Ear Piercing

I would have pierced Kai's ears as an infant but her Dad didn't agree at the time (his 2nd daughter got hers pierced as an infant..way easier!) Anyway---- so for a few years I have been wanting Kai to want to pierce her ears. She was not interested, afraid of the pain.

Age 4- NO!!

Age 5- NO!!

Age 5 1/2- Okay.... 3 min in the chair and NO!! tears, hysteria-- not interested! It's gonna hurt!

Age 6- NO! Mo--om, it's gonna hurt!

Age 7 (ok, 6 yr 11.5 months)- I'm ready- but there are butterflies in my tummy!

And yesterday, she put on her tough face and got her ears pierced! She was at the mall doing some Christmas shopping with her dad. I got a call, and was actually right accross the street from the mall, from her dad asking me if it was ok. She had walked by a pretty pair of earings and he said something like "if your ears were pierced you could get those" and she said "Okay!" He was shocked I think.

Meanwhile, we have been talking about various friends who have their ears pierced, how fun to change out your earings, turning 7 and maybe this was the time, etc. So, I was not quite shocked...but kinda!

Luckily, I could just drive right over and be there- plus I always have my camera with me!!

Kai was being brave although anticipating pain. The showed her "Claire Bear" and how it works to pierce her ear (which Kaileigh added up was her 8th piercing!). It sounds kind of like a stapler so I was afraid that would be the end of it....but no- she perservered. Then the lady, in dialogue with Kai compared it to a shot. Well, I thought for SURE she'd be off the chair then because she absolutely gets panic stricken when it's time to get a shot... but no- she perservered.

You'll see here some brave faces, some nervous faces anticipating this

Then what is an awful face of pain

Tears as she looks at what she just let happen to her

And a happy face, proud to show off her pretty pink flower earings and go to school to show her friends as well.

I know hardtimes and trials will come her way in her future and many children struggle day to day with basic needs, extreme fears and awful daily life situations. I am so blessed to have a happy, healthy, safe child who's biggest fear today was how bad will it hurt to pierce my ears? I'm blessed she can enjoy being a kid- with simple pleasures and I hope this is something she can experience for many years to come!

She has such a sweet spirit, not quite understanding how hard others her age have it, but trying when we discuss it-- and then WANTING DESPERATELY to do something to help! She loves buying gifts with me at Christmastime for kids less fortunate (we volunteered for 4 different groups this year because neither of us know how to say no!) Her teachers and coaches always describe her as helpful and kind to others around her and I am so proud of her outlook on life!

The other day when I was picking her up from the bus, I was in my warm car on the phone (with my mom maybe?) and she was taking her sweet time to get to the car. Walking through the snow, sitting in the snow, stopping for something and mouthing to me to get out and come over there. Of course, I waved at her that I wasn't getting out and to come to the car (I wasn't getting in the cold!) Turns out she wanted to show me bunny tracks she found in the snow! How sweet is that--- in my hustle and bustle I place on myself, would I have even NOTICED the bunny tracks in the snow? Probably not, but in that moment, I realized I need to. For the rest of the week when out walking the dogs, I've noticed (and I'm sure they have too-- haha) the tracks in the snow- bunnies or others, the decorations and lights on people's houses and the clouds up in the sky.

I love what we can learn from these little souls!

(Wow- this blog just totally morphed from an event yesterday to my deeper thoughts about stopping to smell the roses! ha! Imagine what my journals look like!)