Finally "came out" (re: tattoos) to my boss

[Judy]

It seems one of the hospitals in the area (not mine) is now banning visible tattoos. So I said, "I doubt my patients will be looking at my ankle, unless they're passed out on the floor" So I showed her my ankle, and everyone else in the room (they all know) said "Show her your back"

Well.....she yelled, I was expecting it so I wasn't surprised.

Now, just mom and dad to go. My sister knows I have them, just not how much I have.

[Carbine]

My mother slapped me across the face when I showed her my first one, which is on my chest....She came home with one 4 weeks later...I wasn't allowed to slap her though.

[Tzu-jan]

Mine was on my hand so I couldn't hide it. When I showed my mom for the first time I stood behind my husband for protection and stuck my hand out from under his arm. It didn't work, she took one look at it and smacked my hand as hard as she could. It was the day after I got it so needless to say it was a bit tender...

[Judy]

Yes, I'm sure it's cultural. She's yelled at us all at one point or another. We have other nurses from Taiwan and China and sometimes it's humorous to hear them chattering LOUDLY at each other in Mandarin. She likes me though and I do a good job so I'm not worried anything bad will come of it. I'm also sure she'll bring it up again. Oh well, it maybe I can educate her a little about what "type" of people have tattoos.

[TS]

Compared to what I did in my past, the tattoos (after age 30) didn't cause much of a stir, and I'm self-employed so only get to yell at myself from time to time. Seriously, I think it's a cultural thing in your case, Judy, more than a proxy-parent. When I worked with immigrants they always had something to say about my multiple ear piercings (c. 1980s) as if I'd betrayed our shared-heritage somehow.

[Roget]

Reminds me of some time ago. It was one of the first sessions with a Counselor, in Boston, I mentioned that there was another side to me. Fran said "what do you have tattoos?". I looked at her and said Yes and showed her. Fran flipped and absolutely loved my work. She asked about the artists, and wanted their phone numbers.
Now as to my adult children and sibs they know I have some but have no idea as the extent or quality. They would probably react as your supervisor did.
As an employer of about 80 or so women in the private duty home care world I see bad and good. If the person carries and presents them self well with confidence, recognizes the limitations of the elderly understanding I don't care. When they realize I've seen it and they try to hide it out of embarrassment it can be another story. Then when asked about it they are shocked and most times comment in a way they think I want to hear as opposed to being open.

[Judy]

It's okay, she's from Taiwan, she yells a lot anyway. The ankle didn't bother her so much, the whole back was a little too much for her to handle. I think she thinks she's our mom, even though she only has about 10 yrs on me. No, scrubs are slouchy, no one at work will see my tattoos unless I show them. It feels kind of good, I think I was more scared to tell her than my actual parents (they don't yell much).

[Dachi]

Wow ! She yelled ? Where the hell does she get off ? I can understand a parent yelling and being upset but this is really none of your boss's G-D business. Was she reacting only to the potentially visible ankle piece or to all your work once you were outed ? Would she even have known if you hadn't chosen to tell her ?