POP!!!! The piercing gun made the first puncture in Kate’s right ear lobe. She winced, blinked, looked straight at me, and howled! Her brother was delighted. When she’d regained her composure, Kate refused to have the left ear pierced. She’d had no idea it would hurt so much, and wasn’t about to go through the procedure again. We had a problem. She could have the first stud removed so the ear could heal over, she could live with one pierced ear, or she could put up with another “pop” like the first one. Kate’s tantrum continued. Mr. Roberts suggested we go home, think it over and come back later. The three of us left the building. Katie walked ahead with Aaron who pranced with glee at his sister’s dilemma. Half way down the street, Kate suddenly turned and pulled me back in the direction of the store. “Let’s do it.” she said. The second stud was placed without a fuss, and off we went to get ice cream and groceries. “What made you change your mind?” I asked her. “He did.” she said flicking her thumb in her brother’s direction. “He was enjoying this too darned much!”
Oh my, LOVE that story! I could see my daughters doing the same.
As for the “so young” comment, my girls are 8 and 6 and are picked on if they don’t have the right boots, accessories, etc.
I don’t remember this from my youth till I was much older (I can be oblivious, but about 6th grade when designer jeans and hair clips with ribbons came out). And that was easy. This, you need to know the right music, the right dances, have the right clothes and hair and backpack- exhausting! And they are plenty cruel when you fail!
Never had some of the above described problems in the 50s. There was one girl, though, who dressed so oddly that she was the butt of a lot of jokes and teasing. She had long hair, about waist length and wore it in braids coiled around her head. Her blouses were high collared , long sleeved and edged with ruffles. Her outfits looked like something you’d see the schoolteacher wear in Little House on the Prairie, which didn’t even exist when I was in 8th grade. I saw her on a bus several years later with very short hair and up to date clothes. I assume her parents had insisted she wear the “olden days” apparel.After that ear piercing discussion yesterday, I went and looked at the graduation photos in my high school yearbook. Not even ONE girl in the photos was wearing earrings, pierced or not! That was 1960. I know I didn’t start wearing earrings until I had a fulltime job a few years later. Oh, and those comments about uncomfortable clip earrings…I just pull the finding back a bit, being careful not to break it, and it’s just fine. I suppose, as someone mentioned, I could get pierced ears now, but I have quite a large collection of clip on and a few screw back (from Mom) earrings. Thanks for all the comments.
“That is the job of little brothers everywhere. If you can’t mess with your older sister, who can you torment?”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~She’s his younger sister.
Ms Magazine commented on this decades ago. As feminism took hold and women began rejecting fashions demands, the age of models got younger and younger.
Take a look at Pabst’s the New Adventures of Queen Victoria today. I think the strip is right on the money.
It’s a mix of peer pressure and parents allowing things, with the emphasis on parents. There are kids who are now getting cell phones as early as 4th grade at my kids’ school. No idea why other than their parents are giving it to them and the kid wants it. After a couple get one, then they all claim “everyone has one!”Of course, this situation can be applied to others, such as makeup, inappropriate clothes, etc…
The first time I saw a 5 year old wearing Panty Hose was about a Year after they came out.I hadn’t even considered that anyone would bother to Make them in Toddler Sizes.But, it was the Heels on the kid that still make me think “Child Abuse”..The poor kid and her mom were on their way somewhere in Matching outfits..
Cell phones are a great to keep track of your kids. It is not always because they want them – they will learn to talk to their friends, but at least my baby has a way to get hold of me.
timsoft over 8 years ago
well made point. still applicable after 30yrs
pelican47 over 8 years ago
Or the parents are pushing them into it. Glamour contests for babies seems so wrong, but it’s big business..Let the kids be children!
