My twin daughters and I have had discussions lately about tattoos.They have both indicated wanting to get a tattoo at some point in their lives.
How do you think I feel about this?
Do you think I'm like my mother and I HATE them?
Or ...
Do you think I am hip and with-it and am cool about tattoos?
I don't know why, exactly --- but ... I'm okay with tattoos.
I guess it's the hippie in me - the 70's influence - the fact that I am a product of peace signs and groovy music - generation. I'm cool!
I'm not totally cool with the tattooing everywhere - you know - for females, especially. Like all over the arms and legs and backs and chests. But ... a tattoo or two, doesn't bother me.
As a matter of fact - I rather like the band tattoos around the arms - a small butterfly on the ankle and even those "tramp-stamps" on the lower back.
I will be encouraging my girls/kids to hold off on actually getting any tattoos for as long as possible (while they live under my roof), but ...
I'm cool with it.
Sorry Mom!
This is JUST my opinion - what do you think? Are you cool about tattoos or are you ... On The Flipside?
Give me your most honest opinion - whether you agree with me or have a FLIPSIDE view. But, please make sure you follow the comment rules and be nice to me and other commenter's. And please go over to my sidebar and participate in the poll on this topic.
Poll results: How Do You Feel About Tattoos? 4(33%) said they don't like tattoos.. 7 (58%) said they are okay with one or two. 0% said they like lots of tattoos. 1 (8%) said they have tattoos and love them.
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27 comments:
I'm not totally against them unless it gets carried away and they are everywhere! A nice, small, discreet tattoo is perfectly acceptable.
I'll be watching this one closely. I've been thinking about getting one. Something small and discrete, probably on the ankle or back of my calf. But I'm really struggling with it.
I can think of so many places where I would be hesitant to show it - work, church, dressy occasions. But on the other hand, I just feel so BORING. It seems like it would be something to spice me up a bit and make me be a bit more like "cool mom" instead of "boring soccer mom".
So I'll be interested in seeing what your readers think about them.
I do hate the really blatant ones, especially across girl's chests - ew! It does seem to be addicting. I frequently see people with bunches of them and I think that's kind of tacky. But I probably wouldn't faint if one of my boys had an armband or something reasonable. My daughter-in-law has one across the lower back and my nieces have several. I think they regret them now.
Piercings, now that's a whole different story. I really have some strong feelings about those. Particularly the large ear ones. Those are so permanent, and you can't hide them in any way, in any situation. I wonder if these kids realize what they are doing to their future job prospects by poking all these large, visible holes in their ears?
Haha. Tattoos!
I'm personally, cool with them. I have a small star on the inside of my left ankle. It's nice, symbolic of something, and it's discrete.
My sister has a daisy on top of her foot - not a huge one, and it's pretty discrete.
Our mother was not all that impressed with them.... I don't think she's AGAINST them as such, just she probably didn't want HER daughters getting them. Though, she has made it pretty clear to my sister that if she gets the one the wants (on her upper back) there's going to be HUGE trouble.
Personally, I don't mind. I don't like big tattoos on girls, I don't like arms covered, or anything that stand out too much. Something nice and discrete, that has meaning, that can be shown off if appropriate, or can be hidden easily if need be.
The only problem with tattoos, is that once you get one, it's like a bug. You generally want to get more. I'd love to get one on the inside of my wrist, but I know that my mother would FREAK. We'll see.
I will say one thing though - Michael Scofield's allbody tattoo is GORGEOUS. (Mostly coz he is ;) )
I don't mind them at all and some of them look really good. Each to their own I say :) It's not for me though because I'm so incredibly indecisive and they're a little too permanent. :)
Trace :)
I don't like them, for me. It doesn't bother me if others have them except for when they're covered with them.
I like tattos. On women I think that small and deicate is the way to go. I think that big ones look a little tacky. I also think it's important that tattoos have meaning. They are permenant so you should get something that is important to you. I have one I am a little sorry I got. I saw the picture and decide it was for me. I still like the picture but wish it weren't a part of my body. Luckily it is somewhere not uncovered very often.
Great topic Kellan. I can't wait to hear what others have to say.
