Management Styles and Earrings
In my last post we talked about management styles and the differences between Puppy and Kitten. But it wasn’t until Kitten got her ears pierced recently that I realized just how different the girls really are.
Puppy started asking to get her ears pierced when she was three or four. I had my ears pierced on my 6th birthday with my godmother. Afterward, she took me out to lunch to celebrate and I still remember how special this event made me feel.
Wanting my girls to have the same type of memory, I told Puppy she had to wait until she was 6. She was fine with that. When the day finally came, she spent an eternity agonizing over exactly which earrings she would choose. After the piercing, she burst into tears and continued to sob all the way through lunch. She was thrilled with her earrings, but apparently the pain was much greater than she’d expected.
Kitten’s experience was totally different.
From the time she could talk, Kitten was adamant that she never wanted to get her ears pierced. “Never, never, NEVER,” she said.
“It’s your decision,” I always replied.
It was quite a shock when she came bounding into our bedroom one morning shrieking, “I want to get my ears pierced!”
After prying my eyes open, I managed to point out that she’d never wanted them pierced before.
“Now I do. Today!”
I was tempted to say she had to wait until she was 6, but I knew if Puppy said she was ready to have her ears pierced, then she was ready.
I showed her the earring choices online, and she immediately pointed to a pair of pink flowers. When we arrived at the store, she marched up to the desk and announced she wanted her ears pierced. She didn’t even hesitate when she climbed into the chair for the actual piercing. After the first one was done, I asked if she was okay.
She blinked twice. “I’m fine, Mom.”
After the second ear was done, she hopped down grinning ear to ear. No tears, no fuss, just pure joy.
I know she’s never regretted her decision because after she tested for her orange belt in karate recently, she came rushing off the floor and I gave her a big hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” I said.
She pulled back. Instead of responding, she tucked her hair behind her ear and asked, “Do you think anyone noticed my earrings?”
I’ve got to give the girl credit: at least she’s focused!
