Tatoos

[JBaxter]

I was at my 15yr old son's football time tryouts last night. He is going into the 10th grade and one of his team mateds who has gone through several years of school with him ( so I know he is the same age) has a superman tatoo on his upper arm ( shoulder cap) its huge!

Am I "that" conservative that it shocked me to see a 15 yr old with a professional tatoo?:

dont get me wrong i think tats are great but the kid is 15!

[MillingNome]

I'm a a stick in the mud. My dd can get one... when she is 18. I have encouraged her not to get one even after that unless it is small and likely covered by clothing. There are still jobs where tatoos are not allowed or at the very least frowned upon. We've talked about how what looks great now maybe won't look so keen in a couple of years. I also know two people who got hepatitis from getting one. Both were done by professionals. Instead, we've done henna together

PS- NO flaming, please. I personally don't care if someone else has their whole body tattooed.

[mamabebe]

At least it's on his shouldercap and can be covered. The policy for most jobs is if they can't see it, it's like it doesn't exist. And a reputable place shouldn't be remixing used ink with new ink. The proffessional standards have changed a lot and become more strict for tattoo artists and piercers.

I wouldn't give my teenager permission to get a tattoo or anything beyond ear piercings. When they turn 18, they're legal adults and can do whatever they want. Everything seems so cool when you're young, but when you get older, unless there's some special meaning behind a tattoo (besides having picked it off the artist's wall) or it's an original piece of art, it doesn't seem worth it. I'm suprised his parents gave him permission to get it done, but maybe they just follow the whims of the child.

[UnschoolnMa]

They don't really bother me. I guess 15 is a bit young yet in our culture, but perhaps his parents knew someone and were cool with it? I'd hope they helped him find a reputable place/artist to do it.

Both kids plan to get tattoos eventually. We've talked about the permanency (or near permanency), and the safety considerations.

[alima]

I have 5 tattoos, most of my friends have tattoos. I got my first tattoo at 16, and am planning my 6th soon. That said, that first tattoo, I got it covered up at 25. Everyone I know who's gotten tattooed has wound up covering up the ones they got really young. Most tattoo artists I know have a policy not to tattoo anyone under the age of 18, even with parental permission, because sooooo many people regret those young tattoos. Even if you go on to keep getting tattooed, having an early one you regret might get in the way of a bigger and more ambitious tattoo plan later on (I didn't plan my quarter sleeves well and now I'm struggling to try to integrate a half-sleeve plan with the tattoos I currently have.)

My ex and I used to have a song we sang to my nieces when they were little "No tattoos 'til I'm twenty-two." I've just found that tattoos done before at least 18 or 19 tend to be far more regretted than when they're done even a little later (I know one guy who got his favorite album cover tattooed down half his arm. It's not his favorite album anymore, ooops : )

Strangely enough my ds has grown up around tattooed, pierced, scarified people, and he has absolutely no interest in getting tattooed. If he did, I would give him permission (I'd be a little hypocritical telling him about my teenage tattoo), but I would ask him to wait and think about the design and placement and mull over what it means to him and why he wants it. It does bother me to see kids with tattoos, but mostly because it bugs me to see tattoos becoming a fashionable trend. For me tattoos are for important events, or are a transitional experience in themselves, and I just don't think that most 15 year olds are thinking much beyond how cool a tattoo will look

[InaX5]

In my dh's family everyone got their first tattoo at 16. I thought you couldn't get one until them. I just got my first this year, took me that long to decide what I would still like in 30 years. My MIL told me what she suggested to her kids, which was to get something cultural, as that is the only thing about a person that never changes, I took her advice as did my dh, all those years ago. As for superman, most Men love their superheros forever in fact this is what dh's twin has. I think it's less about what is conservative thought & what isn't & more about realizing that you child & his friends are really getting older.

[wonderwahine]

I wouldn't care, i would make sure they really understood that its permanant, and that it wasnt a whim. I would make them think it over.

and to the pp who said most young tattoos are regretted, I dont agree. My brother got one at 16 on his arm, and still loves it to this day, and my first tattoo at 18 is one that means alot to me, and had much thought put into it.

[beansricerevolt]

DD or DS can get one when she is 18. No sooner.
I had my first one when I was 18 and I hate it now.
DH and I are both covered in tats. I've seen to many tweety birds out there to let her get one earlier than 18.

[Arduinna]

Ok the thread is about some other persons kid, your kid isn't asking for one from what I can tell.

If I saw it, I'd probably just assume it's a temporary tattoo and go about my day not giving it another thought. Most states make it illegal for minors to be tattoo;d even if the parents would consent so it wouldn't even cross my mind that it was real.

I got my first tattoo at 20 BTW and 23 years later I don't regret it.

[momma of monkeys]

I have a LOT of tattoos, so many that I don't count how many, I count hours, and I prolly have 70ish hours worth)....and I have had many parents w/ tweens/teens come up to me at the mall or whatever and ask about their children getting ink...here is what I tell them, If you get a tattoo before your body is done growing the placement may change and the tat will look distorted. You really want to wait until you are 17+.....
When the child/young adult is with them, that seems to make sense to them. I have enough ink that they 'listen' to me. BUT, if a child is determined to get ink, please take them to a reputable shop...don't let them get butchered on somebodies kitchen table....<down from the soapbox now>

[Aliviasmom]

I have 7 tattoos, and I've only just begun. Alivia can get a tattoo, or more, but not until she's 18.

[MomToKandE]

Originally Posted by alima

Most tattoo artists I know have a policy not to tattoo anyone under the age of 18, even with parental permission, because sooooo many people regret those young tattoos.

That's been my experience too and I think it's a good policy. I don't think I'd get a tatto from someone who would be willing to work on a 15 year old.

[sunnysideup]

Originally Posted by MomToKandE

That's been my experience too and I think it's a good policy. I don't think I'd get a tatto from someone who would be willing to work on a 15 year old.

I wonder if he had a fake ID. I don't think it's legal to tattoo a 15yo.

[<~*MamaRose*~>]

I have tats and DS#1 has never expressed a desire to have one but he knows if he did want one he'd have to be legal age.

[alaskaberry]

If they want the same tatt for a year, or years, then they should get it. Otherwise you regret it. That's my view. Not that I have a teen, yet. But I like to pop into older forums on occasion to see what's coming years down the line. And yes, I have a tattoo. But I was 22 when I got it and my mother *still* flipped out.