She did it!

Saturday afternoon, as Mary Clare, McCanless and I were hand-in-hand skipping out of Magnolia Mall, it hit me.  I realized that I had just experienced a major rite of passage with my oldest daughter.  McCanless did it.  She got her ears pierced.  I was in tears as I looked down at my big six- year- old smiling like a Cheshire cat.  I had no idea I would be so emotional.  I didn’t feel quite so weird when we later called my sister and she also cried upon hearing the news…

It was a beautiful sunny day and the girls team decided to put those Christmas gift cards to good use and go shopping.  A few shops later, we were in line at Target and McCanless looked at me with a sly grin.   “Mom,  I want to go get my ears pierced.”

I nearly fainted.  She has wanted real earrings for a while now, even going so far as to wear magnetic and stick-on earrings daily, but wouldn’t dare put herself through the pain of the real deal.  I told her after her sixth birthday she could do it.  But still, she refused and said she would never, ever, ever really have her ears pierced,  so it came as a huge surprise that she seemed ready.

We immediately took off for Claire’s boutique in the mall.  I didn’t have my camera,  Mary Clare was in dire need of a nap and we only had 20 minutes until I had to be home for a party with Daddy.   I knew we would have lots of consideration and contemplation to do.  This is McCanless we’re talking about.  Lots to do in little time.  I was skeptical.  We walked in as another little girl was in the piercing chair.  Great.  As soon as the little girl began to scream I knew we would be leaving soon.  No ears pierced.  I told McCanless we could go home.  No big deal.  (Actually, after seeing the little girl scream, I didn’t really want McCanless to have it done.  My heart ached as I knew she would soon feel the same pain. ) I encouraged her to wait a while.  Maybe even bring Daddy with us next time. Later. Maybe in a month.  Or two.  This summer, even.

I think it was the allure of the shiny, sparkly earrings all around her, but she was more determined than ever.  She chose “diamonds” and it was over in a matter of minutes.  My baby girl cried for a moment and a diamond-studded big girl emerged  from the hot pink vinyl chair eager to see herself in the mirror.

Immediately, Mary Clare threw herself in a rage onto the floor screaming to have her ears pierced, too.

McCanless perused the big hoop section and chose a multi pack of pink, purple and turquoise hoops.  I had to.  I couldn’t tell her that after going through all of that, that mom and dad had a few rules about types of earrings.    We’ll get to that later.

So my big girl has her ears pierced.  I have no photos of the monumental event, but I will never, ever forget the smile on her face, bursting with excitement, as she looked in the mirror for the first time to see her beautiful “diamond” earrings.

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