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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:
MysticFlyTrap · 23/06/2018 17:52

Yes I would as he is old enough to decide. It's not like he is a baby who has no say in what is happening

ShesABelter · 23/06/2018 17:52

Yeah I would. Its not the end of the world.

Neolara · 23/06/2018 17:55

No, but only because I think earnings on men are truly hideous.

ShesABelter · 23/06/2018 17:58

My 13 year old has her ears pierced three times. Third time she done on her own in the house. Her cartilage and her belly button. She wants her nose for a small stud but you need to be 14. Its her body.

upsideup · 23/06/2018 18:01

Why would anyone not?
DS1 got his done at 8, DD1 and DD2 got theres done at 8, him being a boy should be irrelevant.
Imagine if a parent started a thread questioning whether they should let their 15 year old dd have her hair cut short or wear trousers because shes a girl when they had let their ds's do it whatever they wanted with their body for years.

upsideup · 23/06/2018 18:05

No, but only because I think earnings on men are truly hideous.

So if you are a man dont get your ears pierced, whether you think its is hideous or not should be irrelevent here.
Do you really force you teenage children to look a way that is attractive to you rather than how they want to look?

Frazzled2207 · 23/06/2018 18:15

I would struggle with this as I think they look terrible on boys but on the other hand it's quite normal for girls of high school age.

I would discourage, but reluctantly allow if he really wanted it.

notgivingin789 · 23/06/2018 18:20

Another Unfortunately, we live in a society that judges us on how we look, dress, speak, conduct ourselves etc etc.

However, he is 15, it’s his body and his choice. No argument there.

JacquesHammer · 23/06/2018 18:30

Unfortunately, we live in a society that judges us on how we look, dress, speak, conduct ourselves etc etc

You didn’t actually say that though. You said:-

Another I’m sorry, but boys with pierced ears isn’t a good look. The ones I’ve seen, make them look chavvy and rough

So nothing to do with affecting career prospects Hmm

It’s an earring. It isn’t a full facial tattoo. If he needs to take it out, he can. Easy.

JacquesHammer · 23/06/2018 18:31

Sorry. Missed a bit off “career prospects and how people view you”

Aeroflotgirl · 23/06/2018 18:32

Definitely, why not. He's not a baby why should yiur sister be horrified, she sounds a bit precious.

Aeroflotgirl · 23/06/2018 18:34

It is an ear piercing, he can take it out and it can heal, not a facial tattoo🙄🙄🙄

FASH84 · 23/06/2018 18:37

At least piercings can be taken out and heal up, I had a number of piercings in my teens, now I just have my ears pierced in the normal way, even my second lobe piercings have closed up. Can't say the same about friends who had ill advised tattoos, cartoon dog sitting on a purple heart, on your ankle anyone? Just make sure he gets it done somewhere reputable with a needle rather than a gun.

TheGreatCornholio · 23/06/2018 18:37

A friend of mine pierced her own nose with a drawing pin as her mother wouldn't let her have it done. I'd let him get it... if he decides later on he doesn't like it he can just take it out.

notgivingin789 · 23/06/2018 18:40

Jacques teenage boys with pierced ears, in my opinion, isn’t a good look and makes them look a certain way (e.g. rough, chavvy..etc). Teenage boys have enough bad press... knife crime/ gangs etc. This may be different if the teenage boy has an alternative look and the earring goes with that sort of look.

However, if OP’s 15 year old son wants to get one done, then she shouldn’t stop him. It’s his body, his choice.

FASH84 · 23/06/2018 18:40

For those saying it's chavvy, it's actually very popular in the alternative/indie/emo type scene too, our intern at work comes in suited and booted, very professional. Saw him at the pub a while back (he's 18) couple of ear piercings, hair styled completely differently and dressed in what I assume is a very fashionable way. His personal style hasn't affected his prospects at all. He's off to uni (a very well respected one) in the autumn having had a gap year.

ICantCopeAnymore · 23/06/2018 18:45

Haha, my DS isn't chavvy in the slightest and he has both ears done. He is alternative. Highly intelligent and articulate, fantastic guitarist.

JacquesHammer · 23/06/2018 18:48

Teenage boys have enough bad press... knife crime/ gangs etc

I’d love to see some data for links between earrings and knife crime 😂

Thehop · 23/06/2018 18:50

Of course I would!

He’s 15! Just be grateful he’s only piercing his ear!

My ds3 is the only one of mine who wanted it done, I think he was about 8.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/06/2018 19:02

Personally , I don't like men with piercings but only because they seem to wear huge CZ studs in both ears.
A tiny gold hoop like David Essex though..................... Grin

If my DS wanted to excercise his "it's MY ear" rights , I'd make sure he knew about aftercare, took him to a proper piercer (tattooist do them) a titanium stud and sign the consent forms.

My DD has lobe and cartilidge piercings, I took her for needle piercing because then I could control where she went .

NotACleverName · 23/06/2018 19:05

I’d love to see some data for links between earrings and knife crime

I heard they give away a free knife with each ear piercing now.

JacquesHammer · 23/06/2018 19:06

I heard they give away a free knife with each ear piercing now

That must be it! What a fabulous idea.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 23/06/2018 19:10

I heard they give away a free knife with each ear piercing now.

Looks at cutlery drawer.
Checks date our local piercing/tattoo school does the free ones when they do training.
Could get a nice tragus and a breadknife Wink

JacquesHammer · 23/06/2018 19:11

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

Plan carefully you could end up with a full set. I’m wondering if they backdate...?

FlyingElbows · 23/06/2018 19:21

Mr Elbows has a pierced ear and a professional job. He's never knifed anyone or been a crim! Mini Elbows 1 had hers done at 11 in the summer between primary and secondary school. Mini Elbows 2 had his done at 11 in the summer between primary and secondary school because... equality. Mini Elbows 3 has asked to have his done too. I'd be horrified if any of my children were "fashionable". Pierced ears on men most certainly doesn't have to go hand I'm hand with gaudy huge fake diamond studs, uber tans and scrotal waxing! Mini Elbows 1 has branched out in to tattoos, I'm so proud and hopefully her brothers will follow suit and then we'll be one big matching family GrinWink