Hi Tatiana,
My 16 1/2 yr old daughter wants a tattoo and cartilage piercing. I really don’t want her to get one but she is adamant —ugh! I know there could be worse things! Also she says when she turns 18 she is getting a tattoo and there is nothing I can do about it. Would love all the advice. We are a very strong Christian family and she goes to a Christian school. She knows that I am really against tattoos but as of now she sounds like she could care less what I think. We do have a great relationship and I feel like a lot of this is peer pressure. I am continuing to pray that the Lord will change her heart. Again I know it could be so much worse. Another thing, the church we go to there are a lot of leaders that have tattoos and piercings and its a VERY popular church here in Atlanta. Most of the young kids go to this church so maybe I am not up with the times. I am 50yr and times are so different now. I am thankful she is against experimenting with drugs and drinking!!
Thanks again
Dear Thanks Again,
At 18, your daughter is absolutely able to get her cartilage pierced and a tattoo because she is an adult. Here is what you both need to consider and what many parents and children tend to miss: A parent’s leverage increases with their child turning 18, not decreases. We are required to do lots of things by law for our children before 18. However, anything we do for them after 18 comes from the goodness of our hearts. Just like some employers require tattoos not be exposed in the workplace, some parents require tattoo and cartilage piercings be delayed until the young-adult child is off their payroll. If you feel strongly about those items, stand your ground, but don’t state anything as a consequence for her choices that you are not willing to live by. (Please see my response about double piercings, it applies to you too.)
Best,
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