Hailey's earrings.

I know I've talked about it before, but Hailey decided to get her ears pierced on her 6th Birthday. She woke up that morning with it in her head. She was set on it. I dont know why, or what made her want to go for it, but she had her mind made up.

I took her to Wal-Mart to get the job done. I thought it would be cute & fun, I didnt think much of it, but when she sat down in that chair, and they drew those dots on her ear lobes, I started feeling like I was going to throw up. Suddenly, I couldnt help but think 'I cannot believe I am letting these strange women get close to MY baby with those piercing guns'. I wanted to puke, but I kept a smile for Hailey. She was a little nervous, but more excited than anything. I didnt wanna ruin her moment, but I wanted to say 'No, lets go home instead'.

The ladies did both ears at the same time, so she would only have to feel it once. They counted to three, then I heard the noise. The noise of needles getting shoved through my kid's earlobes. I looked at Hailey's face, and she said 'ouch', but by that time, they were done...so I laughed & said 'Its already over now.' She smiled and jumped off that seat to find a mirror, squealing the whole time. The ladies were cracking up. They said they had never seen a kid SO excited to get her ears pierced. Hailey didnt shed a tear. She was nothing short of completetly excited.

I didnt know what I felt. It was weird. I still feel weird about it. Just last night (a month later) we were walking up to the door, and I could see the backs of her earrings & I said 'I still cant believe you got your ears pierced'. I guess I am still shocked that she decided to do that on her own. She knew what they did, she knew what it felt like, she knew we'd have to take good care of them, and she thought about it & decided she wanted to do it anyway. It was one of my most proud moments, even though it was just about earrings. It was the fact that she was such a big girl that made me so proud.

I cant say I really care for the fact that she has her ears pierced. I dont think she looks any cuter, Im not all giggly about it & buying her pretty earrings. I did buy her a little card of small hoops at Wal-Mart the other day, because thats what she wants to switch them out with when its time, but Im just not stoked about it. If anything, Im disturbed by it, LOL. She is so young, I feel like people will automatically assume I got her ears pierced FOR her when she was a baby, and I'd hate for someone to think that...because thats definitely not something I'd ever do. I hate earrings on babies. I just think it looks so tacky & unecessary. Hailey only strengthens my point that it's not a bad thing for a little girl to make the decision for herself...its her body, her ears. Why a baby or toddler 'needs' earrings is beyond me. I dont even know what possesed Hailey to want them. A few of her friends have them, but not most. Her 10 year old aunt has talked about doing it, but never went through with it. I wasnt going to deny her the chance to do it, though. I had talked to her several times about it & let her know the truth about it, and I trusted she would make the decision for herself when it was time...and she did. She makes me so proud to be a mom.