Our rule is 14 for earrings (first pair paid for by us), 16 for piercings (which need to be paid for by our children themselves), 18 for tattoos and anything else.

My husband is an acupuncturist and knows the very real issues any kind of piercing can cause to a person's entire system. Some people are more sensitive to this than others but either way no holes go into our kids bodies until my husband has made sure they don't interfere with any acupuncture points and meridians.

OP here - thanks for all the thoughtful replies.

I was 18 when I got my ears pierced (girl). I was so alternative (for not getting them pierced)! My mom was 60 when she did it - and i was so happy because it opened up so many new opportunities for gifts!

I heard DS ask DH about it last night. He said he wants a skull or a gold ring. DH said "i wanted to do that when i was your age, too..." that's all I heard. DH has no piercings/ink. I'll let you know if we go through with it.

xxoo

Anonymous wrote:I'm a man. I got an earring when I was 10. Mom told me I could get it as long as I paid for it. She thought she was getting over because I didn't have an income stream, other than my probably $2/week allowance.

Well, about a week later, we were at the local mall, and I won a drawing for a $25 gift cert to the mall. What did I do? Got my earring and my first CD--Back in Black.

I'm 33 now and I got rid of my earring six years ago. Didn't fly with DC's uptight work environment. But I, and it, had a good run.

This is a great story.

For boys... No to all piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs and alcohol.

I can not wait until your daughter comes home on her Harley pierced and tatted from head to toe.....Your son, however, he will be the anti-christ....How about educating your son to make rational decisions as an adult when they reach the legal age to do so on their own instead of being an asshole parent?

If any one of you were questioned this by your daughters would you hesitate or allow her to get her ear/s pierced? And at what age?

Make sure you are being FAIR!

Also if you know your child is responsible enough to care for their ears, once pierced, then let them.

Does he play sports? When I was young we had to cover earrings with masking tape, but now some refs require you to remove the earring entirely. If so, get it pierced between seasons since you have to leave the stud in for several weeks at first.

I'm a woman who got my ears pierced when I was 10 (lobe). My brother asked for an earring when he was 10, too. Mom said yes--equal rules for both kids. My brother was scared that it would hurt, and wanted me to sit in the chair first. So I got my second set of ear holes at 13. Since then, I've let my second holes close, and my brother has let his piercing close, too. You can't see the scars unless you get way up close. We're both in our 30s.

I would do the same for my DS.

Anonymous wrote:Oh god no. Can't stand that look- I assume he's some bratty spoiled entitled kid whose parents have been trained to say yes to his every whim.

I'm a man. I got an earring when I was 10. Mom told me I could get it as long as I paid for it. She thought she was getting over because I didn't have an income stream, other than my probably $2/week allowance.

Well, about a week later, we were at the local mall, and I won a drawing for a $25 gift cert to the mall. What did I do? Got my earring and my first CD--Back in Black.

I'm 33 now and I got rid of my earring six years ago. Didn't fly with DC's uptight work environment. But I, and it, had a good run.

I wouldn't do it because I do think many people still have a negative impression of earrings on males, and I don't thnk 11 is old enough to consider the consequences fully.

I recently told my 17 year old son that he couldn't get an earring. I told him when he is 18, he is free to do as he pleases with piercings. He was not angry but said, "that's sexist," since I agreed that I would allow a DD to get her ears pierced. I shrugged and said, "it's a sexist world."

My boys can dye their hair, style it any way, and wear what they want. But no permanent markings or piercings until they are 18.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For boys... No to all piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs and alcohol.

But for girls, piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs, and alcohol are ok?

Something for every hole....

Oh god no. Can't stand that look- I assume he's some bratty spoiled entitled kid whose parents have been trained to say yes to his every whim.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For boys... No to all piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs and alcohol.

But for girls, piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs, and alcohol are ok?

For the girls, one in each lobe and 1 more either in lobe or cartlidge.

No for girls on the rest, but the question was not for girls.

My rules (boys and girls, single or set)

1st in ear: 10
2nd: 13
3rd: 16

Anything else or anywhere else on the body: out of my house, I don't have to hear about it, and I don't have to look at it.

Anonymous wrote:For boys... No to all piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs and alcohol.

But for girls, piercings, tattoos, motorcycles, drugs, and alcohol are ok?