When I was 18, way back in 1974, I told my Mom I wanted a tattoo--just a butterfly or flower on my hip or shoulder. Surprisingly, my Mom DID NOT freak out; in fact, she agreed that it sounded kind of cute--but then "wondered" how I would feel about my little butterfly or daisy when I was older. She didn't have a fit and forbid me to get a tatoo, she just made ME wonder, too. Smart Mom! I held off.
Over the years, though, I still kept thinking about it. Seven years ago, I realized that, then, I WAS old and still wanted a tatoo--plus, the one I wanted had/has special meaning. I got it and loved it; it is not visible and the only people who have seen it are the people I choose to show it to. A little over a year ago, I got another one--again, with meaning; again, visible only if I show it to someone. While I was there, though, I just had to get a little star on the top of each foot, under and just to the side of the big toes, because it would look cute when wearing flip-flops/sandals. So, visible in the summer, but covered up in the winter.
I LOVE my tatoos. They are not gaudy, ugly or huge--and they have special meaning for me. So far, mine are just for me and no one else, unless I choose to share, so I don't really care what anyone else thinks. And that's the way I feel about any future tatoos, as well. And there will be at least one more. It IS rather addictive. Plus there are so many cute, colorful, girly ones out there. They're fun. But...I AM glad that I waited until I was older to get mine.
I have several and each one has a meaning to me and they can all be covered with a pair of jeans and a tshirt. Our oldest son has two. One we bought for his 16th birthday of an eagle head in tribal that he got in remembrance of 9/11 and one that he got for himself for his 18th birthday.
I think tattoo's are a personal choice and something that you need to be dedicated to having for the rest of your life.
I have a tat (ankle)... got it in my early 40's.
My kids? I said no ... but once you turn 18, the decision is yours.
My son got one at age 22, on his back, can be covered ... and my daughter at 18 1/2 ... on her foot, just above her toes, can be covered ... whew!
To me, needles say pain, and I know tats require needles. There is also the cleanliness/safety issue. That is enough to keep me away from ever getting one for myself.
Discreet and tasteful, and easily covered up when appropriate to do so... these can actually be very nice. I've admired them on others. There are some beautiful and artistic tats out there to be seen.
My kids haven't talked of getting any...yet...and frankly I'd be surprised if they do this before they are adults. If they do want to get tattoos, I hope I can respond in the same way that kim-d's mom did. IMHO, ghat was impressive and thoughtful parenting!
If it isn't illegal, immoral, or harmful to yourself or others.... why not?
I'm okay with it too. I have 2 and noone knows unless you are very close to me and yes, one is a "tramp stamp"
I have three myself, so obviously I'm not against them. I will not sign for my kids to get one though, I want them to wait until they're at least 18 (preferably older) only because they are permanent and I know too many people who got really goofy tattoos at a young age and now regret them.
I also wanted to add, that times are really changing with regards to jobs & tattoos & piercings. I work at a large hospital and many of our doctors and nurses have visible tattoos and/or piercings, and nobody has a problem with them.
♥ I wouldn't be totally freaked out if one of my kids got one but I wouldn't want them to do it until they were out of my house and as long as they did it on their own because they really WANTED too... Sometimes I think it's easier to get one when you're with friends because they give you a little extra courage or nudging! Personally tattoo's are not something I would want or ever do but I have family members that have them and that's 100% OKAY! :)
I'm a product of that generation too Kellan! Peace signs and all that...but I still don't want a tattoo. Not for me. It reminds me of a babysitter I had for my daughter when she was little. Trish got a Minnie Mouse tattoo on her abdomen...she LOVED Minnie Mouse!! But. When she got pregnant. And her belly got Huge. Can you imagine what a REALLY HUGE Minnie Mouse all STRETCHED out looked like?? It was Not Pretty. Good memory though. We laughed and laughed about it!
I think tattoos can be tasteful and pretty cool even though I don't have any myself. If my kids wanted one I wouldn't mind...as long as they were eighteen or older.
I'm not really against them, but my husband made a very interesting observation...
When a girl gets a tattoo down on the small of her back, he said she should just have the tattoo read "Dump Load Here" as in, when we're gettin' busy and it's almost time to "complete the act" then the guy should just "Dump Load Here" on the small of her back.
