That old chestnut again (earrings) but this took the biscuit.

[ijustwanttoaskaquestion]

I couldnt help myself it just came out of my mouth "oh my God, why would you do that??"

Went out for dinner with DP and DD, family resturant, hungry horse - lots of families. Anyway, There were we, DD (4) looking like an urchin child - unbrushed hair, scruffy clothes from being a cat in the school nativity play. Sat down was a perefectly presented family, little boy sat with the requisite spiked hair, spotless clothes. Beautiful little baby, i mean beautiful, still with a bobbly head, must have been no more than two weeks old, if that. So, being the broody mare that i am, im cooing like mad - only to see the biggest pair of gold studs in the poor little mites ears . I was visibly horrified, gasped, walked off muttering, why would you do that?? Spent the rest of my meal getting daggers from the mother.

They were very English, there was no cultural reason for the mutilation of their child. What is wrong with them?? FFS - i cried when my DD had her injections, most mums hate it but of course we do it, its for their own good - but what justification for firing an object, bigger than any needle through the thick skin of your babies ear? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY????

More importantly i feel, who the hell did it?? FFS? Can you really turn up at Claires accessories on your way home from the labour ward with your baby requesting them to be peirced??

I was 10 before i was allowed earrings - i passed out from the shock of the pain.
As for the argument that the baby wont really feel it or remember it - oh, stick it up your arse!!! ~I was actually a member of an anti tail docking organisation and read a paper by a respected vet that suggested that neonates actually feel pain more acutely than older dogs - i see no reason why this doesnt translate to humans.

Why is the peircing of children still leagal?? Its illeagal to have facial peircings done under the age of 16 (isnt it?) so why can we continue to do this to young babies - shame on them

my ears didn't hurt when i had them pierced aged 13 either, at most it felt like someone flicking your ear on a cold day

it didn't seem to hurt my dd either, she made no fuss

The only piercing I found painful was my tongue, and I have had 16 of them.

I had DD's done when she was 13 months, she wasn't bothered by it.

Mind you, what do you expect when you eat at a Hungry Horse?
To meet the Queen?

I ate at a Jimmy Chung's last night, bloody lovely it was but I observed many people holding their knives like a pen

And I meant to add a

I don't think the OP was being unreasonable. Why should she pretend to think something is acceptable when it's not? The woman needed telling that she's a crass idiot who needlessly mutilated her own baby.

I know most MNrs would not admit to like to judge (Parents choice, not illegal ect) but like someone already said, most mums hate it when their Dc has jabs and they are to save Dc from getting v. ill. Most mums wouldnt think its ok to stab a baby with a pin so WTF are they thinking off pearcing their little tiny lovley ears.
Cant understand it no matter how I try. Just because its not against the law dose not make it moraly ok.....

I poked my baby with a pin many times, both before and after I barbarically mutilated her.

Drinking her hot chocolate that I've just made her with my new coffee machine (steam thing to foam milk), she seems not bothered. Quite happy in fact making a bed for her new hedgehog toy.

But, hey, what would I know?

I do learn so much on here

Oh, and I didn't vaccinate.

Make of that what you will.

I didnt say it was mutilation.
Vaccination- your choice obv. I know I read up on everything I could find and it still was not an easy choice to make.

You can be passive agressive all you like. I dont agree with your choice on this issue - so what?! If you are happy you've done the right thing by your Dc then surley my oppinion should not wind you up I would have thought.

This was not a personal attack on you. I just disagree so calm down and have a

I know you didn't say mutilation.
I was replying the thread in general, not you.

The passive aggressive was not so serious. It does amuse me when folk really do it though.

I am happy with my choice, as is DD.
I know I'll never change anyone's mind on this issue, I do wish people would not label so much though.

Wasn't this subject dome to death and then some only a couple of weeks ago?

oh its done to death over and over mummygirl - but honestly, i was an involuntary gasp - i just couldn't stop myself. The parents definately saw that, whether they heard my "why would you do that" comment i don't know.

