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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to let my 15 year old son have his ear pierced?

110 replies

Flamingosandunicorns · 23/06/2018 14:12

He's desperate to get it done and I don't mind supporting Teenagers have a bit of control over their style (within reason).

But I just told my sister who thinks that it's horrific that I'm even considering it.

Would you let your 15 year old son have his ear pierced?

OP posts:
BananaHarvest · 23/06/2018 14:52

Ours all had to be 16 to make an informed choice. Only one has pierced ears. Our son’s career would have been off limits if he’d decided to have any piercings or visible tattoos.

JaretsGirlfren · 23/06/2018 14:56

I would if that’s what he wants.

DragonsAndCakes · 23/06/2018 14:58

You can take an earring out very easily for future work.

I’d be fine with it.

sue51 · 23/06/2018 15:00

You pick your battles with a 15 year old. I'd let him have his way on this one.

notgivingin789 · 23/06/2018 15:00

I don’t think boys having their ears pierced look nice. It makes them look a certain way and “rough”.

But your DS is 15 and it’s his choice.

PinkCrystal · 23/06/2018 15:01

Yes of course. I would treat it the same as when my girls wanted theirs done. As long as it was their decision then great.

MyOtherUsernameisaPun · 23/06/2018 15:01

YANBU. He's 15 so he's old enough to make his own choices, and bodily autonomy is very good for teenagers. It's not like it's something permanent he can never get rid of!

DramaAlpaca · 23/06/2018 15:02

I don't particularly like earrings on boys but I'd let him do it. At 15 he's old enough to decide for himself.

IHaveBrilloHair · 23/06/2018 15:05

Yep, Dd is 16 and has loads of piercings, 13 I think she's up to but it could be more.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 23/06/2018 15:06

I’d let him.

hungryhippie · 23/06/2018 15:07

I let my son at 10.
If he was a girl, would you be questioning your decision?

n0ne · 23/06/2018 15:08

Fine in my book. About the age I'd allow a DD to do it too

Dobbythesockelf · 23/06/2018 15:10

He's old enough to make his own decisions surely. It's his ear at the end of the day. By 16 I had a few ear piercings and my belly button pierced. My dh had his ear pierced, his lip and his nipple by 17. Make sure it's ok at school though cause he will have to leave it in for a few weeks to begin with.

DancingHipposOnAcid · 23/06/2018 15:15

There are laws about piercings, NewYear. Under the age of 16 you must have a parent's permission

PandaG · 23/06/2018 15:20

Yes I would, if you would let a DD have her ears pierced at 15.

ToesInWater · 23/06/2018 15:25

I think my DS was 15 when he announced he really wanted his ear pierced, I was a bit surprised but he was keen so we took him to a proper piercer to have it done. For the next couple of years he had to wear a clear plastic stud to school as it wasn't allowed until Senior years, his sister used to help him change it before /after school as he struggled 😁 Looks great on him.

RoadToRivendell · 23/06/2018 15:35

I actually have a 15 year old, so I'm aware of the limited control a parent has over them (to say nothing of how wise it is to use it).

I would really, really hate it and I would advise him against it but ultimately what can you do?

misskatamari · 23/06/2018 15:36

It would depend for me on if you mean ear lobe or somewhere in the cartilage in the upper ear, and wha school rules are. Ear lobe, go for it. They can heal over summer and he can take out if needed for school. Upper ear definite no if school won't allow them - they take forever to heal, and close up really quickly, so worth waiting until they leave school and can just leave them in. I had an upper ear piercing get knocked a while ago, I just have had it a good 12 years, didn't notice it had happened, but the bar had moved around and when I noticed and tried to get it back through properly the next day it had closed up. Sorry for the ramble, I'm all for piercings but think it's best to be mindful of the practicalities afterwards :)

UpstartCrow · 23/06/2018 15:37

At 15, yes I would. But get it done properly at a piercing parlor, don't go somewhere they use a gun.

misskatamari · 23/06/2018 15:38

And I'd go to a proper piercer ideally, even for ear lobe. They'll use a needle which is much better than the piercing guns, and causes a lot less trauma

ChickenOrEgg6 · 23/06/2018 15:38

I would ask him to wait until the holidays start (so it would heal well before he needs to change it/take it out for PE/school etc).
But yes I'd allow it

NanFlanders · 23/06/2018 15:56

DS (10) is desperate to get his done but DH doesn't approve. Personally I don't think he has a leg to stand on as DD had it done at 8. Sauce for the goose...

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 23/06/2018 16:01

At 15, I would allow it, reluctantly.

nokidshere · 23/06/2018 16:02

I don't like earrings on boys and men so I would try to discourage him but ultimately it's his ear and his choice.

greendale17 · 23/06/2018 16:04

I haven’t seen a boy with an ear piercing for about15 years!