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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why parents let their kids get tattoos?

85 replies

butterfly2015 · 17/03/2015 21:16

I'm watching the benefits thing on c4. There's a 16 year old with a full sleeve tat. And mum is standing there talking about how she wants the best for her son. Eh?

2 of my dds friends have tats. They are also 16. Why on earth do parents think it's a good idea?

OP posts:
ThatBloodyWoman · 17/03/2015 21:18

Well surely the parents don't know till they come home with them? Confused

FuckItBucket · 17/03/2015 21:21

Mum took me for mine rather than me go to the local dodgy guy everyone else went to.

My friends came home with theirs. Not like you can scrub them off or pull them out

ClumsyNinja · 17/03/2015 21:22

My DSS has huge tattoos all over his arms, legs, torso etc. He got the first one as a teenager and then went from there.

It hasn't had a negative effect on his career so I don't see a problem?

msgrinch · 17/03/2015 21:23

Because they did it behind their parents back. I know I did and I wouldn't change it for the world.

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 17/03/2015 21:24

I thought you needed to be 18 for a tattoo?

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 17/03/2015 21:24

One of dds friends went with her mum and they got matching ones.

You have to be 18 to get one don't you?

I think 16 is too young to get permanent ink which you may regret 10 years later.

OP posts:
EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 17/03/2015 21:25

Also, tattoos are part of some people's family cultures so they don't see getting them as detrimental. It's really not our place to judge unless the person is under 18 or not making a free decision.

wheresthelight · 17/03/2015 21:26

I don't get it either and know several parents who have actively encouraged their kids and signed the waivers to have it done. for me it is just as bad as having newborns with pierced ears.

I can only hope that some of their justification is its better they sign off and kids get it done somewhere clean and professional that some back alley charlatan with no hygiene and huge risks of infection

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 17/03/2015 21:28

That's my point. They are 16. My dd wants a tattoo. She's wanted one since she was about 10. She's 16 but I will not take her to have one done and told her to wait til she's 18, to think about where and to pick something meaningful rather than any old crap for the sake of just having one.

OP posts:
morethanpotatoprints · 17/03/2015 21:28

Don't they have to be 18. There was a place closed down for doing under age and they have to prove age now.

Effjay · 17/03/2015 21:29

I don't think you can stop them if they are determined enough to do it at that age. Personally, I really hope my DCs don't.

Original poster
butterfly2015 · 17/03/2015 21:30

Wheresthelight, I find that sad. It's like saying, oh they are going to have sex anyway, so here, use our bed and here's the condoms.

Does no one say no to their kids anymore?

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 17/03/2015 21:30

I thought it was 18 too

seaoflove · 17/03/2015 21:31

They must be going to dodgy tattoo parlours who don't ask for ID. No reputable tattoo artist would tattoo someone under 18, even with parental permission.

ThatBloodyWoman · 17/03/2015 21:32

Where is the money coming from to do them?
Is it their money or the adults?
A full sleeve is going to be really expensive.
I'd love one....

AuntieStella · 17/03/2015 21:32

You have to be 18 in UK.

Different age limits on other parts of Europe (and some countries haven't legislated on it at all). It wouldn't be at all difficult to get it done on holiday.

SurlyCue · 17/03/2015 21:35

I got my first at 15 by dodgy local that all the under 18s went to. Parents didnt find out for a few weeks. Hardly their fault is it? They cant scratch it off me.

CandyAppleFudge · 17/03/2015 21:36

Got my first one at 16 with my mums permission. Dh got his first one at 16 aswell with his parents permission. Dd however won't be allowed one until she's 18!

FuckItBucket · 17/03/2015 21:37

I'm in the UK. We had local dodgy tattooist who would tattoo teens cheaply.

Mum took me to a popular tattooist and mum had to sign a consent form.

I had a small tattoo done and no infections and it was done properly.

Unlike my friends who ended up with terrible looking things and some even ended up with infections.

Would I have gone to the dodgy guy? Of course. I was 15 San at 15 you know best.

Patsyandeddie · 17/03/2015 21:43

If they want one, you're very naive to think they need your permission.

MyGastIsFlabbered · 17/03/2015 21:45

I had fake ID at 16 and had my first tattoo at that age behind my parents back. So far I've not regretted it and I'm 40 now.

itsnotmeitsyou1 · 17/03/2015 21:46

Your choices for one at 18 aren't usually much better than at 16. Heck I had my first at 20, I like it but most people think its a black blob Grin. I wouldn't let my kid have one at 16, only because no reputable tattoo parlour will do it at that age. Would be quite happy to pay for it as an 18th birthday present if they wanted though.

Trickydecision · 17/03/2015 21:48

ClumsyNinja, what does your DSS do? I think there is a lot of prejudice in many workplaces about tattoos.

SetTheWorldOnFire · 17/03/2015 21:52

I had my first tattoo at 14, my parents were not pleased but there was very little they could do. I was always the one out of our group of friends who was sent to buy alcohol, I generally got away without ID and tattooists didn't really ask back then.

I don't regret it at all, but over my dead body will my DC get one at the same age!

Mrsjayy · 17/03/2015 22:01

When dd was in school there was a guy with a kit doing 15/16 yr old I don't think parents gave permission some of them got infections and more flippant they were god awful squint butterflies and spelling mistakes I dared dd to get 1 . I said once she was 18 she could choose I had no idea parents could sign waivers at 16 I wouldn't have