I don’t know what the heck I was thinking.
Tiffany, your story brings back memories! I, too, had to wait until I was 12 (the same age I was allowed to wear panty hose). This was 1975. My mother had a friend who was quite gutsy and decided she could do the ear piercing herself. Like you said, there wasn’t an abundance of places to go and saving money was always a plus. This friend had pierced the ears of quite a few gals, young and old, so when it was finally my turn, I was excited, but anxious. She used an ice cube to numb it (yeah, right!) and it was either a cork or a bar of soap behind the ear, I don’t remember which. Her pointy device was a hat pin, those thick kind with the little metal “T” on the end. I steadied myself and thought I was ready for the pain, which was brief but horrible. I screamed very, very loud and long. How I ever let her do the other ear, is beyond my memory. We didn’t use string, but little gold studs. Luckily, I have never had an ounce of infection or problem whatsoever with my holes. But it was a traumatic experience at the time. (We let our three girls get their ears pierced a little younger, but they still had to wait longer than most girls.)
I got mine the month before 9th grade (age 14). My sister took me to the mall to get it done. (don’t think I had parents permission). My sister was 17. My mother later decided she wanted her ears pierced but wanted me to do them, so I iced her ear, and put the needle through it, and had some broom straw that we burnt the ends on to sterilize it and put it in the ear. Well, we only got one ear done, she chickened out for the other ear, thought we would get it done later-but didn’t (she took out the straw and let it grow over). My daughter has to wait until the summer before high school, because I did too.
I was 2 months. I also did my daughters when she was 2 months. She never pulled at them or anything and barely cried.
I was around 10. My mom took me to Claire’s. There was two ladies on staff and they did the lil pop gun at the same time. So I think I was lucky. I didn’t have to endure the pain twice. Then I was around 16 and my mom took me to get the second hole. When I had my daughter I took her at 6 months to get them pierced. I was not going to do that to her. I remember I got so worked up before even sitting down to get them done. It was the fear of the pain. And afterwards laughing at myslef for crying. And I remember I was so mad at my mom because I was so embarassed. And having a girl, I knew she was going to grow up to be like me. And I was not going to let that day come. So I told my husband to take her as a baby. We got hers done. Yes she cried. But then after daddy holding her, she was okay. And then it was my husband who was mad at me. LOL. She’s 4 now. She loves them. So it all worked out.
Yep…had to wait until I was 16. I think my mom gave me the option of having it done before junior high when I would have to remove them for gym class, but I was too chicken. Had them done at a Claire’s-type store (I’m thankful that my mom didn’t do the potato trick).
Had my daughter’s done at 1 year old. Her daddy was not too keen on it, but let me do it (she’s the only girl). She’s 7 now, and we’ve had a couple of problems here and there, but not too bad of an experience!
I was 4 and they used a piercing gun, but only did one at a time and I jumped in anticipation during the second one, so it is a bit low. I always wondered why I didn’t get it redone, but now I know it was probably too expensive! Now that I’m older and the holes are lower, I think I need to get them re-pierced. Wouldn’t take much to pull it right through!
With my daughter, I felt it was too mean to do it when she was a baby, and I didn’t want to listen to her begging me for years to wait until she was older, so I decided that when she wanted it done and understood what it entailed and was brave enough to go through with it (she’s a total wuss), then I’d let her do it. To my surprise, the girl who screams bloody murder (still at age 7) at the thought of bathing with a paper cut, was ready at age 4. She was a trooper. Didn’t cry, flinched a little, but that was it. I was way more scared for her than she was. 3 years later and we’re good! I decided that my husband was in charge of making the decision about circumcising our son, and I was in charge of our daughter getting her ears pierced. I’d say I got off easy!
I was 6 weeks old…. I’m glad my mom did mine so early because I can leave earrings out for a day or 5 years and my holes never close. Kennedy was around 8 months when she got hers done, and it was only because my older sister got tired of people calling her “he/him” so she took her to WalMart one day while she was babysitting. She made sure I wasn’t around to object- LOL
I think I was 8, but once i had my daughter, i got hers done when she was 2 months old. I thought it would be better if she didnt remember the pain.
I was 4 actually. My mom said I had been begging for weeks…finally we walked passed a Claire’s store and she said yes. She said if I cried at all I only got one ear pierced. Needless to say I did not move or cry and 24 years later my ears are still pierced haha.
i was like 2 months old when i got mine done (dont even remember). im not even sure why my mom would want to make sure they didnt ever get infected. a 2 month old is enough to handle by itself! im glad i was young because i didn’t have to go through the torture. i barely wear earrings now because they are sensitive now that i am getting older.
I was 12 also. I had a friend recently pierce her child’s ears at 7 months, b/c the little girl didn’t have any hair and the mom wanted to make it clear to everyone that she had a little girl and not a boy. I felt like that was, kind of…
I am anticipating this with my 5 and 2 year old daughters. I enjoyed reading your experience very much.
