A random "Yes" - the gift that keeps on giving

[Shaun]

Me and Mrs. Admin have always told Little Ms. Admin that she'll have to wait until she's 9 or 10 before she can have her ears pierced (she's 7).

This morning, whilst out shopping for a new book for her (she's book mad and loves reading) we walked past one of those girlie accessory shops in the local shopping center.

Out of earshot of the little one I said to mum:

"Shall we surprise the hell out of her and get her ears pierced?"
"Are you serious",
"Yeah, why not. Doing something random will really throw her, and she's been a good girl lately so she deserves a treat."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You said she'd have to wait until she's older."
"I know, but imagine the look on her face!!"

So we popped into the shop on the pretence of getting some hairbands and bobbles, and whilst mum kept her busy, I had a word with the shop assistant. No problem. We can do it straight away. Fill out this form and you're good to go.

Well, you should have seen little Ms. Admins face when we told her. If her eyes could have popped out of their sockets they would have done, and she could hardly stop jumping up and down with excitement. And the added bonus of springing it on her meant that she didn't have time to worry about it either.

15 mins. later we're leaving the shop with a little girl who's hugging us to death, can't stop saying "thank you", and is stopping at every mirror in the shopping center to admire her new ear studs.

For what few quid it cost, it's been paying us back all day long; she's still bouncing around with excitement now and it's half past eight in the evening.

I suppose it's one of those girly rights of passage, and I know she's been dying to have them done for at least a couple of years and that most of her schoolmates have got earrings, but it's kept me and mum smiling all day. She's just soooooooooo happy and it's great when you can do something so small and make your kids day/week/month.

Just had such a good day that I wanted to share it. (And I bet there are a few of you out there who've had similar wonderful days for doing such a simple thing?)

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Angelfishsolo]

That's such a delightful story

 

[ttcycle]

Ah bless that is really sweet!

 

[Lisa21]

Aaawww, that is such a fab story xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

You are a fab Dad Shaun (and Mrs Shaun as well). What a great story. She'll remember that forever.

 

[Archie_tect]

 

[dan_bo]

Aw that's well cool. Although you could have saved a few quid by doing it yourself when you got home (didn't do me any harm)

 

[ttcycle]

Reading this post has gotten me thinking about the time when I first had my ears pierced - it was a somewhat traumatic affair- I was about 4 at the time and just too young - my family were visiting friends in London and one of them took my mum and I to somewhere I think was Selfridges - my mum spent ages choosing the earrings (little tiny pearl type things iirc) and I just remember being in tears as my ears hurt so much and I don't remember if I agreed or not to having my ears done.

I have a very strong memory of being brought a headband by the woman who had taken us to selfridges as I was just so upset and in floods of tears!

They didn't last - for some reason my skin on my ears are prone to scarring and not healing properly despite all the proper care- tried several times to get them done again - one time resulting in having to get my ear lobe cut in A&E as the earring had recessed into the hole and got infected suddenly when I was about 8 or 9.

LOL have them pierced now and fine for years but my oh my!!

Glad Little Ms Admin's day was so great with something so small.

 

[coffeejo]

Awww, that's lovely

 

[Panter]

Lovely story, you sound like fantastic parents

 

[fimm]

My mother point black refused to let me get my ears pierced when I was a child (she doesn't have pierced ears herself and I don't think she understood why anyone would want them...) so when I was 19 and away at university I suddenly realised that I could get them done myself, so I did. I still remember her saying "You've had your ears pierced..." It was definitely one of those "I am an adult and I can and will do things you don't agree with" moments...

 

[Black Sheep]

Sounds like a very happy little girl.

just one thing to note for anyone thinking of doing similar for their daughter, I'd recommend waiting until after any school swimming has finished for the year if you can't get them wet / take them out as many swimming teachers prefer all piercings be removed.

once the piercings have settled and can get away with not wearing them for a day then it's fine.

 

[Melonfish]

got the top of my left pierced at 16, a friend with an old needle and a spare stud.
had a m8 do my eyebrow in his bathroom when i was 18, had to go through twice as the first hole was too large for the bar (he was still learning at the time)
still have both. piercings are a right of passage for all sorts of kids.

i remember my sister wanted hers done when she was young and cried and cried to have it done, then when they were done she cried and cried lol.
took ages to heal though as she wouldn't leave them be.
pete

 

[JamesAC]

I remember when my son took me to have my ear done on my 40th birthday.

Wore a big brass earring .. made me look even more like a pirate.

Cool.

 

[summerdays]

I was a cruel Mum and made my eldest wait till she was 11, but decided to do her sister at the same time. At school they had to be able to take them out for PE or else cover them with tape each time.