Tattoos on teens - opinions pls

[columbine]

I'm all for keeping it above-board, and if anything, Dad's prohibition will prove an incentive, not a disincentive anyway. Tattoos don't have the shock value they once did. But definitely discussing the economic ramifications (e.g. you may have to live in a decent-sized city with an unacceptable cost of living to be able to find a job at all) makes sense; and tying that in with the "not under my roof" angle (e.g. "Nobody will hire me" will no longer be an acceptable excuse to live here rent-free!) Explain how people will make up excuses or lie outright and just hire a less qualified candidate if they "just don't like the look" of a job applicant, which might well be the case for certain individuals in a position to make hiring decisions.

What the heck, he can move to Boston - nobody here bats an eye at tattoos, facial piercings, or blue hair. But you need 2 full-time jobs just to stay off the street, so he better not harbor delusions of having a social life!

Love, Columbine

[mike001]

Leaves you between a rock and a hard place. You have to choose between your son and hubby. I imagine it will cause a lot of friction in the home if he does get it. Yet, at 18 he is old enough to make a decision.Would he be willing to wait another year? If not, everyone will have to meet halfway.
I never was a tatoo fan, so I would also have said no to my kids had they asked. I guess if it's in good taste and somewhere hidden, it would be ok. My main concern would be what he could pick up. No matter how reliable the place, there's a lot of risk, take a look at what you pick up from needles at the hospitals.

[Sevaede]

Leaves you between a rock and a hard place. You have to choose between your son and hubby. I imagine it will cause a lot of friction in the home if he does get it. Yet, at 18 he is old enough to make a decision.Would he be willing to wait another year? If not, everyone will have to meet halfway.
I never was a tatoo fan, so I would also have said no to my kids had they asked. I guess if it's in good taste and somewhere hidden, it would be ok. My main concern would be what he could pick up. No matter how reliable the place, there's a lot of risk, take a look at what you pick up from needles at the hospitals.

There are MANY, MANY reputable tattoo and piercing shops. They *DO* get inspected by folks from the health department, there is a national organization that the reputable people *MUST* be members of and adhere to all rules! You want a shop that uses a BRAND NEW needle as in taking it out of the package in front of your eyes. You want a place that disinfects the chair before you sit down, makes sure you're wanting to do this by asking several times. You want a place that will not dot you with a marker but use a toothpick to get the dye and mark you, a place that pours the ink into a seperate container used for you and only you. etc etc etc.