I’m no prude and it takes a lot to shock me but today we had a parent come in and ask about getting his 12 and 13 year old sons tattoo’d. If we’d do it if they signed a consent form, if it would change as they got older and grew, etc etc.
WTF?
I was dumbfounded by his request. I told him it was a bad idea and that we wouldn’t do it and that he shouldn’t go to any shop that tattoos underage CHILDREN! Then I gave him a long long look of disappointment.
12 and 13 years old? They probably don’t even have pubes yet. I was dumbfounded… and super sad for those kids. 🙁
BTW. Tattoo Zoo policy is you must be 18+ to be tattoo’d in our shop.
Hi Sarah, I’m so glad you posted this. My soon to be 13 yr old daughter talks about tatoos and piercings all the time. I keep telling her that when she is of age and on her own, then she may do those things. I think its awesome that someone in the business supports my thinking. Any advice?
We have a strict 18 + tattoo policy. Not all shops are like that … My only advice is to offer to pay for their first tattoo if they promise not to get any tattoos until they turn 18. 🙂
Great advice, Sarah! Thats exactly what my parents told me. On my 18th birthday my mom, best friend and I went and all got our first tattoos together.
Awww cuteness. What did you get?
Thank you, Sarah. I’m fairly certain the laws here in WA state are 18 + as well. Much appreciated.
I was once getting tattooed here in Washington state and a woman came in and asked “do ya’ll tattoo babies?” all the artist just looked at her like she was a nut.
I don’t agree with piercing kids either. It weirds me out how people get their babies’ ears pierced. You shouldn’t be able to modify somebody’s body without their permission.
Sometimes I’m sad when professionalism has to be a cut above what I really want to say to people like that. One half of me is blown away when people say outrageous things like that and think that *#$! like that is ok. But the other half of me says “I’m totally not surprised” Sad sad world. Thanks for posting this!
oh man that is some questionable parenting. i really hope nobody tattoos those kids. i regret tattoos i got at 18 so i can’t imagine what i would have done to myself at 13 lol
This is pretty disturbing. I mean I hate seeing young boys and girls (age 2-13) having their hair coloured (I was 15 when I first started colouring). To even THINK of getting them a tattoo? Why? Are they trying to make their children “cool”?
People make poor decisions when they are young (not with tattoos, just in general), I cannot imagine a parent encouraging a child in that way.
Yikes, so I guess you guys aren’t willing to tattoo our 10 month old? I want to give her a tattoo that says, “I love my Mother.”
No, seriously he should be turned in to CPS. I wonder if there is anyone who would do such a thing?
My 16 yr old brother (two years older than me) convinced my mom to let him get a tattoo cuz all his new friends were getting them at his new school. I disagreed with my brothers decision because I go to the same school as him and I know those kids, smokers, alcoholics, etc. My mom finally cracked down and said OK. My brother was an good student, and a good person in till these friends came along. After about two years he died of DUI, in this case getting his tattoo at such a young age was somewhat of a gateway to this tragedy. If only my mom had said no…