What should I do about nephew's interest in tattoos?

Question

I have a few tattoos and my nephew is 14 and is really really curious about tatts. I know that is a part of being a kid, but last week he drew a whole bunch of temporary tatts on his body with a sharpie. I know there is a want to be like me element to it, but what can I do to explain to him that he needs to wait until he is 18 -wait to get something meaningful- and get it done professionally? He wants to go watch me get one next week and I was wondering should I let him? I was wondering if I acted up the pain would it discourage him or would he just go tell his friends and then think his uncle is a big softy and not have the effect I want? What do you think? He is pretty mature for a 14 yr old but I worry about him getting a homemade or something like that. I tried to explain to him to wait to 18 because at 16, when my mom was willing to sign, I was wanting something I would hate now as an adult. What should I do?

Answer 1

You should take him with you when you get a tatoo, but don't fake the pain just act like you always do. He's growing up and you should let him see what it's like to have to have a tatoo.

Answer 2

make a deal with him (if his parents of course don't mind the tats)

say, that if he promises to not get a home tat or get it illegally done anywhere, that when he turns 18, you will take him to a palor, and pay for any one he wants. express alot of interest in it and talk about how exciting it would be there for his first.

I would say that you should take him to the tattoo parlor with you next weekend just so he can get familar with the process. show him and explain everything to him, or have your artist do it. I wouldn't say play up the pain or anything. Kids are smarter than that, and if it hur that badly, do you really think they would believe you would keep going back?

good luck with everything.

Answer 3

Let him watch you getting iti done it will make him rethink getting one =]

Answer 4

Kids are a lot more savvy these days than they were 20+ years ago. Tattoos and piercings are extremely commonplace; 1 in 4 people in America has a tattoo.

I think that your approach is good: sit him down and explain to him that a tattoo is something that will be on your skin forEVER and EVER. Explain that getting one is not something to be taken lightly and that if he is interested in getting one he should take the next 4 years to really think it over.

Don't emphasize the pain because it just opens you up to look like a hypocrite when he says things like "But you got them, did it not hurt you?"

You SHOULD emphasize the medical risk involved if the place that gives you a tattoo isn't a safe and clean environment. Let him know that getting a tattoo from a non professional can lead to something as simple as a basic infection, or to something as serious as HIV - and everything in-between.

If he really wants to experiment, get him some of the stick-on temporary tattoos. Stress how great these are because they wash off after a short while, and re-emphasize that a real tattoo is on your skin until the day that you die.