Teen Questions - Smart Love Answers

Should I say “no” to my daughter’s piercing?

What is your view about body piercing? My teen wants to get her nose 
pierced. I find the idea totally repulsive, but she insists that lots of her 
friends have done this and she thinks it looks “cool.” 
     At first, I just said “no,” but she has been begging and begging. I  
told her that I was worried she would pick up a disease from an unsterilized 
needle, but she says the place her friends go for piercing guarantees the 
procedure is sterile and that I can check that out if I want. 
     It goes against the grain to just say “no” in an arbitrary way, but 
I don’t have any other real arguments except that I just don’t like the idea. 
She says I am just out of touch and old fashioned.  What’s your advice?

S.H., Naperville

If body piercing is not against your religious beliefs, and if you find that 
it can be done safely, consider allowing your daughter to go ahead. 
     Just as you probably let her wear clothes that are not exactly to your 
taste as long as they are appropriate for her age, the fact that you find 
nose piercing unattractive is probably not a sufficient reason to forbid 
her from doing it. Moreover, unlike tattoos, which are extremely difficult 
to remove, piercings will grow together and disappear if the wearer stops 
wearing the jewelry that is keeping them open. So your daughter always 
has the option of changing her mind if she decides she no longer likes 
to look.

PRETEEN/TEEN Q&A

Should I say “no” to my daughter’s piercing?