Do you have tattoos? How do you feel about them now that you have a child? Do you feel any different about them? I got mine when I was 18 and while I'm not unhappy that I have it, I have a hard time explaining why I have a turtle climbing up my back to my 4 year old. "Mommy, that turtle is still there."
How do you feel about your tattoos in regards to your kids?
pomegranate / 3032 posts
I have a medium-large tattoo in the middle of my back right below the bra line, my husband has a shamrock with snakes inside on his bicep. For the most part my LO barely notices either of them. I'm sure eventually i'll explain to her what they are but at almost 3 she doesnt give them much thought. I sometimes forget my tattoo is even there and its very easy to cover only if i was in underwear or a bikini would you even see it. We have a friend and my little brother who are covered (sleeves, back and chest pieces) but they are all meaningful to them and fun to look at.
persimmon / 1328 posts
I still love them and will have more! My LO is 2.5 and likes looking at them, to him it's not weird because he doesn't know any different! Just like he doesn't think it's anything out of the ordinary that my hair is pink. I have had a few moments feeling hypocritical asking him not to draw on his hands though!
papaya / 10570 posts
I still love mine and I intend to have more in the future. DH has tattoos too and E has never commented on them.
eggplant / 11861 posts
I don't have any but DH has half sleeves both arms!
I am so used to them I forget, DD will occasionally point out a star he has and sing twinkle twinkle..lol
I am not sure what we will tell our kids, definitely along the lines of he was over 21 out of house etc...
Although they are not offensive in any nature some are not meaningful and he wishes he would have waited and got kids names and things of that nature! So definitely let the kids know it is FOREVER and I guess we will cross that bridge when the time comes!
grapefruit / 4712 posts
My boys love to trace mine that I have on my back. I have a snowflake behind my ear and my oldest says mommy your ear is frozen.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
I have 3 and I don't regret them. I do wish the two dolphins I got were colored differently because over time they look like the same color. I could have it tattooed to fix the color but it's not a big deal nowadays. I have an important meaning to each of my tattoos.
DH has a lot of tattoos. So I don't think it will be odd explaining them.
watermelon / 14467 posts
I don't, just because I haven't found anything I want permanently on my body. My husband has one. It doesn't really phase H at all.
pomelo / 5084 posts
@mediagirl: Haha a turtle! Cute! I have 2, and I got the second one after my son was born (it's his bday) so no, I am not worried about him being old enough to ask about it. My guess is he will think it's pretty cool. 
honeydew / 7463 posts
I have a "tramp stamp" that I got when I turned 18. I regret it because it has zero meaning to me. I walked in and found something on the "sale" wall.
My son JUST noticed mine and pointed it out for the first time this week because I've been in a bathing suit a lot. It did feel weird that he noticed it and I realize that one day I'll have a hard time telling him he's not allowed (obviously when he's a minor, when he's an "adult" he can do what he wants).
I'm considering getting it removed before he is old enough to really "know".
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
I have 2. Her daycare lady has several as well so she's grown up around them and doesn't find them weird or say anything...except on my husband! "Daddy your flower is still on your back" and actually it's a sun but i love that she calls it a flower, and he hates/regrets it. haha)
honeydew / 7622 posts
I have a huge dogwood on my side. 10x6" I think. I don't care. It stretched out a touch but is now back to normal. M has a bunch of tattoos.
persimmon / 1445 posts
I have 2 on my back and DH has 2 (one on his chest and one on his leg). I wish I didn't have mine- I am a way different person than I was when I was 18/19 when I got them and they don't hold much meaning for me anymore. However, DD absolutely loves them! I explained to her that some grownups like to have pictures on their body forever and she can decide if she wants to have a picture forever once she is a grownup girl. She likes for me to draw my tattoos on her hands with washable markers as well.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
Haha I love the comment about the turtle. My LO would say something like that.
