*peeks around the corner*

Hello!

I've spent the last month in the depths of NaNoWriMo prep and attempting to finish the last novel. It's going well when I can open the damn thing.
Scrivener is an amazing platform, but when it goes rogue, it's frightening.

This new novel in the works is the first time that I've planned it properly. I've thrown myself into Character development, and scene planning, to the point now that I've got the most amazing spreadsheet, chapter by chapter which is SO useful for those moments when I feel like I'm just writing a load of shit and going off on strange tangents that don't make any sense.

Anyway. That's where I am with that.

Teeny came home with a smiley piercing after a sleepover at her friend's house. I know I don't need to say that all sleepovers are banned until the end of time.
Many many tears were shed (Teeny) and a few new grey hairs grew (me). I know this is my Karma. I KNEW that the universe was going to get me back from my teenage rebellion, but I thought I was being punished enough with LM being the naughtiest boy ever.
Clearly, I was worse than I thought.
We made her take it out, which was a drama in itself. The ring she used was too small so trying to take it out without ripping her lip was a chore. In the end, we threatened to take her to ER if she didn't remove it herself.
Worked like a charm.
;)
I hate being that parent, though. I hate saying no to piercings. I love them; I loved mine, and I remember very vividly what it felt like at her age wanting them and not being allowed. Instead of waiting until I was an adult like I was told, I went ahead and did them anyway; my sister pierced my belly button in our room before dinner one night. The popping sound of my skin as the huge safety pin will forever stay in my head. The look of shock on my sister's face was pretty priceless too.

We are really big on consent in our house. We have to be.
With Teeny's life experiences and trauma, we repeatedly tell her that her body is her own. No one can touch it or make her do something that she doesn't want to do. I drum it into her every chance I can, but in our next breath, we're demanding that she take out a piercing that she wanted badly enough to go behind our backs and do anyway. That makes me feel uncomfortable and a little hypocritical.

After all of that drama, I sat her down and explained the risks of what she did. Facial paralysis, infections and damaged teeth. When I said that an infection could move into her blood and put her in the hospital or worse case scenario, kill her, she admitted she had been very stupid.

The chances are, when she's 16, I'll happily take her to a professional, and she can have it back.
Lex and I are pretty laid back.
I'm pierced and have many tattoos. Lex does tattoos for crying out loud. We are not your average family. Our end plan is to eventually open our own studio (Million dollars, where are you?)
If Teeny comes to us wanting to do something or try something, we discuss and either say yes or no. A no ALWAYS comes with a reason, and not a 'just because'. That doesn't work with teenagers. They want to know WHY they can't shove a needle through their face that was only sterilised by hot water. (true story)

We ended our conversation with me turning into my mother.
"If you go ahead and do everything now, what will you have left later on?"

I could practically read her mind.
"More piercings and then tattoos."

Thank you universe, Thank you.