# I need a son like a hole in my head... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171 "2004-03-29T21:53:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/1 "2004-03-29T21:53:45Z")
VunderKind came in Sunday night to spend part of his spring break with us. For two years, I’ve said ‘Hell no!’ every time the subject of earpiercings came up; I was playing the Big Bad Dad, with every intention of getting the job done for his Sweet 16. So, today, my 16 YO son got his ears pierced. Even better, I had my left ear done, too. My MiL gave me all kinds of hell about not getting his ears done. Now I expect to catch more hell because I actually did it and she thought I wasn’t up to it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/2 "2004-03-29T21:58:25Z")
Think of how much easier you’ll both be to shop for now. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/3 "2004-03-29T22:04:25Z")
> [@vunderbob](#): > > VunderKind came in Sunday night to spend part of his spring break with us. > > For two years, I’ve said ‘Hell no!’ every time the subject of earpiercings came up; I was playing the Big Bad Dad, with every intention of getting the job done for his Sweet 16. > > So, today, my 16 YO son got his ears pierced. Even better, I had my left ear done, too. > > My MiL gave me all kinds of hell about not getting his ears done. Now I expect to catch more hell because I actually did it and she thought I wasn’t up to it. I’m not quite grasping this. You MIL has been hammering you because you have (previously) _not_ gotten your (then younger than 16) adolescent son’s ears pierced… or is it the other way around? If she fer it or agin it? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/4 "2004-03-29T22:13:36Z")
I have both ears pierced. I fondly recall the awkward discomfort on my mom’s face several years ago, when she asked me, number one son, if I had a pair of earrings she could borrow. How many mothers get to ask that favor of their sons? ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/5 "2004-03-29T22:14:39Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I’m not quite grasping this. > > You MIL has been hammering you because you have (previously) _not_ gotten your (then younger than 16) adolescent son’s ears pierced… or is it the other way around? If she fer it or agin it? She’s all for giving me a hard time. I was saying no so I could do it as a b-day present. Now that it’s done, she’ll find some other way to give me crap. ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/6 "2004-03-29T23:05:09Z")
> [@vunderbob](#): > > I was playing the Big Bad Dad, with every intention of getting the job done for his Sweet 16. You have a 16 year old son? WOW. Btw, I’d let my son get his ears piereced if he wanted to when he was 16 as well. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/7 "2004-03-30T02:47:18Z")
> [@misstee](#): > > You have a 16 year old son? > > WOW. Does this mean it’s over between us? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/8 "2004-03-30T03:55:59Z")
Ornamental mutilation, I just don’t get it… Yes, even my wife’s ear piercings give me the willies. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/9 "2004-03-30T04:22:25Z")
So, what did you get, or are getting, in your ear? I’ve never had the inclination, myself, but I’ve seen some earstuds on guys that I thought were really cool. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/10 "2004-03-30T04:31:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Ornamental mutilation, I just don’t get it… I dunno. I’m thinking of some piercings for my 14-year-old son. Of course, I am thinking of doing it myself using 20d nails common, not box and leaving them in the 4x4 until the holes heal or untill he starts to listen to me. Oh, wait! You were talking of _ornamental_ piercings. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/11 "2004-03-30T04:45:31Z")
If it works, **Tom** , please let me know. Although my 16 year old might like it. You think you can nail their ears _open_? I’m willing to put up my ten year old for experimental purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/12 "2004-03-30T04:51:21Z")
Forgot the obligatory Disclaimer for the sarcastically impaired: I love my children dearly. I would not actually nail their ears. I would however think about it. In that fantasy daydreamy sort of way that you learn as a coping mechanism after parenting for 16 years. I am not an animal, I am a Mom. Which is why I would never really eat them either. No children were hurt in the making of the above post. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/13 "2004-03-30T11:08:05Z")
My daughter wants to get her belly button pierced (she’s already got 2 holes in each earlobe) - I’m being a meanie and saying no. ick. I have no extra holes in my head, thankyouverymuch. Inserting metal in my delicate flesh is just so not doable!! A friend of my mom’s decided he wanted his ear pierced - he was 72 when he got it done. It didn’t surprise me, tho, he’s just that kind of guy - the type to do the unexpected… But not me. No way. _\_ ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/14 "2004-03-30T11:23:58Z")
Well, once the ears are pierced, next comes stretching. I’ve gone from 2 regular piercings (one in each ear) to 2 8GA\* holes in about 4 months. It’s kind of addicting, to see how far you can stretch it, but my Real Job™ won’t let me keep them in, and the holes can tend to close up. Plus, 8ga is about all i want, it’ll start to be really noticeable when they’re out if I go any bigger. \*8ga is about equivalent in diameter to the cord on your keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/15 "2004-03-30T13:02:16Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > My daughter wants to get her belly button pierced (she’s already got 2 holes in each earlobe) - I’m being a meanie and saying no. ick. I have no extra holes in my head, thankyouverymuch. Inserting metal in my delicate flesh is just so not doable!! > _\_ Awe, come one **FCM** this is the ONE rebellious things kids can do that they wont have to regret later on in life… sorry, I’ll stay out of your life now… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/16 "2004-03-30T13:06:59Z")
**SHAKES** , I told her when she’s a full-fledged adult and I’m not paying her apartment rent and car payment, she can pierce and tattoo whatever she wishes. But as long as she qualifies as a dependent, Mom and Dad still make the rules. I’m so mean… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![misstee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@misstee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misstee)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/17 "2004-03-30T13:34:40Z")
> [@vunderbob](#): > > Does this mean it’s over between us? 😉 Never. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/18 "2004-03-30T14:47:36Z")
When my brother was about thirteen he wanted to get his ear pierced, and our mom had no objections, so pierced he was. He didn’t keep it for very long, but it wasn’t a big deal for us. And my mom took me and my cousin to get tattoos. And yes, our family is sort of weird, but my cousin and I were both of legal age, and both moms wanted somebody else to see the place to make sure it was a decent shop before they stuck needles in their daughters. I can’t say I blame them. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/19 "2004-03-30T15:25:36Z")
My 19-yr old just got his ears pierced. They look pretty cool! He was jealous a few months ago when I finally got the tattoo I’ve always wanted. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171/20 "2004-03-30T15:37:27Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > So, what did you get, or are getting, in your ear? > > I’ve never had the inclination, myself, but I’ve seen some earstuds on guys that I thought were really cool. I have a white gold stud for now. After it heals, I intend to replace it with a ruby stud. VunderKind has stainles stell barbells, but then he’s Goth-lite… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-son-like-a-hole-in-my-head/237171.md?page=2)