Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teen has come back off holiday with a tattoo

473 replies

GreenTartan · 28/08/2021 15:39

That's it really. He's under 18 and has a fucking tattoo on his wrist.

I'm devastated. I know they're very fashionable but that's not the point. If we'd discussed it I'd have obviously made sure he waited until he was 18. The legal age!! I'd suggested he put it somewhere it couldn't be seen with a shirt on.

As it is he won't be able to do the career he wants with a fucking tattoo on his wrist.

I know MNet will jump down my throat but I'm devastated.

We're booked for consultation to get it laser removed but fuck knows how I'm going to afford it,

His girlfriend has dumped him over it and he really regrets getting it done.

I'm just posting here to moan really, can't stop crying. Stupid stupid little boy.

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 29/08/2021 17:16

Surely most lawyers could have wrist tattoos and it would never be noticed? They generally wear formal wear, which would mean as a man he would be able to wear a suit/long sleeved shirt and therefore it wouldn’t be clearly visible.

Realistically (other than professional life model) nobody seems to be able to offer any career that would be stopped in it’s tracks by one wrist tattoo that could be easily covered up by wearing long sleeves.

bigmumsymcgraw · 29/08/2021 17:28

I would feel exactly as you do.

LittleMissPlant · 29/08/2021 17:45

If it was done within the UK then I suggest you report it to the police.

If he wants it removed he should be able to claim off of the tattooists insurance.

SallyWD · 29/08/2021 17:47

Surely the wrist is a good place to have a tattoo as it can be covered with a watch or long sleeves? If he didn't know it was a drug reference I'm sure potential employers wouldn't know either! I feel like the only person in the world without a tattoo these days. I can't see it stopping him getting a job. I really can't.

Twistydebs · 29/08/2021 17:47

I'd rather my boys come back with a tattoo than an std.
It's like a right of passage for a teens holiday. He can always get it covered over with something else when he turns 18. Smile

LipstickLou · 29/08/2021 17:47

My daughter is 18 this week and is having a tattoo. Can I stop her?, no so I will drive her and her friend and hang around (she hates needles). It will be on her shoulder and she has designed it. I have now found that a number of my friends have them. If it makes her happy after a number of horrible school years then so be it. I care more about her forthcoming name change.

ShuddaBeenMe · 29/08/2021 17:48

He didn't know it was linked to drug use you day? Wink

NotSonicTheHedgehog · 29/08/2021 17:53

I’m not sure there’s many (if any) careers a small wrist tattoo would prevent you from doing. What career is he wanting to go into?

Mary54 · 29/08/2021 17:54

Ref career implications. Obviously depends on where you are and job. Our son in law had to get a large tattoo (inoffensive) removed from his upper arm when he joined the Bavarian police force. Not allowed anything that would be visible in summer uniform- short sleeve shirt

csigeek · 29/08/2021 17:55

Oh do shut up “won’t be able to do the career he wants”.

bluebellmiriam · 29/08/2021 17:56

I honestly cannot believe what I am reading.It is his choice,his tattoo ,his self expression .If he comes to regret it ,it is for him to deal with-this is how we learn and become adults .In the grand scheme of things this really is nothing at all -it is not a life threatening illness.I think you need to calm down and consider your vast over reaction.I think it says more about your own insecurity than your son's stupidity.

Moomoo06 · 29/08/2021 17:57

Chill out it’s a tattoo! Regrets getting it done? Don’t we all do things we regret when we’re younger? 😂 and his girlfriend dumping him over a drunken tattoo 😂… she obviously wasn’t the one! Poor lad hope he’s ok he will laugh about it one day xxx

Esspee · 29/08/2021 18:09

You are not being unreasonable OP.
The arseholes on here trying to tell you it is no big deal obviously have no chance of a high flying career where tattoos, especially the type your son now has, will exclude them.
I would be distraught if either of mine did this.
I hope it can be removed but make sure he gets a job and pays you back.

Jeannie88 · 29/08/2021 18:12

Oh dear, lads can be so bloody daft! Got all this is come lol. Not ideal maybe buy hey everyone makes mistakes. Bit of an overreaction being dumped, clearly not meant to be. It can be covered, layered etc and as another poster said, so many professionals have them and I would never judge anyone because of something so minor and doubt many others would either. Thinking of getting one myself at last, a paw print somewhere discrete as at the age of 50 have never had one. X

BlusteryLake · 29/08/2021 18:13

@Esspee

You are not being unreasonable OP. The arseholes on here trying to tell you it is no big deal obviously have no chance of a high flying career where tattoos, especially the type your son now has, will exclude them. I would be distraught if either of mine did this. I hope it can be removed but make sure he gets a job and pays you back.
I agree. I think many posters on here are thinking of jobs as opposed to careers. A druggie tattoo is definitely not acceptable where I work.
simiisme · 29/08/2021 18:20

Dermablend can be used to cover it for interviews/work. And he needs to get a job and start a savings account to get laser removal.
If his girlfriend dumped him over it, she was intending to dump him anyway and just looking for an excuse.
I do agree that many jobs would frown on drug references.
Unless he is very, very sheltered, I don't believe that he did not realise it was a drug reference.

