Conquering fears

For about six months or so, Savannah has been considering getting her ears pierced. We have left it totally up to her. I think it was November when she first said she was ready. I took her to the mall, she sat in the chair and we started looking at the different earrings she could choose from.  Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears, and she said she was way too afraid and better wait until she was six.  So away we walked.  Then, come January, she decided she REALLY wanted them pierced and promised me she would do it.  So we got to the mall, and this time filled out the paperwork and everything before she burst into tears again.  I am fairly certain that the employee thought I was forcing this upon her, so I just calmly told Savannah it was up to her.  Mind you, I was a bit frustrated at this point, and as we were leaving I told her she could bring Dad next time.  That was when she told me she would do it when Aunt Camille came to visit.  So, on February 12 (she tells everyone the exact day it happened), Camille and I took her in.  This time we got a lady who seemed to know what she was doing and I gave her a heads up while I was filling out the paperwork.  Camille tried to keep Savannah's mind off of her fears by looking around the store with her.  The employee offered  the option of piercing both ears at the same time (brilliant) and when Savannah started to panic in the chair, Camille and I just looked at each other, not sure what to do, because this time they had the earrings ready to go into the ears.  Finally, the employee asked Savannah if she wanted her to "numb" her ears.  I was confused, and then a little distraught when I realized she was tricking my daughter, but nonetheless I kept my mouth shut when I saw Savannah relax as the woman applied the ear solution to her ears.  Still, I had to hold her on my lap, while she held her doll Rebecca, and stared at Camille during the process.  As expected, Savannah said it didn't hurt "hardly at all" and she has been giddy about it ever since.  And especially after the first six weeks, when she got to start changing the earrings out, she just keeps saying, "I am so happy to have my ears pierced!!" Ashkii was relieved that she did it since I told him he got to take her the next time:).