At what age would you let your child get a tattoo?

[rainydayplay]

Middle school? Now I've heard everything.

Middle school teacher here...and I've had at least one student who's had one (it seems like there have been others..but only one sticks out in my head.) A rather large cross on his arm.

 

[NikitaZee]

To the nay-sayers (and I'm talking about adult children):

If the worst your child ever does, is get a tattoo, consider yourself blessed.

There are bigger fish to fry, IMO.

I agree. What would many folks here do to their adult children - living at home - who got a tattoo? Kick them out? That's one of the most ridiculous things I've heard all day. I got a tattoo at 16 - my parents were livid. But - they didn't withdraw all support because of it! I can't even imagine my mother or father being so extreme about a thing like that. BTW - it's my one and only tattoo, and I still love it.

 

[wdwfan16]

I agree. What would many folks here do to their adult children - living at home - who got a tattoo? Kick them out? That's one of the most ridiculous things I've heard all day. I got a tattoo at 16 - my parents were livid. But - they didn't withdraw all support because of it! I can't even imagine my mother or father being so extreme about a thing like that. BTW - it's my one and only tattoo, and I still love it.

IMHO if you have money to waste on tattoos then you have money to pay for your own place.

 

[ICF]

No tattoos here until you're old enough to not need permission and can pay for it yourself. Even then I won't be thrilled.

same here

 

[NikitaZee]

IMHO if you have money to waste on tattoos then you have money to pay for your own place.

'Waste' is subjective. Your (collective your) adult child may not feel that way. BTW - a tattoo is a one-time fee, maybe a hundred bucks give or take. Not nearly the same thing as paying rent month after month. Let's just call it what it is - a way to assert control, with the threat of financial withdrawal as a means of imposing a particular point of view.

 

[disykat]

Let's just call it what it is - a way to assert control, with the threat of financial withdrawal as a means of imposing a particular point of view.

Of course it is! No need to deny it. If my child is still living as my dependent I get to have some say in their behavior - period. (I wasn't one who said a tatoo in particular would be that for me, but I agree on the premise that I get to choose what behaviors I will tolerate in my home and on my dime.)

 

[PaulaSue]

Never while living in my house and under 18

 

[bcuinohio]

They would have to wait until they are 18 because I am not giving my permission.

 

[disney1990]

Unless you see your 18-25 year old butt naked everyday, don't bet your money that they don't already have a tattoo.

I love my children tattoo or no tattoo. However, they do have tattoos that DO NOT show when they are wearing clothes.

Would I rather they not have them, probably? Will I love them any less because they have them, absolutely not. Will I withhold support for them (financial or emotional), no. My love for them is not compromised by their tattoos.

 

[pixiewings71]

well I didn't read all 10 pages but, my kids aren't allowed to get tattoos until they are over 18 and not living at home. I got my tattoo when I was 31, or maybe 32....it's hard to remember now. LOL I think I had just turned 32. I'm currently 38 and working on a couple new designs but nothing set just yet. My rules for piercings are the same, 18 and the first one I will pay for. Well, except ear lobes and maybe cartiledge.

 

[NikitaZee]

Unless you see your 18-25 year old butt naked everyday, don't bet your money that they don't already have a tattoo.

I love my children tattoo or no tattoo. However, they do have tattoos that DO NOT show when they are wearing clothes.

Would I rather they not have them, probably? Will I love them any less because they have them, absolutely not. Will I withhold support for them (financial or emotional), no. My love for them is not compromised by their tattoos.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[zippitydoo]

I'm seeing more and more kids in middle schools with tattoos and the latest one I saw just appalled me -- I admit it, I'm judging. One of my daughter's 13 year old friends got this really big tattoo on her leg... a 7-line long hand written memorial to her grandfather who died 11 years ago. (says something like RIP grandpa, his dates, I will always love and miss you, etc)

I'm a pretty flexible mom. I *considered* allowing my daughter to get a small purple rose tattoo a few months back for a charity thing (for a girl undergoing multiple transplants). I ultimately decided no, but I think I was being open minded about it.

I finally decided she can get a tattoo when she's old enough to drive herself there, pay for it with her own money and sign her own release form.

What's your limit?

a 13 yr old getting tattooed is too young. It is usually illegal to tattoo someone that young. My BF is in the tattoo business and he would never tattoo someone that young. The min age in NM is 16 and you would need to have the parents permission as well for them to notorize a release form. But he prefers for them to wait until they are 18.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I think under 18 is way way too young to be picking anything. My God. I remember wanting a spider-web in the skin between my pointer and thumb fingers, and a bat on my shoulder when I was 15/16-ish. Could you imagine? I was "punk" so it seemed like a really great tattoo idea then.

These are the friends I have that regret them. They all got tattoos of skulls, spiders/webs, punk guys with mohawks slamming , etc, when they were in high school or shortly after. Then they were all back in the tattoo shop 5 years later, trying to hide them by getting different designs tattooed on top of them (cheaper than tattoo removal, which may not have been perfected back then, anyway). It doesn't work that well. You can still see the skull face in the rose that's now on my friend's shoulder blade.

 

[cheermom1]

Unless you see your 18-25 year old butt naked everyday, don't bet your money that they don't already have a tattoo.

I love my children tattoo or no tattoo. However, they do have tattoos that DO NOT show when they are wearing clothes.

