I don’t know about you girls, but I remember very well getting my ears pierced. There were the negotiations over the earliest possible age with my parents, then the anticipation as I awaited my 13th birthday. I was lucky enough to go with a very dear friend of many years (Louise Ross) which made it even more special.

So when Ellis started asking about when she could pierce her ears it conjured up many memories of all the above. My initial reaction to the ‘when’ question was double figures. It seemed a reasonably poignant time in a life to have it done, old enough to look after them without having to wait until early teens. I then began to think, what’s the big deal? They are only holes in ears afterall and not tattoos! So after much deliberation Denise (Amara’s mum) and I had a chat. I was keen for Ellis to be able to go with a friend like I did as that was such a big part of it for me. Luckily Denise and I were able to come to agreement and so, just before The Ford’s headed to Singapore for Christmas, Ellis and Amara went off excitedly to Essential Beauty to get stabbed in the ears.

Dave and Tom came too purely to take the mickey and crack bad jokes. I mean they came to support and encourage their little girls. Amara and Ellis were not put off at all by comments like “ah, that tissue must be to mop up all the blood” and “so you’ve really never done this before” to the piercer. Ellis and Amara smiled through it all and mentioned only a slight sting when the earrings went in. Brave little things are now very happy with their new ears. If they are anything like their mummies these will be the first of many piercings 😜.