I was 17. And we used ice cubes to numb them before the needle was used to pierce the ear lobes with the potato. The potato was cut in half and the cut/flat side supported the ear lobe so the needle could go through the lobe better. And I think it was a can of frozen lemonade we used on your ears rather than Sprite…or maybe the Sprite was your reward when we were done. You’ve always been a brave girl. Love you, mom
I was 7 when I first got mine pierced. Unfortunately, they got infected and I had to let them grow closed. I had them redone when I was 10 and they got infected again! This time however, I was given some antibiotics and a better pair of earrings and after a couple weeks I was fine. I have LOVED earrings ever since!
My daughters are now 10 and 7 and I want them to get their ears pierced. My 10 year old is scared to death of pain and refuses to get it done (though she wants earrings). And my 7 year old doesn’t fear anything, but Dad says she should wait until she’s 10. The irony!
I was in college! I had two ladies do mine at the same moment cause I hate anything similar to needles. LOL
Mine were done as a baby. I also got my daughter’s done when she was 8 weeks. I figured it would be easier to deal with cleaning etc myself while she was young.
i was six, i kept begging and my mom finally gave in. I was 28 when i got my second one, everyone thought i was crazy. I got my daughters done when she was 3 months old and i let her talk me into a second one this year, she is six. I thought my husband would object but he didn’t. he did state that was the last hole that she was getting anywhere until she left home lol.
I got mine pierced when I was 10 because I was bald from chemo. My oldest got hers pierced at 8 because, 1- she wore out two pairs of clip on earring after wearing them for a year and 2- her little sister was bald from chemo and so I offered it to both. The 5 year old was not interested in it at all, but the 8 year old was SO excited. Until her piercing gun got stuck in her ear!! Such drama. The bald girl grew her hair back and we got her ears pierced just before she turned 9.
I was 5 going into kindergarten. My mom was in Merle Norman getting make-up and I begged her to get it done.
I honestly don’t remember I did go to mereles but I now have 4 in one and 3 in the other and I’m 41 hee hee
I was 6 months old and at a place similar to Claires. I have also had my daughters pieced at 6 months old. Truely, have had step childrens done when they were older, 6-9 yrs however, (2 done older, three younger (6 months) we had no problems with ears when they were 6 months as opposed to when they were older. Go figure!
OMG! I was in my twenties and already had a baby. I figured the pain from ear piercing had to be less painful! I was so right!
I didn’t realize it was such an important even in a girls life. My mom pierced mine when I was a baby and I had my daughter’s pierced when she was 3 months old. It must be a cultural thing, then. In mine, a girl must have her ears pierced.
I was 10 years old and went to the mall to get it done. I did have my daughters pierced when she was 11 days old by her pediatrician. He also had to remove a skin tag by her ear so I thought why not? She has to have pain from the skin tag removal so might as well do the ears at the same time.
As an infant she couldnt mess with her ears yet soI took care of them for her.
Karin
I was 16 (because my mom made me wait that long!!) and had it done at a mall place. Then she let my little sister get them later that year when she was only 14 – so not fair!! I have 3 girls and I think 12 sounds like a pretty good age. Old enough to take care of them by themselves but not 16! My oldest is only 8 so I have some time to think about it. LOL!
Got my daughters a 4 and she has been having problems but wants them so bad she keeps them. Anyone have any suggestions where to get good cute earrings for people allergic to nickel?
Yep, can totally relate, my granmother aka Nana pierced mine when I was about 10. But, I had both my daughters done before they were 6 weeks old because that is about when the cartiladge starts forming in their ear lobes. They cried because of the noise, insert bottle or binky and no more tears. They never bothered them, slept through the night and never tugged at them. So when my granddaughter was born – all done before 6 weeks too.
12 years old I believe it was a a beauty shop and they had the more civilized guns but not like now! I did have to repierce and we didn’t that with a pin and ice. Now after 22 years I no longer have pierced ears they are to sensative:(
I believe I was about 7 or 8
my grandmother did it to me when i was 3 months old is southamerica, they heated a needle in the fire and put red silk thread through, and then made a bow and a couple of weeks later they put gold earrings in. now i hate jewelery specially earrings!! 🙂 but my daughter will have hers done when she is in middle school at the mall! not by my grandmother! 🙂
I was 8 the first time. But I didn’t take care of them and they closed up. I had them redone when I was 12. I now have 3 daughters and they will be waiting until 12 as well.
My 2 daughters got their ears peirced when they were babies. No more than 5 months old. Sadly I can’t remember exactly when. My MIL just about killed me when I did my oldest daughter’s ears. She didn’t ever get her ears peirced so why should they? I wanted to be able to take care of their ears for them. It was painless and very easy to take care of. Neither one of them cried at all. My mom had mine done when I was about 18 months. I guess she promised me an ice cream when it was all done and that’s how I sat still. I have 4 sisters and she did all of their ears when they were babies.
Scary thing, Katie pierced my ears. We did it over Valentine weekend when I was 14 cause mom and dad were out of town. We went and bought studs from Claires and then Katie pierced it with a needle using a potato as the backstop. We numb my right ear really good and I didn’t feel a thing but Katie had something she had to do so we didn’t numb my left ear that well and it HURT! Lol, it took mom two weeks to notice that I had my ears pierced and boy was she mad! She didn’t yell or anything but she didn’t talk to me for about two weeks. 🙂
My first piercings were done as a baby. When I was 11 my mom let me get whatever ear piercings I want!☺️☺️☺️☺️