Would I rather they not have them, probably? Will I love them any less because they have them, absolutely not. Will I withhold support for them (financial or emotional), no. My love for them is not compromised by their tattoos.

I have to agree with this...I worked with a girl that was in her 20s and she wanted a tat..Her parents was very against it and they were helping her with college..she had her own job AND was NOT living at home..what did she do??? Got a tat in a place that would NOT be seen and they NEVER found out for as long as I knew and that was about 10 years we worked together...

I would never with hold support money or emotionally..I love them no matter what and I don;t want them to not ever feel as though they have to exclude me from any part of their lives!! That will only harbor resentment and put a wedge between you and your child.

My parents were doing everything they could to still control my life after I was married and had kids..what did I do? I moved over an hour away and refused contact for a very long while. I got the point and now they NEVER tell me how to live my life and yes they were helping me with a few things with money. I would rather be able to make my own choices then have their money and have them make them for me.

Just a thought for you to consider b/c your kids could very well have the same view but they could move away and never have any contact with you again.

 

[princessmom29]

What makes her a formerly lovely niece, that she has tattoos when you don't approve of them?

I really haven't seen where getting a tattoo changes someone from nice to bad. just saying.

And what if after college your kids get one? You have no control of that then.

I am with you. I think withholding support over a tat is about much more than the tat. It is about maintaining control over the decisions of an adult child. Taht never works out well.

She and her husband now look like circus freaks. Kind of mean, maybe, but highly accurate. They are largely covered in tattoos. He has grommets in his ears you could drive a Volkswagon through. They hang several pounds of scrap metal off of their faces and assorted other locations.

They are now over 25 and are interested in her getting a better job and him getting into a different line of work. They are not having any success at all, and yes, it's related to the body modification. They are genuinely nice people and I love them both. I wish they hadn't handicapped their futures.

If my kids graduate from college, are self supporting and decide to disfigure themselves, that's entirely their decision and I won't say a single word about it. But while they are on my dime, they can refrain. I hope the few extra years will give them a little wisdom. I work with college students, and in general, the first few years they are a whole lot more impulsive than when they graduate.

That is one of the most prejudical discriptions of a person I have heard in a long time. I have flashes of sit ins and civil rights marches. It scares me that this kind of prejudice still exists, but sadly it does.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Unless it's the kind of tattoo that washes off in the tub - never!!! I suppose when they grow up, they can make those choices for themselves - but as long as they are under my roof - never!

OP - the girl who had her grandfather's info tattooed on her leg - OMG that is tacky.

 

[tasha99]

Uh . . . never? I would insist they are legally old enough to give themselves permission (as in 18.) This never came up but DD wanted a tongue piercing. I had allowed an eyebrow hoop and a stud in her nose, but I said no to that one. Too much of a sexual connotation, too risky, and it could make her more vulnerable to infection (if it didn't fully heal and she got exposed to germs through contact with another person etc.). Ironically, that's the only piercing I would consider for myself because I find it attractive; eyebrow and nose piercings, not so much. However, it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing someone should sign a release on.

 

[princess.chell]

When I eventually have kids (I'm 18) I'd be a hypocrite to not let my kids get a tattoo providing its well thought out and has some meaning. It also would have to be hidden easily by clothing.
My mom, aunt, and grandmother all have battled breast cancer. In honor of the strongest women in my life, I have a 2 inch breast cancer ribbon with star where the ribbon crosses and a heart at one of the ends. It's just an outline right now, but it will be filled in pink when I can afford it again. It's been something I've wanted for 4 years ago, when my mom beat breast cancer and my aunt lost. It's on my left hip (left because my mom had it in her left breast and my hip because you can't see it). I honestly don't think I'll ever regret it...
I'm not sure of my parents reaction because honestly they don't know. I'm 18; I'm paying for college; I have two jobs; I'm doing fine in high school; I pay for nearly 90% of my own life (the last 10% being a roof over my head and food at home); if they kick me out, oh well I'll couch hop for 4 months until I leave for college. But, I don't think they will. My mom will love it. She almost took me 3 years ago. My dad....well,

 

[teskak]

I would only agree to what is legally a child getting a tattoo is if they have been through a major, life changing fight -to recognise thier battle against childhood cancer and to honour thier friends or siblings who earned their angel wings

On the other hand as a committed & regular donor of platelets and plasma I would be delighted if DD also became a frequent donor and started developing the scars on her inner arms from all of the donations - because each donation represents a life saved

 

[Sleepy]

As long as my son is 18 or older (which he is), there is nothing I can do to prevent a tattoo. My advice to him is to think long and hard about his choice. When we are young, we think we know exactly what we want. We live in the moment. We are not concerned with what life holds for us 10 years from now or even 50. Would a tattoo on the neck really be wise now when you may decide to be an executive in the future? Is the name of your girlfriend or wife a good idea when relationships don't always last forever? Would something that looks sexy on a 20 year old look sexy on the sagging wrinkled skin of a 70 year old?

My husband has had several tattoos. I look at some of them and shake my head wondering what he was thinking. Being in the navy it seems like the thing to do.......getting tatoos. I will be the first to say putting my name on his body was a sign of love and a sign of stupidity during one of those deployments. His answer for that is if things go bad, he can always marry someone else with the same name or place a circle around it and finish it off with a diagonal line My son uses dad as an example of what not to do when it comes to tattoos.