Moira got her ears pierced this last weekend. It suddenly became the big thing at school and Moira (who has infinite style) realized it was another opportunity for demonstration of said style. Shazam!
So she asked and we discussed and then ultimately agreed. I made her watch a video on aftercare and warned her that it would hurt. Her response: “I know Mom!”
To be fair – she is my kid who barely cried for immunizations. Her pain threshold seems to be pretty high. And sure enough – while she sat there in “the chair” and they punched holes in her ears, she didn’t even bat an eye.
She’s super proud of herself and seems downright enchanted that she actually has earrings IN her ears!
While we were walking back through the mall to return to our car – she walked up next to me, grabbed my hand, and smiled up at me. And it struck me that she won’t always look up at me like that. She won’t even want to walk near me, let alone hold my hand.
And my heart hurt just a little bit.
Who knew parenting would be such a bittersweet experience? I had plenty of folks regaling me with tales of sleep deprivation, dirty diapers, and picky eating. But not one single person mentioned that for every step your child takes forward you’re both deliriously proud and a little sad. Because you’ll never be there again and kids really do grow up too fast.
It sucks when cliches are true.
True to her word, Moira patiently lets me clean her ears the required three times daily. And at least once a day, she proudly says: “I can’t believe I pierced my ears!”
I can’t wait to see what earrings she picks out when she’s allowed to remove the piercing studs.
Sparkly purple dolphins anyone?
