Current mood: Frustrated
I just narrowly avoided having a very heated discussion with my teens about tattoos.
Yes tattoos.
Apparently “everyone is getting them“. Yah, not in my house.
Honestly I think the rules around here are pretty loose. Family first. Then school. Sports/jobs are next and friends are extremely important too. Respect your parents, yourself and our few life rules. Among these rules is the fact that Mama’s just is not okay with young girls getting tattoos. I guess I just don’t understand it? Why on earth do 17 and 18 year old kids think they need tattoos? Is it for beauty? Status? Are they making a statement? More than that, how can they be passionate enough about a word, a picture, a symbol, some kind of body art, that they might want to have it forever emblazoned on their bodies?
Were my girls hinting that they wanted one? Working up to something? Just saw that I was feeling particularly weak and felt it was a good time to attack? I don’t think so. I think my kids were just making conversation, but since I was in migraine land with a headache that wouldn’t quit and had a short temper to match, I went in for the kill.
“You can’t possibly know what your future self will want.”
“Kids getting these big tattoos now will regret it later in life.” And of course the ever popular.
“Not while you are living in my house.” A classic.
I’m not sure I’ve ever used that one before, but by God I meant it when I said it. I don’t want my kids to decide they need stars or hearts tattooed on their feet. Starfish on their shoulders. Initials of loved one’s on their wrists or whatever else may feel like a smart and well thought out decision at this young age. Maybe I’m wrong (it does happen on occasion), maybe I’m short sighted with my quick HELL NO to tattoos. But, I’m sticking to this knee jerk reaction. If either of my kiddos want tattoos they can do it when they are living on their own dime and 100% responsible for their own mistakes. For now, I will continue to live my bubble wrap Mom life.
Tell me, where do you stand. At what age are kids old enough to decide to get a tattoo?
I’m with you 100% on this topic.
My husband and I don’t care for tattoos, and have discouraged our children from getting any. Fortunately they never seemed very interested in having it done, so it wasn’t an issue – though who knows what they’ve done as adults, that we don’t know about (lol).
Tattoo,s are addictive,everyone that i know who has them can’t seem to get enough.As for myself i don’t care for them!
My parents certainly didn’t want me to get a tattoo as a teen. But they said if I really wanted it, I had to pay for it. I was saving for Uni and that was more important. I’ve always found something “more important” to spend my money on.
I fully agree with your opinion on tattoos & teens. There are girls in my daughter’s school who are doing DIY homemade freehand tattoos with needles & getting their skin infected, it’s disgusting! The lengths some go to! Just seeing that has made my daughter say Ya no thanks!
My girls are 7 & 11 and we’ve even discussed tattoos and I can tell you the ‘Not while living in my house’ may have been used. 🙂 They didn’t really have an interest for themselves, it was more a discussion of someone they saw with a tattoo and asked about it.
My 11 year old has expressed interest in a belly button piercing and the ‘Not while living in my house’ escaped my mouth then too! LOL They both were able to decide on ear piercing but I draw the line at anything beyond one hole in each ear.
Perhaps kids should have to see tattoos on an old body to understand what they will look like later on and perhaps realise that it’s a life sentence. I also totally agree that kids should be adults and self supporting unless their parents agree to them getting a tattoo.
I’m not a big fan of tattoos, so I would agree with you, once they are on their own and using their own money.
My son had a small one when he graduated.Maybe temporary tattoos or henna as a compromise?
When it comes to my kids, I put my foot down on tattoo’s (well until they are old enough to do it without my consent). I’m really hoping my kids don’t go down that path at any time. Peer pressure is so difficult for kids these days.
I would say once someone is 21 it might be okay for them to get a tattoo but I am strictly against them. I know visible tattoos reduce job prospects and salaries. The best line I ever heard to prevent someone from getting a tattoo is, what will it look like when you’re wrinkly and in your senior years. That’s enough of a deterrent for my friends and I.
I agree with you. You want a tattoo do it on your own time and dime. Plus you must be living where you pay the bills and that doesn’t include paying room and board in my home!
I got my first tattoo just before I turned 16 , my parents took me , a got a Orca whale put on my leg , i have never regretted it and at 38 it is so meaningful to me , i lost my dad 4 years later , i feel liked its part of us , when i look at it it represents so many things for me , that being said , i do agree with what your saying to , i don’t think most kids will understand the idea of a lifetime , i seen many kids get the worst tattoos that i know they regret now , the most important thing is if you really want it , you can wait for it , plan it , when you are old enough it will still be what you want and get it ! From a top rated professional !
I agree I think she would likely regret that decision when she gets older and she should wait till shes a way way way older
Someone saw mine and said I’d regret it when I was older. I replied “I was 36 when I got it, how much older did I need to be?”