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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:
Hellocatshome · 30/08/2021 11:49

@itssarcasmjoan good luck taking a 17 year old to the Doctors you realise they are people in their own right and can't be taken anywhere.

Skyla2005 · 30/08/2021 11:55

Teenagers are infuriating at times but we must let them learn and live with their mistakes. Leave him to it if he wants it removed he can sort it himself. Try and think of the bigger picture it's not the worst thing in world he could have done. Got someone pregnant would have been a lot worse for example. A long sleeve shirt can always cover it. If it's sports related job he wants he can still wear sporty long sleeves. If it's office work a shirt with long sleeves. This will be a hard lesson for him to learn and there will be many more in his life I'm sure just like all of us

bemusedmoose · 30/08/2021 12:30

Laser doesn't completely erase it, especially if it's solid black. Will take more than one session and it bloody hurts (far more than the tattoo did and without the alcohol to numb the pain) a lot of people back out of the laser treatments because of the pain!

I was under 16 when I got one (my mum brain now freaks out at what a div I was and what a skanky place to tattoo a kid!) but i dont regret it - it's part of my history. Kids do stupid sh#t and they have to own it to learn and grow. He needs to get a job and pay for the laser - maybe then he won't be so quick to do something stupid again!

I think only the armed forces have issues with visable tattoos now - they insist they are under the uniform (unless it is a very posh high profile job but then sleeves or a good watch should do it).

gogohm · 30/08/2021 12:34

@GreenTartan before you pay for laser, check to see what the policy on wrist tattoos are for his chosen career. A good tattoo artist might be able to convert his one to something pg that's work acceptable.

ThreeWitches · 30/08/2021 13:02

I think only the armed forces have issues with visable tattoos now

That is not true at all anymore. DH is RAF; tattoos are allowed on the neck and hands now.

ThreeWitches · 30/08/2021 13:09

@ThreeWitches

I think only the armed forces have issues with visable tattoos now

That is not true at all anymore. DH is RAF; tattoos are allowed on the neck and hands now.

Same with the Army and Navy, who both relaxed rules lately.
LynetteScavo · 30/08/2021 13:52

I think you've got so many replies because for many it's: "there but for the grace of God go I"

My DS has told me he's going to get a huge penis tattooed on his back. I very much hope he was joking Hmm

Cissyandflora · 30/08/2021 13:52

All this talk about who should pay for laser removal. The young man chose to have the tattoo. Perhaps he should be allowed to choose what to do with his own body. I can’t imagine being so controlling as to ask my teen to remove a tattoo on their own body. If this is not a troll it’s bloody awful parenting.

ididitsocanyou · 30/08/2021 14:18

Maybe he isn’t career minded? Perhaps his idea of a career is to work as a diving instructor in the Maldives. Why are we pushing these conventional ideas like it’s the 1960s? Back in 1993 my then boyfriends’ dad who was a bit of a pompous university lecturer wanted to make sure I was going to take out my earring (home done top of ear cartilage job) before I went to an interview. I said ‘nah’. He was out of touch! Nobody notices it ever.

Bookloverjay · 30/08/2021 14:21

Wow.... well that was a huge waste of my time.
I was hoping OP would have at least explained what his career is and done a sketch of the tattoo.

Also my DS (he is 20) has a tattoo on his arm and hand, he is at uni studying sports science and nutrition.

My friend has lots of tattoos and works in the caring profession her hubby works for the local authority is also tattooed, including hand tattoos.
I know people who are Foster carers and have tattoos.

I actually like them, alot, can't have one Sad due to medical reasons.

Ddot · 30/08/2021 14:35

It's not the tattoo, its the drug affiliation that is the problem

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 30/08/2021 14:50

If it was the drug thing that was the problem, the OP would've said that straight away. She added that later when most people were saying she was being silly.

Zilla1 · 30/08/2021 15:24

If law is the intended destination and cause for the devastation then I wonder what % of lawyers actually appear in court (as context, none of the 8 'high flying' lawyers I know do, all of whom practice in the civil/corporate/commercial world to earn their £ms). Also wonder how many years it would take for under 18 year old to complete school, first degree, law school or bar school, articles or pupillage and whether this would give enough time for a cover up or laser.

Cissyandflora · 30/08/2021 15:39

OP- It’s ‘come back from holiday’. Or ‘returned from holiday’.

iamtheoneandonlyyy · 30/08/2021 16:08

@Cissyandflora I don't think anybody asked Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 30/08/2021 16:25

@Cissyandflora

OP- It’s ‘come back from holiday’. Or ‘returned from holiday’.
How tedious.
luckylavender · 30/08/2021 16:35

All the tattoo lovers out in force today. They'll surely be surprised to hear that although tattoos are 'everywhere', there are still some people who don't like them and who wouldn't look kindly on employees having them. That includes some head teachers.

SEMPA1234567 · 30/08/2021 16:40

Anything about tattoos will split opinions like marmite! You’re either a lover or a hater! I personally HATE tattoos and would be completely devastated if one of my children got one! I feel your pain, hoping the laser removal goes well for him! Let’s hope he’s learnt his lesson!

ThreeWitches · 30/08/2021 17:04

@luckylavender

All the tattoo lovers out in force today. They'll surely be surprised to hear that although tattoos are 'everywhere', there are still some people who don't like them and who wouldn't look kindly on employees having them. That includes some head teachers.
there are still some people who don't like them

Who gives a fuck about them?

luckylavender · 30/08/2021 18:14

@ThreeWitches - I suppose it depends on whether you want them to employ you, for example.

ThreeWitches · 30/08/2021 18:21

[quote luckylavender]@ThreeWitches - I suppose it depends on whether you want them to employ you, for example.[/quote]
Hahaha.

Please go ahead and list the jobs/careers where someone won't employ you based on you having tattoos.

We'll wait.

kerrya1234 · 30/08/2021 18:24

@GreenTartan

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.

The fact that you can't stop crying over a tattoo is really pathetic, it's a tattoo, if it was a swas**ka or something terrible then maybe, get a grip woman
SimonJT · 30/08/2021 18:25

[quote luckylavender]@ThreeWitches - I suppose it depends on whether you want them to employ you, for example.[/quote]
Not sure many people would want to work for someone who chose not to follow employment law.

iklboo · 30/08/2021 18:29

OP- It’s ‘come back from holiday’. Or ‘returned from holiday’.

And the Spectacularly Missing The Point And Pointlessly Smug & Pedantic Post Award goes to...

dreamcup · 30/08/2021 18:32

It's a really old fashioned view that a tattoo would stop you doing a particular career. These days it doesn't seem to be an issue for any jobs I can think of. What does he want to do?