What should I have said to my daughter when....

[Deleted member 36384]

"Oh why a dog on your ankle?"

My nephew shacked up with Glasgow's premier tattooist's (and ex nutter) daughter. His Pièce de résistance is a fully rigged ship across his chest. Graduated as an aeronautical engineer, then trained as an Engineer in the merchant navy. Now he is banker, top drummer, bassist and plays in a thrash metal band.

It would be easy to think he was dick head based on his tattoo and get all shirty about it but he is a very interesting bloke.

I would have just said "Oh, why a dog on your ankle?"

 

[BlueLancer]

I know its the fashion but at least with body piercing .they can be removed, with no long term after effects. I just think of the Tefal advert, should put any young thing off tats

 

[chippysmith]

As much as you don't like it there's nothing you can do or say, try not to get to wrapped up in it, it's cute and she likes it, it could have been a Lions head on her shoulder!

She's had her curiosity satisfied and that will probably be that, personally I'd of congratulated her on it.. Let's face it, nothing can be done now it's done, or gained by showing distaste.

My grandad died at 100, merchant seaman all his life, probably longer service than imaginable, his tatt's never looked silly, large square rigger on his shoulder, female face on the other and an anchor on his inner forearm. Probably more but I can't remember them. He was a truly great man and I had the anchor copied onto my forearm, never regretted it and still love it. But... I hid it from my dad, he saw it a couple of years later and loved it, very anti- tatt he was.. I have not had the urge to have another.

 

[penfold]

My ex boss, a really nice lady a bit younger than me, had 'tatt's' on her lower back etc,

Arse antlers, or tramp stamps if you prefer. All rather silly really.

 

[Seajet]

Dylan,

I think the best answer would be one described by a Scottish comedian, sorry can't remember his name;

Father to 15 yr old " so, you want a tattoo do you ?

Mother, come in here and drop your drawers !

See that ?! In 20 years yours will look like that !

Still want one ? Didn't think so..."

 

[rtchina]

tattoos are show a lack of imagination. Inability to imagine a time when you wont want a tattoo.

 

[jordanbasset]

Don't really see a problem, there are a lot of worse things she could have come home with. If that is all there is to worry about you got a 'good un' there

 

[AntarcticPilot]

when my youngest daughter was about the same age she came home with a tattoo on her shoulder it was in the form of Chinese writing and at the time looked half decent, she has just had her 30th birthday and so far has spent £1200 trying to have it removed and she will need at least another 4 sessions before it fades, the older she gets the more her skin stretches and the bigger the tattoo grows looks like an order for a carry out now

My wife can read Chinese; I sometimes get her to read people's tattoos; so far they've all been sensible (for a tattoo, that is), but I await with bated breath the day she says one reads "stupid foreigner" or worse!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Over Easter the Winter family were out on the slug - very rare occasion.

We went ashore to a pub for lunch - even more uncommon.

My 19 year old gap year daughter was with us and kicked her shoes off. It was the first time I had seen - or even been aware of - the tattoo she now has on her ankle. It had remained hidden since last summer.

What would have been the best thing to say.... as opposed to what I did actually say.

It is incredibly ugly - the words bubble says "I love dad" and is done in biro and is therefore not permanent.... but the bug eyed dog is.

Got to laugh. We've all been there or similar. I was appalled to find my otherwise a bit shy and demure daughter had a belly button jewel. I didnt dare ask about other bits of her!

She probably got her tatoo when trollied with her mates, but you dont want to ask about that either.

 

[sighmoon]

My wife can read Chinese; I sometimes get her to read people's tattoos; so far they've all been sensible (for a tattoo, that is), but I await with bated breath the day she says one reads "stupid foreigner" or worse!

My granny had some Chinese earings which... err... Anyway, she stopped wearing them when someone told her what they said.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

My granny had some Chinese earings which... err... Anyway, she stopped wearing them when someone told her what they said.

Go on you can tell us what it said.

 

[Philthy]

They grow up fast don't they?

How about: "If I get really really drunk sometime, ask me to show you mine".
Then drop the subject.

 

[john_morris_uk]

My wife can read Chinese; I sometimes get her to read people's tattoos; so far they've all been sensible (for a tattoo, that is), but I await with bated breath the day she says one reads "stupid foreigner" or worse!

I am sure that I have told this story on these fora before, but its apposite to the discussion so....

Years ago, one of my commanding officer's secretaries was helping me move some furniture in my office. She was wearing a short skirt and an even shorter top and when she bent over it revealed that she had a chinese symbol tattooed on her back and to the base of her spine. "I couldn't help noticing your tattoo," I said. "Does it mean anything special?" "Oh! Do you mean this one?" she said, pointing to the symbol as she bent over. It means "Enjoy!" I wish I hadn't asked....

 

[scapula]

Maybe just best to focus on the "I love dad"

 

[londonpiper]

Can't think why you didn't reply "Wow, that's really cool!!"
I can promise she wouldn't want another.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

What you said is in the past, best bet is to show that after some thought, your relationship is worth more than a tatoo ...

"About the tatoo ... perhaps I over-reacted and in the global scale of things we're pretty proud of you really."

and then drop the subject.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Can't think why you didn't reply "Wow, that's really cool!!"
I can promise she wouldn't want another.

"Give us a hand with me truss, lass, and I'll show you mine"

 

[Sybarite]

... bubble says "I love dad" and is done in biro and is therefore not permanent....

"You anticipating trouble?"

 

[BlackPig]

I designed my daughters first tattoo. At least it was nice, a Celtic butterfly. Told her what I thought of the others though. One discreet tattoo can be nice, but more no thanks.