Yesterday, Sara and I headed over to a tiny jeweller here in the centre of Amsterdam to get another ear piercing. She already had three — when she was 12, she had one hole in one ear and two holes in the other one pierced. In the meantime, the single hole closed up after she lost her earring while we were on holiday. So for her birthday she wanted that ear re-pierced. And while we were at it, she also wanted to add a third one to the other side. So off we went, with her best friend (and her mama) in tow — who went for her first piercings, one on each side.
I am quite easy with ear piercings. I think they can be quite elegant and stylish, as long as the earrings look innocent and sweet together. (Personally, I wear three small earrings in my left ear (one in the helix) and two in my right one.) Also — I feel that if you ever grow tired of them, you can simply take the earring out. The hole will disappear almost entirely quite quickly.
My own ears were pierced when I was 12 — the ‘magic age’ my mother would finally let me have them and which I use as a benchmark for my own children as well. I feel that at the age of 12, children are generally wise enough to make a personal choice and give their consent to the piercing procedure. Also, this is the age children are looking to define their own identity, and I think that ear piercings can be an innocent part of this process.
I personally am not very fond of the look of earrings (or much other jewellery) on smaller children. And here in the Netherlands, most piercings shops will refuse (or at least they will be very reluctant!) to pierce the ears of younger children. But in some cultures it is very common to pierce the ears of girls when they are still babies! On the other hand, Emilie never had her ears pierced. Her (French) mother didn’t like the idea of it at all! (And she passed away before Emilie could rebel against her and get her ears pierced to spite her.) So the consensus on ear piercings for children is a very individual one and very much influenced by your own cultural standards.
I’m curious to hear: what your feelings are about ear piercings for children. Tell me: yay, or nay? If acceptable, what age do you think it is permissible for children to have them? (And what do you feel about more than one on each side?)
xxx Esther
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