That was quite a response. Thank you so much. The truth is, after sitting with it a few days and dealing with the fall-out, I have come to a conclusion.

I like how the nose rings look. I had a strangely bonding moment with my 13 year old daughter. We were exhilarated and high-fived. It was better than going on a roller-coaster with her. I came to some other conclusions to.

I am a kick-ass wife and mother.

I am committed to my family.

My family has never had to deal with me wanting independence, or fulfilling my own needs before their own.

I was a punk in my teens with (for a short time) a mohawk. It was always combed down around my aunt. I was the type who put my real clothes in my back-pack and changed at school. I had to defy convention at every turn. I felt a need to stand out and separate myself from the crowd. It was no better in my early 20's.

As a mother, I have been perfectly conventional, except for my unusually cool I-Pod selections. If I want to walk around with an earring in my nose, then for frick's sake, everyone can just deal with it!

And if I want to have the kind of relationship with my children in which they run their rebellion past me, and you don't like it, well then, kiss my ass.

People will make judgements on my kids, but those who are willing to look below the surface, to get to know my kids, those people are in for a treat.