What do you think of tattoos to represent your children?

[Spookygoose]

Might depend on whether you’re a tattoo kind of person or not, but would you/have you ever had a tattoo that represents your children? If so is it very literal eg. Their name/D.O.B or more abstract/creative? What do you think of tattoos that represent someone’s children in general?

I was reading this thread thinking that OP had posted this as she knew that there would be loads of ‘chavvy’ type comments. OP seemed to forget herself when she wrote that she sees some as tacky but then told another poster to ignore the negative comments. She then claimed to not care about what mumsnetters think but posted on here to get opinions. All the signs of someone looking to cause offence.

I was reading this thread thinking that OP had posted this as she knew that there would be loads of ‘chavvy’ type comments. OP seemed to forget herself when she wrote that she sees some as tacky but then told another poster to ignore the negative comments. She then claimed to not care about what mumsnetters think but posted on here to get opinions. All the signs of someone looking to cause offence.

I have one.
It’s a heart that my DS who’s 5 drew. It’s wonky and not straight and generally looks like I did it myself in the basement in the dark and probably everyone who sees it thinks the same but I absolutely love it. It only have to make sense for me not everyone else.

Actually my experience hasn’t been the very posh judging tattoos as much as the more ‘aspirational’, shall we say. The Mrs Bouquet types.

Nobody really thinks that, they just enjoy making snotty rude remarks to people online.

Thinking about it, I think you’re spot on with this. Extreme poshos tend not to give a shit about what anyone thinks of them, whereas for aspirational poshos, it’s all about what people think

I think they're tacky and look awful and that it means they don't see their children or they've died. I can't bear the way tattoos usually end up dark blue and smudged either.

Lots of people think that actually.

I haven't seen anyone with these kind of tattoos other than in my work role, to be honest. (social worker).

Literally the only people I’ve ever heard say it in my 37 years of living is on MN on this thread 🤣

The OP asked for people’s opinions and people are giving their opinions. No need for anyone to get offended or defensive. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I personally don’t like tattoos, I don’t think it’s attractive in any way

I’d assume they might be a bit of a deadbeat. The only people I know with tattoos of their children don’t see a lot of their children but do moan about it.

I’d rather take that money and do something lovely with my children or put it in savings.

Tattoos aren’t my thing but this make more sense to me than most. I find it odd to have a symbol etc that has meaning right now as I think life is about change and so it shouldn’t have the same meaning for you in thirty years time. You should evolve and grow. But your kids will still have meaning forever.

Fortunately I’d never be so rough as to use the phrase ‘rough as rats’!

That’s a cruel assumption. However, people do tend to make assumptions on people because of a characteristic or how they look. I would also choose not to know those types
of people I guess.

I have a tattoo to represent my children. It was for me. I give them more than enough so the tattoo I got 11 years ago shouldn’t affect their lives now!! What’s the point of a tattoo if it doesn’t mean something special to you?

I’ve got some tattoos but I really don’t get having names/dates. At all. Even if people who have died. What’s the point? To remind you they were born/died and what date? Youre hardly likely to forget are you?

Tattoos are designed too "in the moment" to be good representations of permanent love for a changing person and changing relationship, which is what it means to be a (decent) parent. There are other reasons I wouldn't get a tat, but that one stands out even if I could shrug off other reasons not to get one.

Don't care what other people do, but if you get a tat... also seems weird to just write DoB. I mean, it's a boring statistic not a depiction of love to me.

I think many people these days see tattoos more like art that looks good on their body rather than having to have sort of special meaning. There are good tattoos and bad tattoos. If you have a good artist that can create a beautiful, artistic, well-executed design that you love, that’s very different to getting a badly designed snake with giant fangs on your neck or something. Not all tattoos are created equal!

I have a fine-line flower bouquet on my arm which incorporates the birth flowers of my mum, my sister & my daughter. I got it after my marriage ended and wanted something to remind me of the strong women in my life. I love it, but you wouldn’t know why I chose those particular flowers unless you knew me. I wouldn’t get name/face/date of birth or anything like that.

And not all tattoos are created equally visible. People who want a quiet reminder or a sentimental keepsake will often have the tattoo done somewhere that is hidden by clothing.

You would never even know I had a tattoo unless you were reasonably close to me (in hot weather).

I think any tattoo is chavvy

I absolutely hate all tattoos, anywhere on anyone, but some of DD’s friends have their children’s names and birthdates tattooed on their wrists as though they might forget them otherwise. Ridiculous!

I prefer tattoos with meaning but a list of names tends to be parents “showing love and dedication” are often shit/ absent parents. Like ink on your skin makes up for missed parenting time and child maintenance payments.

I'm not defined by my children and so I wouldn't use their DoBs, names etc. A flower,or image in remembrance possibly.

Popeye had an anchor on his arm to represent his child, Sweetpea, although unfortunately it is also sailor's rhyming slang.

Because it's an anonymous forum where people are actually being asked their opinion. In reality you don't comment at all on tattoos ever. But you'll be thinking those things, definitely.