Pierced

Dear Lila,

So many fun birthday festivities this year! On top of your pottery painting date with Riley, the day at Nickelodeon Universe (you rode crazy roller coasters, played arcade games and met Chase from Paw Patrol--I know that last one was your favorite part, don't even pretend!) and our trip to The New York Public Library, we did one more thing for your 10th birthday: Daddy and I took you to get your ears pierced!!!

You have wanted to get your ears pierced for awhile and I figured your first double-digit birthday was a good time for this exciting milestone. When I was a kid, everyone got their ears pierced at a kiosk in the mall. And when I was a kid, I got my ears pierced at said kiosk and got a bad infection. So no mall kiosk piercing for you! I took you to a nice, clean boutique in Williamsburg with licensed nurses (not part-time teenaged employees) and the nurse who pierced your ears actually took a very long, careful time to mark your earlobes and make sure the piercing sites were as symmetrical as possible before he pulled the trigger. You said it hurt, but it was quick. You have to keep your studs in, even while you sleep, for an entire year and you can't wear dangly earrings (which is what I know you really want to wear!) for the first six months, but the scary piercing part is over and now you can look forward to shopping for and collecting earrings!

I hope you had a fun, memorable time turning 10! I love you so much!

Love,

Mom