"I Don't Want To Do It": An 8-Year-Old Girl Refused To Have Her Ears Pierced, And Her Dad Turned The Experience Into A Teachable Moment
PSYCHOLOGY
"I Don't Want To Do It": An 8-Year-Old Girl Refused To Have Her Ears Pierced, And Her Dad Turned The Experience Into A Teachable Moment
An 8-year-old refused to pierce her ears, and her dad turned it into a valuable teachable moment
Eight-year-old Adelaide Baker couldn’t stop talking about how she wanted to have her ears pierced. Naturally, her parents agreed – their daughter is old enough to make this choice.
When the girl turned 8, the family went to a local jewelry store. Adelaide picked the earrings she liked, and, just moments before the staffer was about to pierce her ears, the girl changed her mind. In tears, she told her dad: “I don’t want to do it.”
Adam Baker, the dad, didn’t get mad at his precious girl for being indecisive. Instead, they simply left the store, and he told her they would have her ears pierced only when she’s ready.
The considerate dad shared this experience on Facebook, and it struck a chord with many. Adam’s post has been shared more than 10,000 times and many people praised him. Here are some of the comments:
Why you should talk to your child about consent
Teaching your child about consent starting when they are still young is very important for their relationships with others and their sense of self-worth. The concept of “culture of consent” isn’t only about sex – it’s about boundaries and respect.
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Adam’s reaction to his daughter’s refusal to pierce her ears is a prime example of culture of consent. When a child is young, they may agree to have something done to them even if they don’t want it just because they feel intimidated and afraid to say ‘no’.
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What Adam said showed his daughter that she alone can make choices about her body. When parents let their children make decisions about their own bodies (and parents are the highest authority for young children), the kids learn when it’s OK to say ‘no’.
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By showing your child that you respect their boundaries, you teach them to expect the same from others.
The material in this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a certified specialist.
