WIBU to not let my 12 year old son get his ears pierced?

[pineappletrees]

My 12 year old son really wants his ears pierced. My daughter has it done so I can't use the age excuse (she is 10). I just think that they look awful on don't suit boys. WIBU to say no?

Yabu, especially as you let your daughter at a younger age

I think it's a bit weird that you allowed your daughter to but won't allow your son.

Yep YABU. You can't have one rules for one

Yes, you would.

Let him get it done if that's what he really wants.

I agree that 12 is too young for a permanent body modification but I know I'm in the minority.

I don't think you ABU but then I dislike seeing earrings on men/youths esp when both ears are pierced

thought I might be, but they don't look good on boys

I think you would BU to just ban it for your 12 yo when you have permitted your 10yo.

But - check school uniform rules. Are earrings permitted at all (all boys schools sometimes have total bans)? And what are the rules around PE lessons and earrings?

And does your DS play any sport outside school? What are the rules on jewellery for that? Because it's sometimes banned completely by clubs.

Which is a rather wordy way of saying that delaying until the start of the long school hols in the summer might be very worthwhile in terms of uninterrupted healing process.

I teach in a secondary school and a lot of the boys have both ears pierced. I think lots of male celebrities including sports stars have them pierced. It's fashion. If they decide to take them out at a later date they can.

Yabu its his ears he is 12 not 5 he would like them done I cant see the issue seeing as your girl has them done,

but they don't look good on boys sad

That's an opinion, not a fact.

It's your opinion that they don't look good on boys. He obviously disagrees and at 12 should be given the choice when his sister was granted permission aged 10.

My DS1 got me to agree to this very cunningly:

DS: 'What age would DD have to be to get her ears pierced?'
Me: 'Dunno.... (she was a toddler then) about 10?'
DS: 'I'm 10'

He had one ear pierced, and within months had grown tired of it and took the earring out.

It used to be the fashion for 1 ear in males but they all do 2 now what is it you don't like about it ?

Only thing I would do is make him wait till summer holidays its a faff for PE

My DS10 has his ear pierced. I don't particularly like it, but he wanted it and agreed ages ago he'd wait until his birthday, to make sure he didn't change his mind. I couldn't think of s good reason to refuse. At his school a plain stud earring is permitted, and for his sporting activities he wears a plaster over it.

My two DSs are 14 and 17, I wouldn't be happy. Fortunately they don't want their ears pierced though.

Your daughter has it so should your son.
I happen to think they look great on boys.
Don't be so sexist.

It will make him look cool and lots of girls will be interested in him. Let him.

DD1 had hers pierced as a baby (Spanish heritage) DS who is 2.5 years older asked when his would be done, I said not as boys in our family don't pierce their ears. He hasn't asked again.

Incidentally, I don't think he has realised 2 of his much older male cousins have pierced ears. He is now 12

How does having your ears pierced equate to girls being interested?

I'd say yes but wait until summer hols

My DSs are 22 &20 this month, fortunately they've never wanted it done. I agree with you, I don't think it looks good on males.

It will make him look cool and lots of girls will be interested in him. Let him.

What crap.

It's unfair to let one child and not the other, older child purely because of their gender.
It's HIS body, not yours. You let your daughter get hers pierced because she wanted it, how can you possibly justify excluding your son? You can't teach your kids fairness and equality if you refuse to treat them fairly and equally yourself.