Ear Shots

Around the time she turned four, Hallie started asking me how my earrings stayed in my ears. I explained the concept of piercing - in no way sugar-coating the fact that ear piercing feels just like ear shots - and told her that whenever she felt ready, I would take her to the mall to get hers done. Since that day, every time we'd walk past Claire's she'd stop, take a few deep breaths, and then shake her head. "No, I'm not ready", she'd state, and then she'd turn and walk away.

But last Friday, after taking her deep breaths, Hallie shocked me by proclaiming, "I'm ready", and marching right into the store.

I asked Hallie repeatedly if she was sure she wanted her ears pierced (once the employee opens the pre-sterilized earrings you have to pay for them regardless of whether or not ears actually end up pierced), and every time she response with a confident, "YES!" After I talked her out of Hello Kitty, Hallie agreed to go with (fake, but don't tell Hallie that) diamond earrings.

Waiting to get started.
(See that man, just over Hallie's left shoulder and sitting out
in the mall? I'm pretty sure he thought I was torturing Hallie.)

Only one employee was working that day, so we knew from the get-go that Hallie's ears would be pierced one at a time. For those of you who've been through ear piercing either yourself or with your kiddos, you know that this method often proves problematic because many people, after having the first ear pierced, think twice about having the second one done.

Hallie was no exception to the one-and-done ear piercing "challenge"; as soon as the first earring shot through her ear, Hallie started crying and refused to let the employee anywhere near her. I too refused...I refused to leave Claire's with only one ear pierced. So I talked Hallie down off her ledge with the promise of two lollipops and distracted her with a stuffed princess bear just long enough for the employee to administer the second ear shot.

All done! Smiling through her tears.

Getting them cleaned for the first time.

The recovery process, aided by four college girls who ooh-ed and aah-ed at Hallie's new body art, went quickly and within two minutes my girl was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

The compliments from the college girls solidified for Hallie that
getting her ears pierced was the right thing to do. No more tears!

Hallie LOVES her new earrings, and can barely wait to start changing her earrings in six weeks. She also can't wait for her daddy and brother to get their ears pierced so that "everyone in our whole family can have their ears pierced together!" I may just buy a pack of stick-on earrings for Tom and Will and let Hallie think they've joined in the fun.

The only negative in all this? My baby suddenly looks much older...