Hungry horse is funny, most times we vow never to go in there again - not because of the chavs, but because of the food!!!

Today i took DD to lunch and sat on the next table a pretty famous actress - i do like to get about

Had to laugh at HH though, last night there was another couple in there, the woman quite well dressed with her partner, or just a date - he was well up for his giant plate of steak and chips, she looked quite po faced about it all - lol, i dont think there will be a second date

Well, I think my mother had my ears pierced when I was about a week old ('culturally relevant' to her, i.e. she was born overseas where 'tis a very common practice) and I can safely say that I don't have any memories of searing pain and mutilation.

I'm sure those who were subject to FGM are not able to say the same, so I think people should tread carefully before making such such trite comparisons.

OP - you were very rude to "gasp and mutter". I'm afraid I judge you much harshly for your lack of manners than I would judge someone for having their baby's ears pierced.

its funny, i mentioned to my mum about it today, she is 73, half spanish with more than a sprinkling of gypsy blood - I said, "i couldnt believe it, she had her ears peirced" she was like and?? She thought it would have looked really sweet - i couldnt be arsed to remind her that i wasnt allowed mine done until i was ten and then only when my aunt took me behind her back!!!!!

Which actress?
You have to tell us.

I'm sure I was next to a first date table last night too!
He had 5 full plates of food, and his date had a cats arse face throughout, whilst she picked at a squid ring or two.

We had a good laugh at them about it, whilst stuffing ourselves and playing 'hold knife like a pen' bingo.

sorry mugglewump.

kinnies trys to temember that the world does not revolve around her all the time and other people may be being toung in cheek

To add to the debate, I know many, many women who have been circumcised (genitally mutilated) and they aren't crushed by the trauma and remembered pain of it at all. In fact, they consider it quite normal and are matter of fact about it. Doesn't make it right though.

I couldn't care less if my DD gets her ears pierced when she wants to.

But I won't be letting her know that. I will refuse until she pleads, tantrums, bargains and eventually acknowledges my all-round wonder and greatness, at which point I will 'give in', and let her get them done.

Why would anyone give that battle up by having their baby's ears pierced? I mean, at least let them think it's their idea.

What do babies with pierced ears demand their parents let them do to self-mutilate?

Pick your battles, I say.

Oh, and OP, your reaction was pretty rude; but I think you know that.

Just because far worse things could be done, doesn't make forced piercing acceptable.

You were right on. You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Just because I don't kick my children in the head doesn't make it okay to poke them with a stick.

yanbu, it's horrible, hate seeing babies and toddlers with pierced ears.

muggle, i dont know her name, she was in soldier soldier i think - i see her alot around where i live and it freaks me out because i expect her to recognise me because i recognise her! She doesn't of course!

I think it's gross. Should be a 'rite of passage' thing, when you're old enough to have a big row with your mum about it...

Seriously, I do think it's a horribly unnecessary thing to do to a child. My piercings & tattoo are there because I want them, on my body.

I don't think I've got the right to start mucking about with my dc's ears just because I like the look of pierced ears - they aren't my ears to pierce, end of.

Obvious caveat re: making decisions for them which impact on their health etc etc, but aesthetic stuff is their call, with a parental right of veto until we judge they're old enough to choose for themselves/get worn down by the nagging...

I don't think the OP was BU particularly. OK, most of us would probably have tried to bite our tongue, but it sounds like a blurt rather than a harangue.

Denise Welch?

She's the only one I know.

As well as having DD's ears pierced when she was a baby, I make as many decisions for her as I can.
I make a point of it, the more painful the better.
I make them in public whilst wearing my handbag earrings and velour tracksuit.

Doesn't everyone?

was she in soldier soldier? no, it wasnt her - very pretty woman, dark hair, officer.

just out of pure nosiness, how many of you don't have your ears pierced?

my point is about it being 'their choice' what little girl doesn't want to get it done and what teenage girl won't go and do it anyway?

and i agree with mugglewump, i don't like being labeled a chav and an abuser just because my dd's ears are pierced