Tattoo - 13 years old....HELP!!!!

[XXModernMomXX]

Please, please can someone help? I have been an absolute idiot and let my 13 year old have a tattoo. She nagged and nagged and eventually I agreed to one on her shoulder. I have lots and didn't realise it was actually illegal at this age. Now I can't sleep, eat and am making myself ill with worry about the consequences.

I know I should have considered this more, put my foot down etc...but the fact is I didn't and I have made such a horrible mistake.

My daughter loves her tattoo and it does look nice. I have looked at what the law says and it seems that the tattooist has broken the law but not actually myself or my daughter....he knew how old she was...and like I said I didn't know it shouldn't have been allowed.

Now I am worried sick about being reported to the police or social services and haven't eaten or slept for 2 days. Can someone please help me and try and put my mind at ease as I feel like I'm going crazy and can no longer think straight!

18 for tattooing

Body piercing with parental accompaniment, but unable to consent to genital piercing as is indecent assault.

Look, the OP has made a huge mistake, and admitted that she has made a big mistake, and is now worried sick, so maybe instead of flaming her, when she has come on here for advice (the title of the thread is HELP) we could give a little support.

It is too late for all the 'you should have known better, blah blah,' what's done is done. She knows it was wrong and is clearly worried sick.

If this thread had been in AIBU, then obviously a free for all with the replies.

Thanks Lougle - wasn't sure about what age. DD is 16 so am glad I am in the know!

No - the OP thinks it is pretty. She is worried about any legal consequences which is a bit arse backwards IMO..

Annie, I have read your comments.

Personally I wouldn't post on a thread where someone has asked for help just to slate them. I see that you would. Fine, this is the internet, there are plenty of people out there like you.

Fwiw I don't agree with what the OP has done. That doesn't mean I won't try to say something useful to her when she is clearly upset.

I think you need to mark this down as experience move on and deal with any consequences as they arrive.

I would worry more about giving in. Your DD now knows if she nags you enough you will give in. Also be careful letting her know its illegal, as she may use this as a weapon against you "if you don't do xxx I'll report that you let me have a tattoo under age". You need to stand your ground no matter what she threatens.

I would worry more about the can of worms you have opened allowing her something meant for an adult at 13. The sky will be the limit in her head.

I wouldn't have known it was illegal, either . But then I would have laughed in their face if they asked at that age, too.

I suppose if I had done something so daft, and she later threatened to tell on me, I'd retort that a spell in jail for me would be nice holiday from her nagging .

I would not fret. My DD sloped off and did this at a similar age without telling me - she looked older than she was. I was furious when I found out but she wouldn't tell me where she had it done so I could not kick ass.

She is now in her 20s and looks like someone has drawn all over her with felt tip pen, she has that many tattoos. But nobody ever said anything at all.

Nice parenting job. Well done. You must be so proud .

"Fine, this is the internet, there are plenty of people out there like you."

Like me? You don't know me Trubert. 99% of the time I bite my lip and walk away from threads like this. I have never been accused of flaming before either. I realise the OP is asking for help, but in my opinion it is too little too late. She shouldn't ever have been in this position - she should have been the parent and said no.

I'll leave it there. But while you're jumping to her defense, has anyone else noticed that she has not come back since posting? Nor has she posted on anything else lately? I smell a troll.

AnnieBeansMum I am with you on this, I smell a rat.

I checked. First post since 2009. Not that that means she is making this up but I hope she is. 13 ffs.

Get her to the GP to check for any infections.

I know a few people who tattoos under-age. At 16 and 17. Not one of them doesn't regret them now.

plenty of tattooists tattoo underage kids. i know of more than a handful of 14 year olds with quite significant tats.

it is illegal..can result in a custodial sentence for the tattooist and certainly anybody who would tattoo a 13 yo is not worth their salt as an artist...someone who takes pride in what they do would never risk their reputation or livelihood...

i found this too op..."The Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 makes it illegal for anyone to tattoo you if you are under the age of 18 - although the offence is with the person who carries out the procedure, rather than the person who asks for the tattoo." so you should be ok from that point of view.

Tattoos baffle me. Why would you want to risk hepatitis and end up looking so ridiculous, and PAY for that?

This can't be real - who in their right mind would let their 13 year old get a tattoo???? I agree with 2shoes and Annie

Boffin - no riak of hepatitis in a legitimate tattoo parlour - very well regulated. However if a place is willing to tattoo a 13 year old I would be worried about their general standards

i get a teen going and getting it done behind their mums back, but not a grown up allowing their child to have it done

Exactly, 2shoes.

so you did alot of research on tattoos and teh tattoist then before you made such a huge decision for your child?

Quite a few sleeper accounts waking up today.

People have babies' ears pierced as well. I find that a bit yukky, tbh.

Me too BoffinMum.