Monday, May 12, 2008

Piercing my illusions

I pierced my navel 13 years ago when I was 25 years old.

I had just been dumped by my long-time boyfriend. I had cried off a good ten pounds of excess weight, was working out like a mad woman and was in the best shape of my life.

It was a painful but exhilarating way of confirming my emancipation. “I am hot. I am fearless. I am embarking on the next chapter of my life.”

I removed my navel piercing almost three years ago when, almost six months into my pregnancy, I glanced down and realized that it had inexplicably migrated halfway around my back.

Apparently that was my body’s way of saying, “You are not hot. You are a mom. You are embarking on the next chapter of your life.”

Click here to read the rest of my latest Shooting For Hip column over at Better Than A Playdate. There is an actual un-retouched photo of my formerly pierced navel over there - honest to blog...

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26 comments:

Karen MEG said...

Your piercings are your badge of cool. I always thought about doing it, the navel thing, but was too chicken. I have a thing about pain.

But a nose ring as well, wowza! You'd probably save a fortune in toddler toys though, I'm sure playing with that would be the utmost in entertainment ;)

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

No nose piercing for me--my most daring piercing is the cartilage of my ear. At 44 I think I'm a bit past the bold piercings phase.

I did take both my daughters, 18 & 13, to get their noses pierced recently. Since I'm sort of known for my conservatism and strict parenting, it surprised a lot of my friends. I think they look totally cute though--I can see why you were sad to let yours go.

Amy said...

I am too much of a wimp!!! he he he

Memarie Lane said...

I used to get a piercing for each time my heart was broken. And my navel one was definitely the biggest heart break. I took it out long before I got pregnant, but it didn't make any difference; I now have two belly buttons.

OHmommy said...

OKAY.

Stop it.

It is offical. I can not wait to meet you. I just wrote about being HOT in my post today.

Should I call you tomorrow so we can plan our outfits accordingly? ;)

Stomper Girl said...

You should get a tattoo!!!!! that was my 30 year old rebellion. And now I'm wondering if I can face the pain (only hurts during, not afterwards) to get my kids names somewhere. As my 40 year old rebellion!!!

Brittany said...

I removed mine about 2 weeks into my pregnancy with Adam. I felt like I needed to grow-up myself. Now I have a heap of scar tissue and a weird lightly colored scar. But, I am glad to no longer have it. It always got in the way of my pants! lol

Mental P Mama said...

Oh, that is great! All the following chapters will be just as exhilarating...I can assure you!

E said...

So now it's time for a tattoo Diva. I got mine when I was 31. I still love it. She is a little blue Native American rendition of a montain lion on my ankle. I got her after I'd been sick with breast cancer. And ankles don't change much as weight flucuates etc, so she is still there, a constant reminder.
And you and your husband are both still plenty cool and plenty hot...we have seen the pictures

Karen said...

I've never thought I was hot. Must have something to do with the fact that I can't remember to put a bra on in the morning or brush my hair.

Aunt Becky said...

I've had my belly button pierced twice (one pre-Ben, one post) and ot is hideous now. I'm still lusting after the eyebrow ring, tho.

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Great story - and I don't think your navel looks that bad...my own piercing scar there is all but non-existent!

Miss said...

I had mine pierced a few years ago and just last week i took it out. It's strange. It was like a piece of me and now? I dont even miss it.

Melissa said...

oh gosh I remembered that I almost did some piercing when I was living in London. I still wish I did, but I know I would have taken them out by now. Oh the joys of motherhood :)

Anonymous said...

I pierced my belly when I was 20. I kept it in until I turned 30. Even though it had been closed for almost two years before I got pregnant.. the sucker still stretched.. your belly looks great.. :)

Joanna said...

Something tells me you have a much higher level for pain than I do.

Nowheymama said...

HA! I pierced *my* navel at 21 after a bad breakup, and I removed it when I was pregnant with my first child at 26.

kay said...

i pierced my nose (with a safety pin!) when i was 18. as soon as my first was born, out that sucker came. if you think pulling on hair is bad, try having someone pull on your nose ring!! OUCH!

kay said...

hahaha! so i just went over and read your article. so you can see it would have been as bad as you thought to do your nose instead of your navel!

Mommy said...

I used to have a whole bunch of holes in my ears - then I got real diamonds - and lost the extra earings. I got a tatoo at 21 - and a belly button ring at 22 (which my now husband thought I was too chicken to get!) I, sadly, had to remove the belly button ring when I was pregnant - and I did shed a tear. I felt I was losing my pre-mommy identity. But - I survived...and will NEVER go through that pain again!

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Damn the coolness that is you DMD! I ALWAYS wanted to do that but was way too weak. I have navel envy. :)

LunaNik said...

I was able to leave my belly ring in thru both pregnancies up until the last 2 weeks. I was lucky. My tongue ring, however, I took out. It is NO FUN having morning sickness with a stud in your tongue. Especially when "stuff" get wrapped around it and you have to take it off with your fingers and...ewwww...I'm shutting up now.

caramama said...

I put my belly ring back in after I'd recovered from the C-section. I keep telling hubby that I should just take it out and be done with it, but he keeps talking me out of it. I guess I'm not really ready to give it up yet or I'd do it anyway.

And your stomach looks fantastic! Super hot mama!

Anonymous said...

I took out the belly button ring when it kept falling out - the little ball that screwed on the end wouldn't stay in place - and took out the nose ring my first day of teaching freshman english because I thought I didn't look professorial enough with a nose ring. I miss them both - though not the eight or so rings I used to have in my ears - but at least I still have my tattoo. They made me feel like a bad ass, which I am not, but it was nice to feel that way from time to time.

Mighty Morphin' Mama said...

You still have such a lovely navel! My tummy is horrid, oh well.
I too had my nose pierced, I think I was about 25 at the time, with two little ones.
Within' my Monkey boys's first year, he managed to pull it out, quite painfully and I was never able to get it back in. I considered having it redone, but I was too lazy and at 30 I was okay with letting go. I still have the hole though, looks like a giant pore.ick.
Hope you had a lovely Mother's day, you have been in my thoughts, I hope you are finding some peace and hope.

Damselfly said...

"More decorative than functional," hee hee! That's a fine belly b you have. I came close to piercing mine too....