Mumblix Premium Member over 8 years ago
Lynn’s Notes:
POP!!!! The piercing gun made the first puncture in Kate’s right ear lobe. She winced, blinked, looked straight at me, and howled! Her brother was delighted. When she’d regained her composure, Kate refused to have the left ear pierced. She’d had no idea it would hurt so much, and wasn’t about to go through the procedure again. We had a problem. She could have the first stud removed so the ear could heal over, she could live with one pierced ear, or she could put up with another “pop” like the first one. Kate’s tantrum continued. Mr. Roberts suggested we go home, think it over and come back later. The three of us left the building. Katie walked ahead with Aaron who pranced with glee at his sister’s dilemma. Half way down the street, Kate suddenly turned and pulled me back in the direction of the store. “Let’s do it.” she said. The second stud was placed without a fuss, and off we went to get ice cream and groceries. “What made you change your mind?” I asked her. “He did.” she said flicking her thumb in her brother’s direction. “He was enjoying this too darned much!”
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 8 years ago
@Mumblix, Derision inspires bravery more than any pretty speech!
Carl Rennhack Premium Member over 8 years ago
“They’re wearing nylons, makeup…” & so are the girls!!
A Hip loving Canadian... over 8 years ago
Peer pressure or the constant barrage of advertising?
masnadies over 8 years ago
Oh my, LOVE that story! I could see my daughters doing the same.
As for the “so young” comment, my girls are 8 and 6 and are picked on if they don’t have the right boots, accessories, etc.
I don’t remember this from my youth till I was much older (I can be oblivious, but about 6th grade when designer jeans and hair clips with ribbons came out). And that was easy. This, you need to know the right music, the right dances, have the right clothes and hair and backpack- exhausting! And they are plenty cruel when you fail!
BarbJay over 8 years ago
Never had some of the above described problems in the 50s. There was one girl, though, who dressed so oddly that she was the butt of a lot of jokes and teasing. She had long hair, about waist length and wore it in braids coiled around her head. Her blouses were high collared , long sleeved and edged with ruffles. Her outfits looked like something you’d see the schoolteacher wear in Little House on the Prairie, which didn’t even exist when I was in 8th grade. I saw her on a bus several years later with very short hair and up to date clothes. I assume her parents had insisted she wear the “olden days” apparel.After that ear piercing discussion yesterday, I went and looked at the graduation photos in my high school yearbook. Not even ONE girl in the photos was wearing earrings, pierced or not! That was 1960. I know I didn’t start wearing earrings until I had a fulltime job a few years later. Oh, and those comments about uncomfortable clip earrings…I just pull the finding back a bit, being careful not to break it, and it’s just fine. I suppose, as someone mentioned, I could get pierced ears now, but I have quite a large collection of clip on and a few screw back (from Mom) earrings. Thanks for all the comments.
goweeder over 8 years ago
“That is the job of little brothers everywhere. If you can’t mess with your older sister, who can you torment?”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~She’s his younger sister.
IQTech61 over 8 years ago
Ms Magazine commented on this decades ago. As feminism took hold and women began rejecting fashions demands, the age of models got younger and younger.
Take a look at Pabst’s the New Adventures of Queen Victoria today. I think the strip is right on the money.
http://assets.amuniversal.com/d0f05050495401330b92005056a9545d
amaryllis2 Premium Member over 8 years ago
Who the heck wears nylons anymore? At any age? Or is my Californiaism showing?
lightenup Premium Member over 8 years ago
It’s a mix of peer pressure and parents allowing things, with the emphasis on parents. There are kids who are now getting cell phones as early as 4th grade at my kids’ school. No idea why other than their parents are giving it to them and the kid wants it. After a couple get one, then they all claim “everyone has one!”Of course, this situation can be applied to others, such as makeup, inappropriate clothes, etc…
Tarredandfeathered over 8 years ago
The first time I saw a 5 year old wearing Panty Hose was about a Year after they came out.I hadn’t even considered that anyone would bother to Make them in Toddler Sizes.But, it was the Heels on the kid that still make me think “Child Abuse”..The poor kid and her mom were on their way somewhere in Matching outfits..
route66paul over 8 years ago
Cell phones are a great to keep track of your kids. It is not always because they want them – they will learn to talk to their friends, but at least my baby has a way to get hold of me.
tea62 over 8 years ago
Don’t worry. These kids will never grow up. And you’ll never grow older.