Our little girl is so grown up!

We did something last night that was very uncharacteristic of us...

We were at dinner and Hannah asked when she could have her ears pierced. At first John and I both sort of shrugged... putting it off as I have done for this question numerous times. But she persisted, wanting to know a day, a time, an age, anything that could solidify that this was something she could eventually do.

John then says, "You know what, Hannah? If you want your ears pierced, you can get them done whenever you would like. In fact, we can walk over to the mall after dinner here and check it out." At first I was thinking 'Oh no! Bad idea! Take it Back!' Then I watched the following unfold...

Hannah was slightly confused. I could see the look of disbelief, excitement, and then apprehension fall upon her face. "Well, maybe when I am a few years older..." she said.

Nodding to myself, I was thinking 'GREAT! Crisis averted!' But as we sat longer, I could see that she was trying to talk herself into it. Knowing that this was no longer a decision her parents would make for her, but a decision she had to make for herself. She knew it might hurt a little. She knew what the outcome would be. She needed to make a decision.

Eventually she voiced her thoughts. "I want to go check it out, but if I change my mind I don't have to, right?"

John and I both looked at each other, like what in the world have we done?

We headed over to the mall, let her see the chair and the earrings, and gave her the choice. She was firm in her decision. The sales girl made the dots, cleaned her ears, loaded the ear gun and did the first one. Hannah jumped slightlyand gave me a look of worry, but also managed a weak smile. She knew what she had to do. The sales girl quickly loaded the next earring and did the next one before Hannah had a chance to change her mind. The tears started flowing, but only for a minute or so, then she asked to see them. Through her little sniffles, she managed a big wide smile! She had done it!

It was a moment I hope I never forget as a parent. While I am still not even sure I agree with allowing her to have pierced ears at the age of four, I am so proud that she made a decision, stuck with it, and knowing how the first one felt went ahead with the second. She is growing up!

{PS. I was without my camera, but we used John's iPhone and he got at least a 'before' pic... I will add an after pic asap :)}