If memory serves, even D.W. (a preschooler) from “Arthur” wanted pierced ears like her friend. Later on, the friend had to return the earrings for her ears turned green.
When I was a child, over 60 years ago, most women did not have pierced ears. At that time, where I lived in Chicago, anyway, it was considered something from a “foreign culture”. Women wore clip on and/or screw back earrings. I think it was the ’70s when ads started appearing in newspapers for free ear piercing when you bought a pair of earrings at a local store. All of a sudden it was the fashionable thing to do. All my friends and coworkers had it done and our daughters begged until we said yes, which was when they were in high school.
My husband never liked the idea of “putting holes in your body”, as he remarked and preferred that I didn’t get my ears pierced. At the time, it made no difference to me, so, to please him, I didn’t have that done. If I had known how extremely popular pierced ears and earrings would become, I would have had that procedure performed on me because soon it was almost impossible, as it still is, to find earrings for non pierced ears. I know a couple websites that sell them and often I buy clip on earring findings at a craft store, and change the pierced ones to clip, when possible. One never knows what the future will bring.
I have to give my mother credit for allowing me to get my ears pierced at age 12 (as I was usually not allowed to do anything the other kids were doing). I guess coming from an Italian background, it was not that unusual. She just wanted me to be old enough to care for them myself. And finally, as the contributor above wrote, it was impossible to get clip on earrings and she, herself, took the plunge at age 50 and had hers pierced. Interestingly, SHE was the one who had trouble caring for her own. She fainted the first time she tried to change them! LOL
No, she wouldn’t enjoy it more. It would hurt and you would have to care for it each and every day. You would have your hair get caught on them. You would have your toys getting caught on them (think doll hair). If you were tumbling around the yard you could get them caught and have them rip right out of your ear. I’ve known people who had them as kids who had their ears ripped open by their earrings getting caught on stuff. It would quickly become a torture, every day of her existence until she broke down and let the holes close. And then she’d have scars.
Elie you are so wrong when talking back in your day lot of life has changed. My daughter made me take get her ears pierced so eventually I got mine done though I am not doing as others more then two piercings; whereas my daughter wanted more. Your daughter can still enjoy her childhood.
And pierced ears are no long just a girl thing. I see many boys with stud earrings at my middle school all the time. Every Saturday I have to remind several football players to take them out before their games.Believe it or not — there are some middle schoolers with pierced lips and noses as well, but that’s a whole (hole?) ’mother story.
Back in Ireland, at the turn of the last century, my grandmother wanted peirced ears. Her big sister had her kneel and put her ear on a stump and used a huge nail to make the hole, effectilly, nailing it to the stump. They finally got the nail out of the stump, pulled it from her ear and then she said that one was enough. She had a huge hole in her left ear her whole life.
@old Sarge: No, it’s not supposed to be funny, it’s supposed to be a chronicle of family life in Canada, and like all families, there is sometimes humor, sometimes sadness, and sometimes downright tragedy.
Yes, I enjoyed my childhood with pierced ears. Because of an unfortunate game of tag in kindergarten, I enjoyed it with one hole being much larger than the other since the tagger had to grab my earring and yank. To this day, my earrings are always worn lopsided because of that game. Personally, I would rather my children wait until they are at least 12. Even if they prove to be responsible before then, that does not mean the other 12 year olds are. I learned this the hard way.
When I was 16, 48 years ago, I had a classmate pierce my ears. Ice cube to numb the lobes, sewing needle to make the hole and insert string through holes. My Dad was against me having pierced ears. Did this on the sly. When he saw the string through the holes, he had a fit! I had to remove the string. When I turned 21 and was out on my own for a few years, I pierced my own ears.
Templo S.U.D. about 9 years ago
If memory serves, even D.W. (a preschooler) from “Arthur” wanted pierced ears like her friend. Later on, the friend had to return the earrings for her ears turned green.
Beleck3 about 9 years ago
once a kid, always a kid!
