Belly button piercing for 16 yo DD?

[Anonymous]

My daughter is a good kid, honor student, all the rest, and lately has been BEGGING me to let her get her belly button pierced. She's wanted to get it done for more than a year, and I keep saying no. I am not a fan of it at all - I don't think it looks good on anyone, and I guess I'm old-fashioned (gasp) but I feel there's a trashy connotation to go along with it.

Many of her friends (good kids) have it done, her same-age cousin had it done a couple of years ago, friends' sisters have had it done... so when she says that "everyone" has had it done, she's not exaggerating too much.

She would like it as a reward for the great grades she's been getting this year (junior year, with AP and honors classes). She's been working extra hard b/c of college applications coming soon.

Am I really that old-fashioned?? WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Parent of a DD. my first instinct was no (for the reasons you cited) but after reading it, I'm more on the fence. You can always say "if you still want it done at 18, that's your prerogative." Which is true.

FWIW I got my nose pierced at 16. My parents were horrified, but what can you do? Kids are going to do what they want to do, but I'm assuming your DD is better behaved than I was

[Anonymous]

I would hate the idea. However, is this a hill to die on?
I would make a rule that whatever she does to her body should be completely removable (not a tatoo!) and be invisible when she goes on interviews.

[Anonymous]

Geez, I got my belly button pierced when I was 16 (and that was 24 YEARS AGO). I was an honor student, never in trouble for anything, and it certaintly didn't change who I was or make me a trashy person. She can always take it out down the road. I took mine out during my first pregnancy and never put it back, no big deal.

[Anonymous]

I don't see the issue. It's not the same as a tongue ring from the other thread (which is gross).

[Anonymous]

I'd be okay with it. Especially a piercing, which she can remove when needed.

Definitely go to a tattoo parlor though! Someone super clean and hygenic.

[Anonymous]

Let her. Two years ago when she was 16 my DD had a friend pierce hers for her. She kept it very clean and I only found out when she lifted her arms up and it was exposed at the bottom of her shirt. I was mad, but it wasn't the end of the world. I would have much rather she had gotten it done professionally but it was fine with n the end.

[Anonymous]

Just let her do it as a reward for being such a great kid. The hole will close when she's done with it.

[Anonymous]

If you want, OP, I can email your daughter a picture of my belly button ring scar now that I'm 33 weeks pregnant. It's really, really ugly. Totally regret that now!

[Anonymous]

No. It is skanky.

[Anonymous]

When I was sixteen, my father signed for me to have my bellybutton pierced. I was a straight A kid, no behavior issues, and getting a piercing didn't change that.

My best friend, on the other hand, pierced her own bellybutton at 14. And it got nasty and infected. Not saying your daughter will do this, but it's not really a big deal.

[Anonymous]

My DD begged to get one 18 months ago (she was 17) and I reluctantly let her do it since I felt that she was going to do it on her own when she was 18 anyway...I decided it wasn't something to really fight over. I also appreciated the fact that she came to me and asked rather than doing it on her own with a friend which could have caused an infection, etc. She knew it should be done by a professional with the right equipment and sanitary. At the same time she knew how I felt about it and we agreed that if I really hated it she had to agree to seriously consider taking it out. She was (and is!) a great kid - responsible, respectful, honest and hardworking. I can't say that I loved it, but it wasn't so bad. And, you know what....? She ended up taking it out on her own within 9 months. She hated it, found it uncomfortable and annoying.

OP - if your kid is responsible in all other ways then let her have this one little "rebellion". If she's anything like my DD she will take it out quicker than you think. Sometimes our kids who are so responsible need to stretch their world and live a little....even if piercings are not my favorite thing (don't talk to me about tattoos!) I do believe there are much worse things that our kids could be getting involved with these days!

[Anonymous]

When my DD asked to get one, I told her as soon as she got into one of the colleges she applied to, she could.