Thursday, May 28, 2009

Um menino?


That translates to "A boy?" I get asked that question quite regularly - almost daily in fact. And all because Gabriela doesn't have pierced ears. One might think people would notice the pink and purple dress long before looking at her ears, but not here. They just go straight in for the ears looking for studs.



And while pierced ears really aren't a big deal to me, we're choosing not to get it done until she asks for it. Mostly just because I wouldn't want someone to pierce anything of mine without my prior approval. So we're waiting. I don't care if she's only two years old when she requests it, because, like I said, it's not a big deal. But, we'll wait until she asks. (We also won't be giving her a belly button ring, piercing her nose, or putting a stud through her eyebrow in the first year of her life either - in case anyone was wondering. hehehe)




Meanwhile, maybe I'll stick a post-it note on each side of her head which reads, "Oi! Sou uma menina" (Hi! I'm a girl) just to clear up any doubt that the pink and purple dress leaves behind for folks.

4 comments:

Nadja Kari said...

I understand that !!! Well, I never look first to the ears to see if the baby is a boy or a girl... the clothes and acessories and stuff say much more.. but here in brazil is always like that , yeah. My mom pierced my ears when i was born, same day if im not mistaken... and its normal for moms to do that... only a few of my friends didnt have their ears peierced when they were babies!!! but youve got the reason on my opinion...

Mine were badly done... the position is not correct and now you can actually see the mistake they made when i was a little baby, and i didnt wear any earrings till i was 15 years old, i hated them hahahaha

tchau
tchau

Anonymous said...

Hi! From Nicaragua!
Here is like Brazil, but the clothes tell you much more, and earings is not a big deal. Congratulations
to the baby girl! She's prety cute.
Beijos!

Anonymous said...

Emily, I want to share with you something you may be unaware of about the reasons almost all baby girls have their ears pierced in Brazil and Latin America.

First, it is not just gender identification to let others know your dd is a baby girl. My abuela told me when I was little that it is considered a sign of love and devotion to a baby girl to have her ears pierced as a newborn. Often little gold balls or red stones are inserted soon after the piercing to show the baby girl is loved in a male dominated culture.

Culturally, if a little girls doesn't have her ears pierced, then it is perceived she is not accepted or loved by the family. Obviously in your case that is not so, but the earrings are the outward sign of love and affection for a baby girls.

Speaking of culture and tradition the Godmother, my "Madrina" pierced my ears at 3 days old when I came home from the hospital. You become the Madrina of a baby when you pierce the baby's ears. My godmother was very poor and just pierced mine with a sterile needle and a piece of red silk thread tied in a knot. When I was a week old, others gave her money to buy and put a pair of gold balls in my little ears like your mommy. Everyone knew I was not only loved, but a baby girl.

I just wanted you to know about the cultural tradition behind baby girls with pierced ears in the country where you are residing.

If you change your mind and decide to pierce your dd's ears, then you will be signaling to all who see her how deeply she is loved and not only she is a little girl.

Amy
amyswor@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I dont think it has anything to do with being a male dominated culture and I dont think it is perceived she is not accepted or loved by the family.

I think they just do it because its pretty and feminine.