Finding out that your teen just got a tattoo without your permission can be a tough discovery to deal with. How do you respond? Should you take the strict route and immediately dole out some sort of severe punishment? Should you ship them off to boot camp the next day? Or, maybe you should just have a long talk with them? Really, there is no right or wrong answer in terms of how to react as a parent in a situation like this. However, there are some appropriate measures you can take to minimise the impact of their actions, reduce the likelihood of something like this happening again, and help your teen understand your perspective on the matter.
Consider Tattoo Removal
According to Counterpunch Tattoo Removal in Brisbane – one of Australia's leading tattoo removal studios – a notable portion of the industry's clients are parents or relatives of troubled adolescents who have gotten tattoos without permission. It should be noted that this solution is usually best for tattoos that are lightly inked, faded, or small, as there may be some remaining traces of ink left after the first procedure. Luckily, multiple treatments can usually make the design of the tattoo indistinguishable.
Make Sure They Understand the Implications
Many people get one or more tattoos at a young age during a time when they don't yet have the discipline, experience, or wisdom that they'll have later in life. As they begin to age and grow wiser, they often regret getting certain tattoos or having lots of tattoos in general. As a parent, you might be able to help your kid avoid such a situation by taking the time to show them examples of people who wound up regretting their tattoos as adults. If anything, reminding them of this possibility could make them think twice the next time around.
Explain Why It's Important to Care About Appearance
Many times, teens get tattoos simply because they stop caring about how society views them as an individual. Contrarianism is a common form of expression among rebellious adolescents, so it makes sense that many kids get tattoos simply because they've always been made to believe that it's a somewhat taboo thing to do. In reality, you need to explain to your kid that getting a tattoo is neither cool nor uncool, it is simply a decision, and like all decisions, there are pros and cons. The main con that your kid needs to be aware of is that having visible tattoos could affect the way others treat them later in life.
Encourage Them Not to Be Followers
In closing, it's important to remind your kid that everyone is getting tattoos nowadays, so if they really want to be unique, they should go against the grain and be themselves. Let them know that there is nothing wrong with being who you are and that being a follower is actually the uncool thing to do.