I have met and fallen in love with the grommet!
I have always been afraid of the grommet – it looked like so much work . . . and tricky. Any time they use them on TV there is metal and hammering and I never understood how the hole got there.
My fears are gone and there is a new world open to me that might just include making the new shower curtain I have wanted for four years but wouldn’t make for FEAR OF THE GROMMET (and for ignorance of how to make a button hole).
Have you met the grommet???
thebluehutch.com 
I saw that and immediately thought of those guys with the ear stretching things. Looks like a giant hole in someone's ear.
I love the grommet too! Just used it for the first time a few months ago. One of the many things I made using grommets is a new shower curtain; what a coincidence… I love it!
i too am afraid of the grommet and am ignorant in button holes. yet again, i wish we lived closer!! and where are your pictures of the shower curtain??
When I first read that I thought – do the kids have middle ear problems? Do you know why?
I have NO idea on the middle ear reference, Helen!