So I finally gave in...

One of the hardest things about being a parent is deciding which battles are worth fighting and for how long. I'm not going to claim to understand the whole desire behind the need for numerous body piercings, yet I did self-tattoo myself much to the chagrin of my mother when I was 16 so I do remember those rebellion days.

(Note to others who decide to consider the self tattoo route, don't forget when doing a tattoo in a mirror that it will be backward...yes, that was not one of my more bright moments back then)

Anyway on to Erin. Letting her get her ears piereced once, then twice because obviously one set of earrings is not enough was easy yet it started us down the adventure of "where will I let her get pierced next". Her older sister Emily was the first to get her belly button pierced, granted Emily was over 18 at the time so that wasn't my decision. Erin was much younger. I didn't see the burning need especially since few people were going to see it anyway given the school dress code. However she earned the money for it herself so I went along. I also met some interesting people at the tattoo/piercing palor that made me realize there are alot more places a person can be pierced than I ever imagined.

Next came the industrial piercing - which is basically two holes in an ear that has a bar going thru one hole to the other. Don't see why that was crucial and that one she decided after a few months she didn't like. Oh well, it was once again her money since I made a decision early on I wasn't going to pay for any of this stuff. (That I have stuck with.)

The past 7 months have been discussions of both a nose piercing and her tongue being pierced. I was totally against both. Even gave her pages of documentation from the American Dental Society on the tongue piercing. Erin will not be 18 until March. So she cannot get anything done without not only my permission but me actually physically being there to document I am her parent and I consent. I stood firm in my anti-tongue, anti-nose piercing stance. My other daughter Megan who is 17 months older than Erin is 18 and she had her tongue pierced two months ago which apparently increased the desire of Erin's desperate need because life just could not go on without her tongue pierced. The almost daily barrage was getting irritating and I knew she was doing it so that in a moment of frustration I would just say "Oh hell just do it". Okay so yesterday I folded in frustration but only on the tongue with a written contract from her that she will not get her nose pierced or ask me for any other piercings. At least until March I'm done with the whole mess and since Miguel was semi supportive of her, I went and signed the permission paperwork but I made him go in with her to watch it. Today she's complaining that it hurts and her tongue is a bit swollen. Gee...who would have thought that would happen....

:-)