BarbJay about 9 years ago
When I was a child, over 60 years ago, most women did not have pierced ears. At that time, where I lived in Chicago, anyway, it was considered something from a “foreign culture”. Women wore clip on and/or screw back earrings. I think it was the ’70s when ads started appearing in newspapers for free ear piercing when you bought a pair of earrings at a local store. All of a sudden it was the fashionable thing to do. All my friends and coworkers had it done and our daughters begged until we said yes, which was when they were in high school.
My husband never liked the idea of “putting holes in your body”, as he remarked and preferred that I didn’t get my ears pierced. At the time, it made no difference to me, so, to please him, I didn’t have that done. If I had known how extremely popular pierced ears and earrings would become, I would have had that procedure performed on me because soon it was almost impossible, as it still is, to find earrings for non pierced ears. I know a couple websites that sell them and often I buy clip on earring findings at a craft store, and change the pierced ones to clip, when possible. One never knows what the future will bring.
dlkrueger33 about 9 years ago
I have to give my mother credit for allowing me to get my ears pierced at age 12 (as I was usually not allowed to do anything the other kids were doing). I guess coming from an Italian background, it was not that unusual. She just wanted me to be old enough to care for them myself. And finally, as the contributor above wrote, it was impossible to get clip on earrings and she, herself, took the plunge at age 50 and had hers pierced. Interestingly, SHE was the one who had trouble caring for her own. She fainted the first time she tried to change them! LOL
Miba about 9 years ago
No, she wouldn’t enjoy it more. It would hurt and you would have to care for it each and every day. You would have your hair get caught on them. You would have your toys getting caught on them (think doll hair). If you were tumbling around the yard you could get them caught and have them rip right out of your ear. I’ve known people who had them as kids who had their ears ripped open by their earrings getting caught on stuff. It would quickly become a torture, every day of her existence until she broke down and let the holes close. And then she’d have scars.
kab2rb about 9 years ago
Elie you are so wrong when talking back in your day lot of life has changed. My daughter made me take get her ears pierced so eventually I got mine done though I am not doing as others more then two piercings; whereas my daughter wanted more. Your daughter can still enjoy her childhood.
Fido (aka Felix Rex) about 9 years ago
And pierced ears are no long just a girl thing. I see many boys with stud earrings at my middle school all the time. Every Saturday I have to remind several football players to take them out before their games.Believe it or not — there are some middle schoolers with pierced lips and noses as well, but that’s a whole (hole?) ’mother story.
route66paul about 9 years ago
Back in Ireland, at the turn of the last century, my grandmother wanted peirced ears. Her big sister had her kneel and put her ear on a stump and used a huge nail to make the hole, effectilly, nailing it to the stump. They finally got the nail out of the stump, pulled it from her ear and then she said that one was enough. She had a huge hole in her left ear her whole life.
Brett Bydairk about 9 years ago
@old Sarge: No, it’s not supposed to be funny, it’s supposed to be a chronicle of family life in Canada, and like all families, there is sometimes humor, sometimes sadness, and sometimes downright tragedy.
rcerinys701 about 9 years ago
Just remember that “Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional.”
HJBoehm about 9 years ago
Yes, I enjoyed my childhood with pierced ears. Because of an unfortunate game of tag in kindergarten, I enjoyed it with one hole being much larger than the other since the tagger had to grab my earring and yank. To this day, my earrings are always worn lopsided because of that game. Personally, I would rather my children wait until they are at least 12. Even if they prove to be responsible before then, that does not mean the other 12 year olds are. I learned this the hard way.
LV1951 about 9 years ago
When I was 16, 48 years ago, I had a classmate pierce my ears. Ice cube to numb the lobes, sewing needle to make the hole and insert string through holes. My Dad was against me having pierced ears. Did this on the sly. When he saw the string through the holes, he had a fit! I had to remove the string. When I turned 21 and was out on my own for a few years, I pierced my own ears.
Wooded trail about 9 years ago
I’ve loved this strip many years! but glad to read ones from before I was born. =)