When your kids want tatoos

[Marisa_DiMattia (Kakoulas)]

So, it's still early to worry about it, but the conversation came up with my soon-to-be- 12-yrs-old stepson on the issue of his own tattoos. He now decided that he wants a backpiece -- a traditional Japanese dragon (kinda funny since my tattooist husband only does blackwork! ah, the rebel!).

This is new because, at age five, when i was tucking him into bed, he once said to me: 'Marisette (my nickname), is it ok if I dont get tattoos when I'm older? I like them on you and Papa but they're just not me." [Yup, at five he had a personal style. hehe]

Now, Dan and I have said that he has to wait at least until 18 years old -- or as late as possible! We would probably take him on a pilgrimage of sorts to get a famous Filip Leu dragon in Switzerland or work from any master he chooses.

I even think 18 sounds pretty young (just 6 years away!!!) but maybe we're being overly conservative here. I mean, with all the tattooists he's been surrounded by and the trips we've taken, he does have a good grasp on the responsibility and artistry of tattoos.

What do you think? What's teh earliest age you'd let your kids get tattooed? No judgments here. ;)

[jude]

I dont know at what age but I hope they start seriously really talking about the subject past 18. As tattooed parents we would understand if they really want to get them they could I just dont want them to make any decisions they may later regret. I always joke around w/Jim and say Im going and paying for their first tattoos. so yes, we will be totally supportive.

[Mary]

Aww what a cutie, tell him I think he has good taste, I want a dragon too =) . I'm not a mom but I have helped raise a young girl for the past 4 years, she's 5 now. Hehe the current joke is because all the women in her life have long hair, piercings, and tattoos she's going to rebel by shaving her head as a teen and thinking tattoos are lame. I would hope that any kid whose life I was port of would wait until they were absolutely sure. But if they were dead set on getting one at I would offer to help pick out an artist and refine their idea. Honestly I think I'd offer an 18 year old a bribe in order to get them to wait. Like think about it for another year and I'll pay for half of your piece. Of course I'm picking 18 because thats the legal age in the US. Is their a law about age for being tattooed in Europe? I think it helps a lot when kids are raised seeing tattoos as a form of art and expression rather then as a way to rebel and piss off your parents.

[Judy]

I'm not sure it'll ever come up at my house. My 15 year old daughter just got her 1st pair of 14 ga lobe piercings last year she did good getting pierced but I don't think she could take a tattoo. She takes after my husband that way, she's a big wimp around needles. My 11 yr old daughter is another story, she's got my pain tolerance but remains "piercing-free" at this time.

If they were to get a tattoo I'd make them wait till 18-21 or so. I'd want them to draw out what they wanted (both are good artists) or look for some good reference material. I'd also encourage them not to rush right out and get one. Let the idea marinate for a while, maybe switch things around to make it work with their body. I've got it in my head that they'll pick big custom work like me. They'll probably want a one inch heart on their foot or something.

[jude]

I just know what state of mind I was in at 18. I think we all agree wait & let it marinate like Judy said.

[Nic]

It's a tough call. At 18 you feel as if your mature, developed and know your own mind but for me personally I changed so much until I got to about 26. I'm glad I waited until I was 29 before getting serious work as the bits I had done before then (at 17, 18, and 19) are not what I would choose now and have caused my grand plans to have to fit around other stuff.
Having said that, there was no way I was going to wait at 17 once my mind was made up so I suppose all you can do is research with them regarding style and artist-get as involved as you can to do your damdist making sure they at least have something stunning. Also important to note is that whilst a small piece may be all they want now, in a few years time they might want it to fit in with something bigger...oh the responsibilities!

[TS]

I told my daughter as long as she could drive herself and pay for it, which would be 18 or 21 in CA (the age keeps changing) she could get a tattoo (she's been drawing on herself since a young age), though now I think better of that offer because they don't really gain full frontal lobe development til around 25!!!

I did tell her if she goes small to also put it somewhere that could be hidden or less noticeable if necessary (for the first, at any rate). If she waits and goes large, that's a different story. Her pain threshold is very low, like Judy's daughter, so hypothetical tattoo may stay small.

Plus, times they are a changin' so who knows what the culture/community she ends up in will be like when she's older.

[jude]

well It sounds like we wont freak out on our kids the way my mom did when I shaved the side of my head and spiked my hair in high school.

[Judy]

My mom freaked out when I got a second set of lobes. I can still hear her "If God wanted you to have extra holes in your head.....blah, blah, blah". It's funny after I got my helix (at age 40) she saw it one day and said she thought it was cute, I guess all people change.

[Lori H]

My father & step mom were actually down right mean about hating my tattoos. When my step brother had his first one done he told him mom that I liked it. Her response was "of course Lori does". They yelled at and then ignored my step sister for weeks when they found out that she got her belly button pierced. Next thing we knew my step mom had her belly button pierced.

A couple years ago my father the police officer, who HATED tattoos, told us all he wanted gift certificates to one of the tattoo shops in town. He now has a rather large tattoo on his arm. They do change over time, that's for sure! (Of course 10 years ago he didn't like that I had a cell phone...only drug dealers had cell phones! lol)

[Kimmy]

My oldest (soon to be 15) has talked about getting tattoos since I got my first one, when he was 7! He was SO funny asking how it was done. When I told him that it was done with needles he said to me "Momma, maybe I DON'T want a scorpion tattoo!"
Now, he talks about becoming a tattoo artist!
He knows that I won't approve of a tattoo before he turns 18. He also knows that I expect him to thoroughly think the design through before he gets it.
I'm taking him to get his labret piercing for his birthday next week, so I'm pretty sure I'll (or my husband) will be taking him for his first tattoo in a few years!
My two year old is fascinated by momma and daddy's tattoos, so we'll see what happens with him in a few... :)

[jude]

My younger daughter Emily now 4 says she cant wait either.
We recently attended a party where there was a 16 yr old girl who already is sporting 3 tattoos, one being on the wrist and the second on her hip. I dont know why but I'm being really judgemental about the whole thing, I mean as a mom I know I would not have allowed my daughter's to do it so young and my next question was "who tattooed a 16 yr old?" Add to the fact that she was wearing the skimpiest clothing...... she just looked like she was shall i say... a loose caboose. very disappointing.

[Debi Holland]

Well Sebastian(10yo)is asking for one. I told him on his 18th b-day i would gladly take him.