Jay and I had a healthy debate going on since Mara was born. I was wanting her to have earrings from a very early age, he thought it should be a right of passage. I consistently pointed out babies with earrings. He listened, shook his head, and we moved on. As is our nature, if one of us is opposed it just doesn’t happen, so there were no pierced ears…except…

I was relentless this weekend. I even struck up a conversation with this gorgeous family sitting next to us at dinner at Sticky Fingers Friday night. Dad had been against the earrings, mom just went ahead and did it.

On the way home from Chattanooga, we called for an unbiased opinion, Mary Beth. I was certain she would be in his court because she got her ears pierced at 13 but what she said struck a chord.

It was a mother daughter thing and the memories I wanted were all the times shopping for earrings or matching earrings with outfits or whatever, not some 13th birthday event.

So off to get ears pierced we went! I was not going to give him time to change his mind.

We did decide to make it a family affair. Mara got her ears pierced for the first time, while Mary Beth got her second holes done and I had my second piercing repierced (they had closed up).

Mara fretted when she had people gawking over her as we put purple dot after purple dot on her to make sure they were straight. When they finally were, we had them done, at the same time. She wailed. And wailed. And wailed. Mary Beth whisked her away to stop the screaming while I learned the proper care techniques.

We got her settled down in just a couple of minutes and they have not seemed to bother her since.

I am actually glad I got mine done at the same time because now I can feel what she feels, know when they need care, etc.

Jay said afterwards that she looked really pretty with her new earrings.

Oh and what did big brother do while we were getting our ears pierced? Well try on the latest fashions, of course!