No tattoos for me or DH, so we don't have to navigate this particular situation.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
No tattoos for either of us, and I'm surprised LO hasn't noticed them on others so far.
persimmon / 1339 posts
I have a tree on my lower back that my son loves to look at. His daycare teacher has a rabbit on her inner wrist (rabbid fan of the local rugby team, the Rabbitohs) and she lets him colour it in with markers! My husband doesn't have any tattoos. I have a feeling by the time our kid are teenagers/adults there will be a backlash against all the tattooing going on now and that inkless skin will be the rebellious choice!
nectarine / 2173 posts
I sometimes feel like the odd one out that I don't - but I'm really not into body mod a d there's nothing I'd want permanently on my body.
pomelo / 5866 posts
I have one. I got it in my early 20s. LO wanted to wash it off when she was little. I wish I could remove it, although it meant a lot to me at the time. LO asked me to repeat my explanation again yesterday even though she has heard it once a year since she could talk. I tell her I made a permanent decision and that I should have just hung the art in a frame on the wall where I could see it more easily.
pineapple / 12566 posts
No tattoos on either of us. But last summer when we were visiting Portland, my DS asked "why are all these people drawing on their arms?".
persimmon / 1447 posts
Zero tattoos on myself or DH. I've never had the desire to get one. DH isn't a fan of tattoos, so I doubt he'll ever get one.
persimmon / 1183 posts
I have a large piece on my side, one on my upper thigh. DH has none. I don't have kids yet, but I'm sure it won't affect me. I love my tattoos and put a great deal of thought and consideration into them.
The same would apply to my kids if they ever wanted a tattoo. It must be a design that they've been wanting for 2 years. If you still want it after 2 years, get it.
honeydew / 7622 posts
@lamariniere: ha! It's so true here. In Portland I'm boring but I was in NYC and realized I look like a Portland hipster. Tattoos/piercings are so regional.
nectarine / 2152 posts
I have two and my LOs have noticed and commented on them but I don't feel much emotion in regards to that at all. I just say what it is ('that's mama's moon' or 'that's the Scorpio on mama's back') and leave it as that. I don't regret either of them and I'll support my kids if they want to get one once they turn 18 and have a good reason for choosing the image they want!
cantaloupe / 6791 posts
I have one on the inside of my wrist and my 2.5 year old hasn't mentioned it yet. I got it after my miscarriage (my first pregnancy) and it's the baby's initials with angel wings. I'm planning to be open about it and tell my kids about mommy's first baby in an age-appropriate manner whenever they ask.
pomegranate / 3411 posts
i have 2 small ones (one of the back of my shoulder and one on the front of my hip, just above my bikini line). I am not sure if my son has noticed them yet. I love them as much as i did the day i got them and don't feel any different about them since having kids.
I've always wanted a third on my ankle but haven't gotten one because i didn't know what i wanted - now i know i want something to represent my children but haven't figured out what that will be yet, and i will wait until i am absolutely sure i am done having kids.
persimmon / 1270 posts
I have 4 including a large piece on my back. Lo is to young to ask about them but he picks at the one on my arm sometimes to see if it comes off.
I've always found them easy to explain to kids, and I get more questions about my nose ring.
I really like all my tattoos and I am sure there will be more one day.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
I have a small one on my foot and DH has a half sleeve, never put any thought into it after having kids. My kids like to take stamps and pretend they have half sleeves, so...haha it doesn't bother me!
pomegranate / 3231 posts
Neither of us have tattoos. I really don't get the appeal but obviously I am in the minority on that these days.
persimmon / 1168 posts
I hate mine. I will tell my son to wait if he wants.to get one because you probably are not going to like it when you get older.
apricot / 340 posts
I have many tattoos and still love them just as much as before I had a baby. I cant wait to get many more.
persimmon / 1233 posts
I don't have any tattoos but was at a party today with lots of very tatted up parents. It just reminded me that I am so uncool compared to the other preschool parents! I don't mind my kids being around people with tattoos and if they ask about it, I'll just explain - to each his own (like so many other life choices!).
clementine / 778 posts
I have 3 tattoos (one was after I became a mom). I like them, and will probably get more.
persimmon / 1259 posts
I have 4, and my 7 month old touches them sometimes... She's doesn't think they're my skin, lol. But I still love mine and plan to get at least one more. They all do (and next one will) have a special meaning to me. I will happily explain them all to her if she asks! 
pear / 1837 posts
@youboots: I have a dogwood too!
I have 9 tattoos, ranging in size... I'm not crazy about some of them at this time, but don't really regret any. I do plan on getting more- the next one is a memorial tattoo for my son that passed away- a chrysanthemum, his birth flower.
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