Kids are full of surprises, aren't they?
Like, one moment they're adamantly against something, and the next, they're all in, full speed ahead! That's exactly what happened during winter break this year - Miss Ava, the one who had been vehemently against getting her ears pierced for what has felt like eons, suddenly wakes up one morning and declares, "So, I think I could get my ears pierced today." Totally random, nonchalant, and out of the blue. Cue the collective gasp from the audience (aka, me and Justin). I can honestly say I thought that AVa would never ever have anything body-altering done to her in her adolescent or really her adult years. She's a very reserved kid and she likes to be as she is - which we have always supported! Ear piercing may seem like a minor ordeal for some but Ava has always thought about it very seriously and in a state of it being more permanent than not.
Now, Miss Olivia on the other hand - bless her adventurous and "on a whim"spirit, decided she wanted her ears pierced for her birthday last year (and yes, I wrote a big blog post on that, too!). And of course, Justin and I were both on board with it. Ironically enough, the aftercare and discipline that came along with it was a bit of an adjustment for Olivia - especially being out of the water for so long. And even then, Ava
was not having any of it. She made it abundantly clear that she was perfectly content with her earlobes remaining untouched by sharp objects. So this 180 really took me for a loop. Moving on! This afternoon, after Ava decided she wanted her ears pierced, I immediately made an appointment for that same day.
We had lunch, did some shopping nearby, and then before we knew it, 1:00pm rolled around. Ava seemed a little nervous at first - picking out the earrings of her choice, looking at the tools they used, etc. When the time actually came for the piercing guns, I'd never seen my older two hold each other's hands so intensely. Ava had a squishmallow against her chest, Olivia's hand in hers, and she looked so nervous. "1, 2, and deep breath," said the technician... and then the first ear was done and Ava was no longer phased by it. She was an absolute rockstar during the whole process. No flinching, no tears, just pure bravery and excitement radiating from her.
Watching my oldest experience something of her own choosing just reaffirmed why Justin and I have made the parenting choices we have. I was an infant when my ears were first pierced and had I been given the choice, who knows if I'd have my ears pierced at all. Especially now as a mom myself, I rarely even wear earrings (thank you, toddler hands). These types of choices should absolutely be respected when it comes to the bodies of others in our household, including our kids, and this is just what has worked best for us.
Sure, it might seem like a small thing in the grand scheme of parenting, but it's moments like these that remind me of the importance of letting our kids explore their own identities and make decisions for themselves, even if they catch us off guard.
So here's to embracing the unexpected, celebrating our kids' newfound courage, and fangirling (just a little bit) watching these kiddos grow and make their own decisions.
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