My 13 Years Old Son Wants to Wear 2 Earrings.(one on Each Ear)

Why are you so not ok with it?

To me, it is his body and his choice. Also, it is just an earring. A lot of boys wear earrings around here and you see it all over tv and movies.

I wouldn't think twice about it if it were my son.

Lots of guys wear two earrings.

According to my MIL, my husband went through that phase when he was around that age. He wore the earrings for a couple years, then got sick of them and took them out.

Honestly, at this age I would consider him old enough to make this decision. It's not like it will have long-standing consequences or is a permanent thing. (Well, the holes are semi-permanent, but they aren't all that noticeable once hey have healed if he gets sick of the .) Most parents wouldn't think twice if their 13 year old daughter wanted them. This is one of those gender constraints I have never understood. It is common enough that you don't even have to worry about bullying.

I would have absolutely zero problem with allowing it.

Earrings don't mean anything. They're a fashion accessory. Anymore, one looks silly. 2 is quite the norm. I'd say go for it. What's the worst that's going to happen?

If that's the worst things he has done, count your blessings.

Is this still an issue?

I'm as conservative as they come, but I don't see a problem.

Why not? They are his ears and he knows his own tastes and style. Both of my sons have had both ears pierced at different times. My youngest first asked for them at the age of 3. I had to ask myself "if he was a girl would I say yes" and knowing the answer was yes there was no way I could say no, I refuse to raise my child with double standards, plus we now know that forced gender stereotypes do more damage to our kids then anything else. He kept them until he was 7 and choose to take them out. If he changes his mind we can redo them. My older son waited until he was 8 to get them, and he only chose to wear them about a year and then removed them. No big deal. This is not like a tattoo that is forever.

My opinion is that their bodies are their bodies. Now, I would not want anything other than ears pierced for a child under 18. What are his reasons for wanting a second one, and what are yours against it? I would let him make his case, and perhaps make him pay for the earring and wait 3 months to be sure he still really wants it. He can always remove the earring later, unlike something like a tattoo that is harder to be rid of. What I would not support at this age is having gages and stretching the earlobe. Over 18 for those kinds of body mods, IMO.

In the scheme of things that matter -- it's not the worst thing to let a 13 year old boy wear two earrings.

Why don't you make the extra earring conditional to your son accomplishing something, i.e. if you do X, we will let you get the extra earring. And maybe make him pay for it himself.

Is one earring 80's? LOL, I guess I'm out of touch.

I'm not sure what the harm, or damage, is. This sounds like an extremely harmless way to ... stand out from the crowd ... or fit into the crowd ... or whatever he's trying to do. If you say no to this outlet, there's a risk he'll seek a less healthy one.

I don't see a problem. My son wants his pierced. I told him he had to wait to he was 6. If he wants it, I can't see a reason why he shouldn't get it done.

he's a teenager. this is not a hill to die on.
he can poke holes in his earlobes if he wants to.
khairete
S.

It's jewelry. What's the big deal?

I'd let him. In the grand scheme its not going to make a big difference. If he's in sports, schedule it around that b/c they generally have to remove them to participate in activities.

Guys wearing earrings are way more normal now than in my day when if, depending on which ear had the earring, determined straight or gay. That doesn't apply anymore. It's not uncommon for guys to wear two earrings today. If girls can do it, why can't guys?

Piercings seem to be a regional thing. Around here there are hardly ANY boys with ear piercings, either one or two, so if this was something my son wanted my only concern would be that he might stick out and be a target for teasing. But just a few miles away, in a more urban setting, I see lots of teens, boys and girls, with piercings, extreme hair styles/clothes and sometimes even tattoos.
So I think it depends on what the cultural norm is, and how comfortable your son would be if he's the only boy at school sporting this style.
And if he doesn't like it it's not that big of a deal he can just let it close up, it's not permanent.

I'm in the who cares camp on this one. Is there really anything wrong with him having two ear piercings rather than one? He knows how to care for the piercing, right? So let him do it.

I would rather my son get both ears pierced if he wanted them than just one. One is sooo 80's LOL sorry I couldnt resist.

