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[erbie]

Scroll down to the tattoo partWhat would you do if your 16 y.o. wanted one? What about if, as in my case, you have one yourself that you got at 19? (What about if you were so sure at 19 that it was something you'd always want on you, but now, you wish you'd gotten something else?) I don't hate my tattoo, in fact, I still like it just fine, I just

Comments

[llnaughty]

i hate to set an arbitrary age on when my child'll be "mature", but since the government takes it out of my hands at 18, i will probably not allow bob to get a tattoo until then. she'd have to be pretty remarkable for me to consider it, and i (and erbie of course) would have final veto power on tattoo parlor as well as the choice of art.

[erbie]

See, I'd be open to her getting one at 16 or 17, under very specific circumstances. I can't categorically say I'd be against it at that age. I think it would depend on her maturity level, what she wanted to get, where she wanted it, and how large it would be. I don't think I'd let her get one younger than 16 under any circumstances though.

[lietya]

would you mind terribly sharing what you had done?

I remember making a conscious and aware decision to have my own ears pierced - at age 3. So I could see being convinced by a child (I'd probably wait until at least 12-16) who could present a reasonable case, still want it after a *long* waiting period (like a year) and could pay for it.

[erbie]

See, I'd even consider paying for it. I'm not completely averse to tattoos, I just want her to understand the implications. Teenagers aren't known for their forthought and understanding of repercussions. (Did I spell that right? It looks wrong.) But yeah, waiting period, maturity level, something not trendy that she'd hate in two years.

I'll see if I can find a pic of it. It's a peace sign (that I got at 18), with two dolphins going around it (that I got at about 22). I had it re-inked and changed the colors about 5 years ago.

[lietya]

"repercussions" is fine. :)

It's actually not that I wouldn't want my money going toward it, but that I totally agree with my parents' policy that the willingness and ability to come up with the money demonstrates the commitment required.

That actually sounds really pretty.

[llnaughty]

but "forthought" is not. ;)

[jensantarelli]

there is no way i'd let a kid get one that young, just because there's a chance they aren't completely grown yet. that butterfly tattoo she wants would look significantly less cool if it warped into a vulture during a late growth spurt.

[erbie]

True. But then, that which is forbidden is the first thing they do when they turn 18. And I'd rather my kid had my input on this at 17 and getting a tasteful, (smallish) one, than going out and getting her whole body done to spite me on her 18th birthday.