Jan 15 2009
Is 11yrs old too young for expressing individuality?
I’ve always been a firm believer in expressing yourself. Whether it be through art, writing, or the way you dress.
My daughter is 11yrs old. She begged all last year for hot pink highlights to go in her blonde shoulder length choppy hair. I was wary of it to begin with, so I told her, “if you still want them at the end of the year then we will do it for your birthday.” Well, of course she did and she never forgot my promise. So while we were at the mall one day spending her birthday money, we walked into Hot Topic and there, of all things, was hot pink hair color sitting right on the shelf.
So I let her buy it and we came straight home and put 2 streaks in her hair. It was so cute and edgy! Yes, I must say I loved it. It just fits her personality. Well, of course, some people gave me looks and a few rude comments saying she was just too young for that. But I just brushed it off. I mean she is MY child. Heck if I wasn’t so old with 3 kids, I might have some in my hair too.
So anyways, the other day she wanted to get her ear pierced up top. Just a little blue sapphire. Nothing extreme. She knows that there are limits. I mean, I don’t want her to look like she is trying to look like some older experienced teen, if that makes sense. So after a day of deliberating I pierced it myself.
Now I have people saying that I’m pushing her to grow up too fast. Am I? I mean, would an earring and a pink stripe really say that I’m a bad mother pushing my child to be grown? She is a great kid! We go to church, she hangs out with good kids, makes all A’s. I think if I dont’ let my children express themselves then they will find other ways behind my back that I don’t approve of.
I dont’ really approve of people running out an piercing their infants ears either. But it’s not my business.
My kid is not a girly girl. She is not conservative. She is her own person who is punky and edgy. She likes beautiful clothes but she also likes to make her own fashion statements. I believe she is going to grow to be independent and be her own person. And I am very proud of her!
