To think DD's tattoo isn't the end of the world?

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

Or her navel piercing? The tattoo is less than one cm square, the subject refers to her nickname as a baby and it's behind the ear. The piercing? Not infected. She's 18, and they were birthday presents from friends.

MIL: "Disgraceful, makes you look like a dockyard tart"

SIL: "Really, I would have thought you had more sense. I blame your mother (her Dsis)".

Her cousins: "COOOOL! Wish we could get one". Cue IL grumbles of "disown you...leave it all to the cats...housing estate children".

BIL: "Christ. Fancy a pint?"

These are the expected responses at the gathering of the clan on Sunday. Personally, I think life's too short.

Life is, indeed, too short. But they probably won't even notice them, you are likely to be making it into a bigger deal in your head than it'll end up being.

Only thing now more predictable than getting a "small and tasteful first tattoo" is the battle of the pro-tattoos against the antis.

Dmil still complains about dps tattoos, her most common phrase being "your arm/leg will fall off!" Yes, mil that well known side effect of getting a tattoo, the spontaneous loss of a limb...

Not the end of the world but I can assure you they are standard responses!

You're probably right, but MIL hasn't much of a filter and SIL loves a dig.

My DM would have gone loopy, and would then have to have been growled at.

My mil spotted my tattoo for the first time yesterday- she was horrified, my mum stuck up for me- in fact she seemed more proud when I had my tongue pierced than I graduated!

How will they see them?

ds has a massive tattoo on his chest, and at one stage had an earring and an eyebrow bar. My mum didn't comment. My brother disapproved loudly, which makes me laugh now as his dd has multiple piercings, dreadlocks and tattoos.

The only thing my elderly mum really hates is my niece's nose ring though - probably because she keeps picking at it (and my mum can't get the image of crusted snot out of her mind

Just say. " thank god she didn't tell you about the arrest" and walk off.

Oh, they'll see them. DD will make sure of it, accidentally on purpose.

maddy

I'm curious how your mother knows what a dockyard tart looks like- is she speaking from her own very personal experience?

No these are not the end of the world. They are nothing to fret about.

The end of the world for me is the day I give a flying fig about my inlaws opinions on anything.

I love the phrase 'dockyard tart'

Sorry your mil, not your mother.

DD1 had a lip piercing when she was 20 and FIL took me to one side and said "Why did you let her have that done?"

The expected responses?

So no one has said these?

It might be ok!

Maybe?!

oh dear, I do think that is a typical response nowadays..especially from the older generation. I had facial piercings and my elderly relatives would say 'why do you have to put metal in your face!?..you're too pretty!'

Yep life's too short - don't sweat the small stuff - pick your battles.... And so on... Think we're all more interested in the phrase "Dockyard Tart"

lol at the spontaneous limb falling off, I hope not! I've just booked an appointment to have my next one done, on my head!
Some people really don't like tattoos but they are so much more accepted these days, but I do believe when you make the decision to alter your appearance, people are likely to stare or comment. Not that that makes it ok of course!

Dd's response should be "oh nan/auntie you crack me up" and walk off laughing and shaking her head like they made a funny joke.

Update: DD decided discretion was the better part of valour, and didnt tie her hair back. It turns out MIL and the cousins know about the piercing anyway and are conspiring not to tell SIL.

So a lovely day was had by all. Especially since we had homemade rum and meringue ice cream for pudding, with stewed rhubarb sauce.

I remember coming home with my first tattoo, my mother went bonkers...then later in the evening I walked in to the living room and she said I've got something for you, I said what and she threw a Biro playfully at me and told me to go doodle on myself some more and smirked.

They calm down :)

of course it's not the end of the world. Doesn't make her look like a tart.

although it is quite funny that anyone would want their baby nickname written behind their ear. Still, easy enough to conceal if she gets bored with it.

pierced stomach is what everyone does. Most teens want to look like everyone else.

A limb will fall off? Is THAT what she thinks happened to pirates?

I'm not a massive fan of tattoos but it's none of my business if people do like them. They're not asking me to pay for them to get them done.

I once worked with someone who, when their 17yo DDleft her a msg saying she had 'big news', said to me (with multiple tattoos and piercings) 'we'll either she's pregnant or she's got a tattoo, I'm hoping she's pregnant'

What a weird thing to hope for!

Dd3 had her belly pierced at 14, ds1 had a tatoo at 17.

They paid for them from chores/work.

Ffs your family should be grateful they don't have real problems to worry about.