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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:
RoseRedRoseBlue · 28/08/2021 16:18

You are “devastated” and “can’t stop crying?”

Get a hold of yourself, for goodness sake.

Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 28/08/2021 16:19

My dp has a bong tattooed on his forearm didnt stop him from having a well paying job

SionnachRua · 28/08/2021 16:21

@MondayYogurt

I saw a kid with a hand tattoo I'd assume something was wrong with the parents tbh. It's not a traditional first tattoo location.
Big difference between a hand tattoo and a wrist tattoo, which is what the kid has. At least the wrist can be covered with sleeves. A hand tattoo though can lock you out of certain careers - a lot of tattooers refuse to do them on people with no tatts.
ActonSquirrel · 28/08/2021 16:24

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

He's an 18 year old man. Let him sort it out. Honestly

SunnyAgain · 28/08/2021 16:24

I would be gutted and very upset too in your situation. I know they are not unusual these days, and it’s not a popular opinion but I really dislike tattoos and hope my children don’t decide to get one. I completely understand your reaction.

Bouledeneige · 28/08/2021 16:24

Glad you're calmer now OP - your response, and his girlfriend's sounded way over the top. Poor boy. I can't imagine he'd not get a job now because of it and I really wouldn't bother with removal. That's just silly.

Sounds like you would still have had a problem with it if he'd done it after he was 18. So that's not really the issue is it. His life, his body.

My DD has 3 tattoos and most of her friends many more. Get used to the idea.

BigGooseyLucy · 28/08/2021 16:26

My mum killed me at 16 for getting a tattoo, she cried and I felt terrible.

Now she cracks jokes about it.. it has been 20 years mind

I know it upsetting but at the same time it's just a tattoo it can be lasered off, changed to something else or even covered with this new tattoo cover up make up. Who knows you may laugh about it in the future

Blueskythinking123 · 28/08/2021 16:26

Op I would also be upset. How big is it? Can it be covered with a long sleeved shirt or watch?

Theworldisquiethere · 28/08/2021 16:27

@ActonSquirrel

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

He's an 18 year old man. Let him sort it out. Honestly

She says he’s UNDER 18
Cissyandflora · 28/08/2021 16:27

Goodness me. I thought I was a worrier! This is too much fuss over nothing. His girlfriend left him over this? It’s a tattoo. No big deal at all. And hard to think of a career where this would be a problem.

GoodnightGrandma · 28/08/2021 16:27

My DS has one, he was ‘encouraged’ into it by his ex-girlfriend. He regrets the time spent with the ex as much as the tatt !

PhilCornwall1 · 28/08/2021 16:27

Sounds like you would still have had a problem with it if he'd done it after he was 18. So that's not really the issue is it. His life, his body.

I'm 49 and my mother doesn't know I have one. I'd have to get the smelling salts out if she saw it.

Mind you, if I need the inheritance quickly, I'll show her!!

TurquoiseDragon · 28/08/2021 16:28

If he had it done in this country, I'd dob the tattooist in to his/her local council. Anyone willing to tattoo someone without fully checking their age is someone willling to cut corners on other stuff.

Cissyandflora · 28/08/2021 16:30

@Theworldisquiethere but he’s almost 18

BlusteryLake · 28/08/2021 16:31

@SunnyAgain

I would be gutted and very upset too in your situation. I know they are not unusual these days, and it’s not a popular opinion but I really dislike tattoos and hope my children don’t decide to get one. I completely understand your reaction.
I agree. And those saying it won't hinder his career, I disagree. Whilst it's not forbidden in most jobs, I would most definitely avoid hiring someone who had a visible drug related tattoo. It gives off the wrong vibe to our clients. So if he was going for a job and it was between him and someone of equal calibre without a druggie tattoo, he would miss out.
Sleepinghyena · 28/08/2021 16:33

What is it a tattoo of op? And what is his intended career?

Cuddlypinkcat · 28/08/2021 16:33

@MondayYogurt

I saw a kid with a hand tattoo I'd assume something was wrong with the parents tbh. It's not a traditional first tattoo location.
He's not a kid, he's nearly 18. My God, MN is full or corkers today 🙄
JurassicShay · 28/08/2021 16:36

You can't trust him because he got a tattoo? That's a bit extreme!

Cissyandflora · 28/08/2021 16:36

@GreenTartan

It's a tattoo associated with drugs, which he didn't realise!

Thanks for the support, it's just a shock. Fucking muppet!

And I'm upset that I can't trust him, he's just an eejit!

I'm calmer now.

Thanks for listening to my rant. Yes he's def going to have to pay for it to get removed. I agree! He's phoned work to ask for extra hours.

But he might not want it removed. Why can’t he do what he wants with his own body? And it’s odd that a girlfriend would leave him over this. Poor young man. Overreactions are really difficult to live with. More so than a tattoo that he chose to have.
astoundedgoat · 28/08/2021 16:37

Huge over reaction. I stupidly got a tattoo when I was 16. Mercifully it's in an invisible place, but honestly, brand new tattoos are harder to remove, and it's unlikely this nameless future career is going to be hiring him in the next six months anyway. Why on earth should he start saving for removal now? He's a child and he's made a frivolous mistake. Let him be.

After uni, when job interviews start looming, if it's still a dealbreaker then, he can get it removed.

When you say drug-related, do you mean a giant stupid bright green marijuana leaf, or like a spoon or something? I'm not imagining that it's tasteful, given that he is a 17 year old boy, but maybe it's not as horrendous as it could be?

His girlfriend is a drama queen.

Guiltypleasures001 · 28/08/2021 16:37

Don't get laser get it done over too look like something else op

Theworldisquiethere · 28/08/2021 16:38

[quote Cissyandflora]@Theworldisquiethere but he’s almost 18[/quote]
I can’t see where it says that

CampaignToo · 28/08/2021 16:39

What career. There are very few where they are banned now, unless offensive.

I'd leave him to deal with it if/when it becomes an issue. Natural consequence and lesson learned.

Cccc1111 · 28/08/2021 16:39

There are concealers he could cover it with while at work. One that comes to mind is dermablend. I found a chemist that had testers of it once, I played with the testers covering marks on my hands and arms, there wasn’t one it didn’t cover, it’s good stuff

saltedcaramel87 · 28/08/2021 16:39

reminds me of this Grin www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/aug/11/devastated-by-my-sons-tattoo

I'm betting it's the chemical structure for THC or something similar

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