Piercing Your Ears and Other Things You Don't Want to Do

I understand that you don't want to pierce your ears

But you know what?

You are eight-years-old, Jessica Jane

The world ahead of you

Is full of nothing

But items on a checklist

That you do not want to complete

Or fill out

Or whatever

It's tedious

And awful

And it involves earrings

And tight dresses

And uncomfortable bras

Like the one I have on right now

And nobody's happy

About any of it

Except the men

Because they created all of it

You think these earrings

Don't hang heavy on me?

Get real, Jessica Jane

Embrace the reality of the situation

Don't tell me little boys in your class

Don't look at you

And smile at you

And say they want you

To be their little girlfriend

And do you know who you have

To thank for that?

Mrs. You're-Looking-At-Her

That's who

Because I don't cut your hair short like a little boy's

Like Terri Anne Thompson's mother does

Because I don't hate you

The way Terri Anne's mother hates her

I respect and love you

And I respect and love the journey you're on

And I respect and love the future man

That you are going to make very, very happy

Because your mother cared enough

To push you in certain directions

You may not have wanted to know you wanted to go in

Until you were already

Headed that way

I would be remiss

If I just let you walk around with bald lobes

And bad shoes

And pale, drab lips

So instead, I make you do things

And you cry, and that's fine

Because the truth is, Jessica Jane--

Mommy cries too

Oh, believe you me

Mommy cries a lot