I know this is disgusting, but he told me this to basically illustrate the point: every girl he knows who has a big tattoo there isn't exactly modest. Isn't exactly virtuous. Not that every girl has to be, but if you want the image of a person who is demure, feminine, lady-like, etc then a tattoo is probably not the way to go. Some people think being lady-like is being a big pushover wimp. I would say, being demure and holding your tongue is a mark of a woman with more strength than one who just blurts out her every thought without controlling herself. Okay, I think I'm digressing now....
Anyway, tatoos are okay for guys but not so much for gals. Just My Opinion.
I'm not a huge fan in general, but the more you see them the more you get used to them.
The hardest thing about young people getting them is that we all know that what you want at 18 is rarely ever what you want at 40. Now that's one thing when it comes to your wedding china, but we're talking permanent here.
That said, my 18 year old son just got one. It is on his bicep and can be covered up if necessary (I think that's huge). The design is not offensive and he did ask permission first.
I will never get one but I am not completely against them. I just think that there's no way I would ever like something enough to have it permanently on my body.
And I think most of them look tacky when one dons formal wear or even business wear....
:-)
I'm cool with them . . . you can have tasteful and even fun tattoos that people only see when you want them to. I have 3 . . . an ankle band, a Peace Mickey Mouse on the other ankle, and my wedding band (hubby and I got infinity bands around our ring fingers for our 9th anniversary). Nobody sees my tattoos unless I want them to. They can all be covered up for work, or church, or Grandma when necessary ;-) I even have a container of "drama makeup" - heavy duty cover up if you will so nobody knows I have a secret thing for Mickey Mouse if I don't want them to.
With that said . . . my kids have asked about them. I tell them the same thing every time . . . I wanted my first tattoo when I was 16. I decided to wait until I was 25 and if I still wanted it, I'd get it. I got my Peace Mickey tattoo for my 25th birthday :-)
If you want one and know what you want, get it . . . if you don't know exactly what you want or where you want it without thinking about it, then DO NOT GET ONE!
As they say, a tattoo is a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling.
Oh, and one more thing. Getting tattoos is like eating chips - you can't have just one!!!
I dare you to get JUST ONE ;-)
I like them. Hubby has one.... I want one... Adam thinks he has them, when he draws on his arm. ha ha. I think as long as they are done with good taste, and not overtaking the person's entire body, then they are ok!
I don't think tattoos have quite the same stereotype that they used to. I got one in June and love it but everyone that knows me has said that I'm the last person they would ever see getting one which I think is funny. My hubby talked for a long time about getting one and wanting one that would be very meaningful to us. We each got one that represents our family and I love my "work of art". You can see it here.
http://klauserfamily.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-belated-35th-birthday-present.html
So I don't have a problem with tattoos but it IS a forever thing. I think one should be old enough to make a responsible decision about it and think it through so they don't regret it.
I hope my daughter doesn't get one. At least not until she has really thought hard about it.
I have tattoos, so I could hardly complain when my kids got them. In fact, once they were both out of the house so I no longer had to worry about scandalizing parent teacher conferences or other ceremonial events, I got one on my forearm that goes nearly from my wrist to elbow. I suppose it is personal taste, but I see no reason for one to be discrete. Who cares what other people think? I suppose they offend some people, but I am not sure why.
And my kids do both have some, as well as my sons in law.
I have one. Just one. On the back of my right hip. It is of the rabbit from the movie BAMBI. Cute little fella! Rolling on his back laughing. And it has his name in a pretty "script" font just below him...THUMPER. I got the tattoo on my 35th birthday, I'm now 48. I chose the location because I'll NEVER wear a two piece bathing suite and only those that I choose to see will ever see it. I now have a 19 year old daughter who ADORES tattoos. In the year since she turned 18 she has gotten 4 of them. Her name in Chinese, the symbols for the Houston Texans (because she is proud to be a Texan), the copyright sign and the year of her birth...and last but not least, MY NAME, first and middle names. I tried to talk her out of it, but she was determined. It too is in a beautiful script, very tastfully done. I'm sure she is not finished, but she is of age and I just pray she is careful and only goes to reputable parlors.
I think the individual should be able to choose but I am concerned for the health risks and for tattoo decisions that one may regret later in life.
Our rule is... you have to be at least 18 and supporting yourself. Then it's up to you.
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