NotSonicTheHedgehog · 29/08/2021 18:20

@Esspee

You are not being unreasonable OP. The arseholes on here trying to tell you it is no big deal obviously have no chance of a high flying career where tattoos, especially the type your son now has, will exclude them. I would be distraught if either of mine did this. I hope it can be removed but make sure he gets a job and pays you back.
I have a career thanks. Pays well over the average UK salary and I’m covered in them. But guess what, arms can be covered up, it’s not rocket science.
iloveeverykindofcat · 29/08/2021 18:21

a high flying career where tattoos, especially the type your son now has, will exclude them.

Do any of these count as proper careers?

  • Aeronautical engineer
  • Speech/language therapist for adults after post-traumatic brain injury
  • University professor recognised as world-leading expert in convergences between digital media and human cultures
  • Veterinary surgeon

Just a few people I know with visible tattoos...

EyesAsGreenAsAFreshPickledToad · 29/08/2021 18:21

How devastating your sons “it’s always 420 somewhere” tattoo will prevent him from his chosen career as a life model 😂

TheWeeDonkey · 29/08/2021 18:22

@Whatishappenin

My son got our (parents and siblings) birthdates tattooed on holiday when he was a teenager. He got my birthdate wrong….
Typical😂

I knew a girl who had her baby daughter's name a birthdate tattooed (on her forearm incidentally) and she got the birthdate wrong too! Even argued with the tattooist who was trying to correct her about it? 🙈

Nikkidolphin · 29/08/2021 18:22

My son did the same as a teen! Lads holiday to Magaluf they all came back with Maga200015 on their sides! Apparently it was a Mickey take of the inbetweeners movie. I was mortified but just rolled my eyes and thought stupid boy! 2 more lads holidays resulted in 2 more tacky tattoos 🤣. He’s now 24 a homeowner and is more interested in doing his house up. I’m waiting for the day he wants them removed or covered in more tasteful art.

TheWeeDonkey · 29/08/2021 18:25

@ShuddaBeenMe

He didn't know it was linked to drug use you day? Wink
Haha chinny reckon?
GallowwayGirl88 · 29/08/2021 18:26

@Esspee

You are not being unreasonable OP. The arseholes on here trying to tell you it is no big deal obviously have no chance of a high flying career where tattoos, especially the type your son now has, will exclude them. I would be distraught if either of mine did this. I hope it can be removed but make sure he gets a job and pays you back.
Clinical psychologist here, is that not high flying enough for you?
DanceItOut · 29/08/2021 18:26

Whilst it was silly to get a tattoo on holiday because honestly I just wouldn’t even as an adult with tattoos. I do think the GF breakup and career panic is a bit of an over reaction. You’re disappointed and he definitely made a silly choice. However he isn’t the first or last to do so and I can’t really think of a career where a small tattoo which can be hidden with foundation (there are specific kinds sold to hide tattoos) or a watch etc would be a problem. If it wasn’t done by a reputable tattoo artist then it might not even take properly. My little brother got a tattoo on holiday when we were teenagers (which is why I never ever will) and it scabbed over quite badly and he picked at the scabs and by the time it was healed there was hardly any tattoo ink left in his skin there were completely blank patches. His mate who also got one had his swell up and get infected and also heal blotchy and missing bits. As long as the needles were clean and your son heals infection free that’s the biggest concern. After that if he truly regrets it then is damage limitation, cover it up and eventually remove if he can afford it. Sometimes the entire tattoo cannot be removed either so he may have to live with some sort of mark left behind either way.

Kanaloa · 29/08/2021 18:28

@Esspee

You are not being unreasonable OP. The arseholes on here trying to tell you it is no big deal obviously have no chance of a high flying career where tattoos, especially the type your son now has, will exclude them. I would be distraught if either of mine did this. I hope it can be removed but make sure he gets a job and pays you back.
Which high flying careers require you to get nude in the interview?

Ah yes, none of them. So he could simply wear a long sleeved shirt and still have a chance at a ‘career’ job. Distraught… how do you react when something bad happens?

Swipe left for the next trending thread