It's not on to tattoo a 14 year old? So WWYD?

[GilbGeekette]

One of DDs best friends proudly showed me her new tattoo yesterday. It is 100% an actual tattoo - has the reddishness and general slightly raised edges of a new tattoo so isn't a henna one or a transfer. DD is 14, as is her friend! Ok, at a push, they might get away with looking 16, but not 18! Friend has been tattooed by the dodgy piercer/tattooist locally, who has pierced the noses, bellybuttons, whatever of many of her 14 yo mates.

I appreciate that friend is not my DD so it's not really my business, but I suspect her mother wouldn't be over the moon. My DD is also having a hell of a time - her father is dying of cancer and her friends are really supporting her and generally being darlings to her. Ergo, I don't want to cause a rift at an exceedingly emotional and fraught time.

However, I am raging at the irresponsibility of the tattooist. WIBU to ring Trading Standards (or someone? Not sure who?) and report this? As an aside, I had piercings in my yoof, and still have a tattoo so it's not being anti body modification it's about laws being there for a reason...

[GilbGeekette]

BloodRed - I've had to write a letter detailing my concerns which they will then 'follow up'. Whatever that means! They didn't sound too surprised - this particular place does have a bit of a rep locally so I hope that they'll visit and do... something? Fine toothcomb of books, sterilization procedures, autoclaves whatever. I know that there will always be dodgy places but I'm very good at ranting then not doing anything. MN is making me better at actually walking the walk, not just talking the talk!

MaryZed - that's such a lovely thing for your son to do and you to support (even though it might not have felt that way at the time?) I'm a bit teary at the thought; I got my tatt at 22 to remember an ex-boyfriend who took his own life. 13 years on I still feel like it was the right thing to do.

[MaryZed]

ds is 18 now, and has no regrets. He feels he is the only one who still remembers his friend - he feels that everyone else has forgotten and moved on (as teenagers do), but is still very glad he got the tattoo.

I hope yours do follow up - whatever about an rip tattoo, the thought of 14 year old girls getting their current boyfriends name, or One Direction or something that they will have grown out of in a year is horrible.