Advice with Teenage Daughters & Piercings

[whippetgirl]

Check out this article from the San Francisco Chronicle.


http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...AGIEFKN7I1.DTL

I took my 16 year old daughter to get her belly button pierced. In Berkeley at Zebra. They hand out bumper stickers that say: "My honor student got pierced at Zebra."

It was okay. And their sterility standards were impecable.

[Dianyla]

Echoing the recommendations to go to a reputable piercer who is good at proper piercing placement and jewelry selection. I use titanium for all of my piercings because it is one of the safest least reactive metals. And, aftercare is the most important part of a piercing. Even given the best piercing and aftercare, it is very common for navel piercings to fail to heal. I recently retired mine after trying very hard for 15 months to coax it into healing, but no go.

I don't think a navel piercing is a big deal from a "morality" or "nice girls don't...." point of view. They are totally mainstream with most folks under 40 and with many folks over 40 as well.

Then again, maybe I'm not one to talk. I've got 10 piercings, only 4 of which are above the neck and publicly visible. You do the math.

[Triskeliongirl]

I am with Steinspinne and Knot on this one. I don't think it reveals any deep psychological problems, its just what kids do today, but make sure its done safely. I also think its great that she asked your permission. In giving it, you have more control in being sure its done safely. Also, its not permanent, if it causes problems or she changes her mind, all she has to do is take it out. Its private, so in no way will effect how a more conservative prospective employer, etc. views her. There are worse things, so if it were me I'd pick my battles. By the way, both my kids have piercings, and they are outstanding students at outstanding colleges. I don't like it either, but I respect their right to self expression and understand that it is simply a part of our modern popular culture.

[Crankin]

Well, neither of my 20 something boys have piercings, but the marine has the one required tatoo (big USMC letters on his bicep). Yes, this is the same one who shaved his legs all through high school. Personally, I do not like tatoos or piercings, other than in the ears, but almost every young person i have worked with has them. It's just a fashion statement, really. I would take Silver's approach. My kids tell me the important stuff and even ask advice on subjects that most sons would never discuss with their mom. Since I would prefer to keep things this way, my advice is to carefully choose your battles. Once you've cleared up the health/safety issues, then i don't see why she shouldn't get the piercing.

[SheFly]

You've gotten some good advice here.

Several years ago, right before a trip to the Bahamas, I decided I would get my navel pierced to suprise my DH. He was all for it. At that time, you couldn't legally have any body piercings done in our state, so I drove over the border to NH (where everything is legal ), and drove up and down the street until I found a place that looked "reputable" and "clean". It should be noted that I am probably the most conservative person you could ever meet .

Long story short - I got it pierced, something was wrong right away, I left it hoping it would heal and it never did. I ended up taking it out, and letting the hole close back up.

The funniest part? My little brother, when he found out, went ballistic. He couldn't believe that I would do something like that, and what was I thinking. This from the guy who has ARMS and SHOULDERS full of tattoos! I told him that at least mine wasn't permanent .

I think a navel piercing is ok, especially at her age. It's not really about rebellion (as others have said), or she wouldn't have asked permission. Remember that it isn't something permanent.

SheFly

[sandra]

<Knot-has-5-facial-piercings>

Ok, now we need a picture.

Mr. Silver, I must admit. My ears are pierced and about 2 months ago I DID decide to get the second set of piercings right above the traditional piercings. I had two sets of diamond stud earrings and they were just sitting in the jewelry box. I decided to go for it and I really like it.

So. It looks like you have lost. Let her go for it!