[micpac70]

We just received a picture and medical update on our daughter - she is absolutley beautiful... but what a surprise when we got to her third picture and at 3 months - theyhad already pierced her ears My husband and I had decided that we weren't going to have her ears pierced until she was older. I know it seems like a little thing but to me it is something a mother and daughter do...... Does anyone know if this something common in Guat and can a foster mother just go ahead and do this?? If I could only figure out how to post the picture - her earrings are bigger then what I wear... and they tell us not to wear jewlery in GC

[jossalyn]

when we were down visiting there were several little "baby" girls that the foster moms just went and did the same thing.. our daughters foster mom didnt but I did see several babies with their earings.

[kacmom1]

I think it's pretty common for little girls to have their ears pierced in Guatemala. Don't be too upset, I'm sure they are hoping that you'll be happy!

[linda512]

I've heard it is very common and considered a sign of love in Guatemala. So, I would guess the foster mother thought she was doing something wonderful for the baby.

[micpac70]

Thanks for your everyones input! I really should just appreciate that the foster mother is taking such good care of her. We get to see her finally in 5 days

[guatamama]

This is very common with Guatemalan girls. They pierce their ears as a show of affection. It is an outward sign that the child is loved. Your foster mom was probably proud that your baby had them done.

[Kesti]

We too had the same thing happen with our princess no. 2 and were not at all happy about it because our princess no. 1 does not have pierced ears. Apparently the foster moms either put a red bracelet on the baby girls or get their ears pierced out of love for them. Our princess no. 1 came home with the red bracelet.

[shellysarita]

We actually brought earrings down and asked the foster mom to do this for us because we knew this was a symbol of love in their culture. Our bio girls had to wait 'til they were 5 to have their ears pierced.

Love, Shelly

[rjjacob]

I think it is common and is done as a sign of love. We actually wanted our daughter's ears pierced and asked that they be done in Guatemala.

[rickyloca1999]

We asked our foster mother to pierce her ears on our second visit. Our agency only allows it if we give them permission. I wanted them down because it is part of her culture and a symbol of love.

[campingfayrene]

Our agency called us stating the attnys wife wanted to know if it would be ok to pierce our babies ears from what info I got:
Piercing infant girls ears are just as common as circumcision is in th US
She also said something that they use red stones(earrings) to represent the love/blood of the heart
I thought since they were going to do it out of tradition I will pass that on to her that her foster mom loved her and had that done for her and for us
Cindy

[annaguat]

We did the same thing and brought earrings along on our visit trip. The foster mothers and translator seemed very happy we asked to have the girls ears pierced. Anna

Originally Posted by rickyloca1999

We asked our foster mother to pierce her ears on our second visit. Our agency only allows it if we give them permission. I wanted them down because it is part of her culture and a symbol of love.

[lisam951]

Our dd was 1 yo on our visit trip and we were asked if it would be ok to pierce her ears. We told them it was fine, knowing that it was important to them. However, when we went for our pick up, they had not done it. We are waiting until she is older. Our bio dd had them done when she was 6 so maybe then we will let her do it. Although, she is (at 2.5) already talking about wanting to wear earings like sissy.

[yaddakal]

Before reading thsi thread, I would have totally objected. I want my daughter to be able to ask me to take her to get her ears pierced and remember it. Now seeing the culture, out of respect I understand and it gives me something to think about. Thanks!