Did he take care of the first one properly? If so, then why not? If he got some horrible infection or something with the first one I might be concerned, but otherwise I would definitely allow it. Most guys I know with ear piercings have both. One is definitely 80's-fabulous.

This is no big deal. If he wants to wear 2 earrings, I see nothing wrong with it.

One hole, 2 holes, a ton of holes on each ear. Wouldn't care one way or the other. Who cares if he's a boy and that's a "girl thing". It doesn't need to be. In fact, at this point, it isn't really anymore.
His body, his choice. I could think of a million other more harmful things he could be choosing to do with his body. Piercing an ear (especially the other one to match when one is already done). If he's responsible and taking care of them and does not mind the haters that might make dumb comments about it I wouldn't care.

If he doesn't like it, he will let the holes close. Not a big deal. I let my second (actually third) hole close years ago because I never used it. Can't even tell it was there.

My answer would be different if you were talking about a true facial piercing. That would not be ok with me. Kids have no idea that these will be an issue for them professionally once they are looking for real jobs.

ETA- I just read the answers. I had no idea that one earring was out and two were in. Missed that completely. I will have to start looking around more.

I agree with everyone who said "this is not an issue". As long as he pays for it himself (actually, if it was my kid, I'd probably even pay for it, it's less expensive than a new pair of sneakers), takes care of it to prevent infection, etc, I have no problem with this. There are WAY worse things he could be doing.

If you are ok with one earring, why not two? It sounds like whatever you think two earrings implies is YOUR issue. It is very "in" for guys to wear two earrings. And holes close up if he changes his mind at some point.

You already let him pierce one so I don't see how you can say no to the other. However, I have an 11 yo son who wants his ears pierced, has since his sister got hers done 3 years ago when she was 11 and we have told him when he's 18 and out on his own he can do that. JMO. Good luck.

My husband got both his ears pierced when he was 16, he is now 34 and still has them done and I LOVE them. :) I don't see anything wrong with it, it could be worse!

I would not allow it - then again I wouldn't have allowed one earring either.

What does your husband think?

Also, it really depends on the kid and the totality of the circumstances.

Good luck with your decision!

Who cares? The only problem I would have is if he wants to do that thing where they stretch their ears out. Too many of my coworkers have had to have theirs surgically fixed after doing that when they were younger and then realizing it was stupid later. I used to wear a ton of earrings, 4 in one ear and 2 in the other, and now I rarely do. He'll possibly decide he doesn't want them both when he's older, he might decide he likes it. But a little earring hole is no big deal.

And if you're worried about it being "gay", plenty of straight guys do it as well, my brothers for example. It's really no big deal.

I'd let him. If his friends make fun of him then he will take them out. If they don't then he's accepted and it's not big deal.

My FIL has several earrings he wears in one ear and he's 80.

Honestly, it doesn't matter what we think...the decision needs to be made under your roof.

I have 3 boys (under 9) and we would not allow piercings. Hubby and I are both anti-piercings and tattoos--that's our choice. If our kids want to do it when they're adults, fine. But, not while they live under our roof.

Oh dear. I really wish your husband didn't allow this! I also wish you would have tried to convince your husband from allowing this (or maybe you did)?

I don't like the sound of this. First he wanted one earring. Now he wants another one. I shutter to think what will be next...

Pleases do NOT allow a second earring! I would take away his current earring, actually. I know he will be very upset, but at 13, what can he do? Nothing. However, I realize in a few short years, he could rebel even more and get many earrings just to piss you off. Okay, maybe don't take away his current earring due to a possible rebellion.

But definitely do NOT allow a second earring! Tell him one is enough, and you don't care that all his friends are doing it (if they are, which I'm sure they are). Good luck.

Some guys do.
Fortunately our son (he's 15) thinks it's weird.
He doesn't desire to have any holes installed into him (thank goodness) and he doesn't really understand why guys would want to be pretty in this way.
For that matter, girls with a lot of piercing seem to be bucking for qualification as Swiss cheese.
He has friends who are pierced but that's not why he's friend with them.
He over looks it but doesn't admire it.