Would you let your teen daughter get tattoos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not let my children get a tattoo. I would also not be happy if they tattooed themselves as adults.

Tattoos, especially getting many tattoos, are just yuck. I hate to use the word - but trashy.

I think it may be a cry for help. I think tattoos are correlated with poor self image or abuse.
I took an elderly relative to a few doctor appointments last week, and I swear every single hospital employee (except the physicians) had tattoos. Nurses were covered in them. It was really odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not let my children get a tattoo. I would also not be happy if they tattooed themselves as adults.

Tattoos, especially getting many tattoos, are just yuck. I hate to use the word - but trashy.

I think it may be a cry for help. I think tattoos are correlated with poor self image or abuse.
I took an elderly relative to a few doctor appointments last week, and I swear every single hospital employee (except the physicians) had tattoos. Nurses were covered in them. It was really odd.

They are all crying for your help

[Anonymous]

I would not.

Here’s the question — would you want to have to wear the same piece of clothing, that you picked out when you were 15, for the rest of your life? Wear it to job interviews? To your wedding? To pick your kids up from preschool? Are you really convinced you will love that design and location for it for the next six decades?

I’d also make them read the studies linking tattoos to higher cancer rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not let my children get a tattoo. I would also not be happy if they tattooed themselves as adults.

Tattoos, especially getting many tattoos, are just yuck. I hate to use the word - but trashy.

I think it may be a cry for help. I think tattoos are correlated with poor self image or abuse.
I took an elderly relative to a few doctor appointments last week, and I swear every single hospital employee (except the physicians) had tattoos. Nurses were covered in them. It was really odd.

I think associating tattoos and abuse is wildly dramatic-- correlation maybe; definitely not causation-- but there's a kernel of truth here. My impression is that people who go all-in on body modification feel somehow excluded from traditional society, or don't value it for whatever reason, and sure, abuse could be one. I see it most with vet techs. These are people who are more comfortable with animals than people; it shows in their appearance, and in their interactions. They can barely string a sentence together with humans, but can form instant connections with animals. Tattoos are a counter-culture marker, or used to be; an indication that "I'm different from the rest of you."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not let my children get a tattoo. I would also not be happy if they tattooed themselves as adults.

Tattoos, especially getting many tattoos, are just yuck. I hate to use the word - but trashy.

I think it may be a cry for help. I think tattoos are correlated with poor self image or abuse.
I took an elderly relative to a few doctor appointments last week, and I swear every single hospital employee (except the physicians) had tattoos. Nurses were covered in them. It was really odd.

I think associating tattoos and abuse is wildly dramatic-- correlation maybe; definitely not causation-- but there's a kernel of truth here. My impression is that people who go all-in on body modification feel somehow excluded from traditional society, or don't value it for whatever reason, and sure, abuse could be one. I see it most with vet techs. These are people who are more comfortable with animals than people; it shows in their appearance, and in their interactions. They can barely string a sentence together with humans, but can form instant connections with animals. Tattoos are a counter-culture marker, or used to be; an indication that "I'm different from the rest of you."

Excellent point

[Anonymous]

When my ds was 18 he told me he was going to get a tattoo. I acted supportive and interested. He never got the tattoo. So my strategy worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

Ugh, I hate it. I have some respect for the well-thought-out, well-executed full back and sleeve. But this style screams "I have $80 and no ability to think ahead."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

Ugh, I hate it. I have some respect for the well-thought-out, well-executed full back and sleeve. But this style screams "I have $80 and no ability to think ahead."

Yeah they aren't getting these to please the boomers that is for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

Ugh, I hate it. I have some respect for the well-thought-out, well-executed full back and sleeve. But this style screams "I have $80 and no ability to think ahead."

Yeah they aren't getting these to please the boomers that is for sure.

They aren't thinking about it at all. It's pure impulse.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand OP and the judgement on the parent. How could you stop an 18 yo? DH and I are boring professionals in a nice neighborhood and we each have several. You can’t see them. We were young. I personally like tattoos.

Our kids will never get them because they associate them with their uncool parents. But if they did and were 18 we could not stop them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

Ugh, I hate it. I have some respect for the well-thought-out, well-executed full back and sleeve. But this style screams "I have $80 and no ability to think ahead."

I got my first and only tattoo - on the shoulder - at 42. Got it on a fairly remote island in the South Pacific because I thought it would be an interesting experience, and at 42 I didn't care too much about permanency and the inevitable fade. No regrets. It was an interesting experience with the entire village on the beach. This was very old school and a trifle reckless. These were new needles so it was clean, but still. I do recall seeing my tattoo in the mirror for the first time and immediately thinking now that the seal is broken, I should get twelve more. The Pacific Islands are very tattoo friendly. Even the French women on Tahiti have them, and they can be very elegant if you have the body and the skin for them.

So the rule in our house has evolved since then. It went from No Tattoos to No Tattoos before the age of 40. But any parent allowing or encouraging their teens to get tattoos in the suburban DMV has lost the plot. A tatted up 18 year just screams trouble, and it'll be a burden for them in life. Wait till 40.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand OP and the judgement on the parent. How could you stop an 18 yo? DH and I are boring professionals in a nice neighborhood and we each have several. You can’t see them. We were young. I personally like tattoos.

I think this judgement has mostly to do with the conservative and cautious culture of the DMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

lol birthday cakes, donald duck, cows at random. this woman is a 4 year old that discovered stickers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work with a woman whose daughter just turned 18 and just graduated from HS, and the girl is up to something like 7 or 8 tattoos. A bunch of little ones, all over her arms, wrists, shoulders. Nothing meaningful, just flowers and butterflies dotted here and there. She got her first one, with her parents' blessing (I think her dad took her to get it) when she was 15 or 16.

The mom is educated and a successful professional, and I am frankly shocked. Yes, judgmental. Yes, it's none of my business, but I've worked with the mom for almost 10 years and never would have thought she'd allow her child to make such permanent decisions at such a young age, and especially not ones with that carry such social weight, and yes, stigma.

Would you have this fight with your child? Or take a "her body her choice" stance? Would you pay to make sure she gets it done professionally?

Yes, the Gen Z tattoo style is patchwork. Especially among the artsy, creative, urban set. Think Ella Emhoff. (Kamala's stepdd, and biological daughter of 2 other very successful people.)

lol birthday cakes, donald duck, cows at random. this woman is a 4 year old that discovered stickers.

Hahaha spot on