Made a promise I can’t deliver on

[Rulesforthesakeofrules]

I promised DD that she could get her ears pierced after primary school. Her new school doesn’t allow earrings. I’ve been told that studs need to be left in for eight weeks…so basically she can’t have them done until she leaves secondary school…or sits in isolation room for a fortnight after a summer holiday (another child and parent were told this). Transparent earrings or plasters over them aren’t allowed either. It’s a school that seems to pride itself on going further on petty dogma than other schools in the borough, but not going as far where more important stuff (clamping down on bullying, standard of teaching) is concerned.

The getting around rules is an interesting one. Let’s take the new guidance on the number of branded uniform items which schools are meant to implement. At the end of term, when the uniform policy was finally updated, some items of uniform have now been marked as optional. A pullover can still be purchased for school, but it has to be the one with a logo from the uniform supplier. It’s been marked as optional so there is no alternative logo-free option. The PE uniform is logo-free, but has very specific colours and stripes - we couldn’t manage to source these outside of the uniform shop.

That’s getting around the rules.

Agree completely,
i remember my Parents was at first quite cross when as a teenager I’d been and had my ears pierced, mum wore those clip on, which either hurt her ears or fell off, little while later she said ‘make me an appointment but will you come with me’ it was a jewellers we went to, and was a lovely mum and daughter day, we never had many as my parents run a small business, but that day was so special and helping mum look after them was lovely together time, and fun later choosing our new earrings together…so piercings get my thumbs up 👍

I apologise if you've answered this already, but your daughter hasn't even started at the school and already you're finding it a negative experience.
Is there nowhere else? When you read all their information, did it not put you off applying?
Not a criticism, a genuine question.

They will close up if you take them out. DD’s closed from overnight and we had a struggle to get them in and that was almost a year later!

I wouldn't let my daughter get her ears pierced. She did get them done, herself, when she was 25! I have never had my ears pierced.

4 - 6 weeks is all it takes. They're healed after 4 but I've always left an earring in for 6 to make sure they're perfectly healed. I can leave my holes without earrings for years on end but the hole is always still there.

So what you saying?

Please don't fall for the studex marketing. The healing process takes as long as it takes and no spray can speed that up.

My gunned lobe piercings took significantly longer to heal than the needle piercing as they do so much more damage to the ear tissue.

I had a third set put in 3 weeks ago by an APP piecer and the advice was to leave the jewellery in for 8 weeks. In reality I was pain free the next day and my ears appear healed. I know they are not though and will be waiting at least another 3 weeks before I change them and then I won't be leaving them empty. Fresh piercings can close over very fast and forcing jewellery back in causes damage and further delays the healing process.

Can’t you get some clear “invisible” earrings to wear during school?

Not always a great idea in really fresh piercings. They can cause irritation in some people and can cause infection.

I had to use them for a regular activity and my piercing was always sore and weepy afterwards even though it was well healed.

So all in all, it’s still a bit of a gamble if I get them done at the start of next summer hols?

Do you have an APP piercer near you https://safepiercing.org They are all very well qualified and experienced piercers who have undergone extensive training. I would contact one and have a chat.

This won't be a new scenario to them and they can talk you through the various options. They may have some clear retainers that are hypo allergenic that you could use during the day after 6 weeks or have another solution for the problem.

From what I’ve gathered so far, the school’s stance would favour infection, isolation or waiting five years above a temporary solution.

They don’t have to be cheap.

Get them done at the start of the next summer. Explain this to your kid. Count your blessings you don’t have a real problem.

Count your blessings you don’t have a real problem

Condescending.

Why on earth are you sending her there?

But its not like it's a necessity like a braces or a leg brace. It's a vanity choice.

The school sounds unreasonable. Most schools allow one small pair of earrings these days

I've never come across a school which doesn't, tbh.

Yeah, I hadn’t either.