A Permanent Birthday
By Prime in General | 5 comments
My seventeen-year old daughter and her friends would like to go and get matching flower tattoos for her eighteenth birthday this summer before they all start their journey through the college years. Her friends have been her “sisterhood” since kindergarten and they will soon part ways for different universities across the United States. My daughter will be eighteen and can make her own decisions however she respects my opinion and would like to hear what I have to say on the matter.
It feels great to be respected and trusted for my opinion. I am, however, a mother so what does she expect me to say, “yes, please darling do that, and while you are at it would you mind getting a couple of cross tattoos to match!” Needless to say, I am resisting the idea but am keeping an open mind before I offer my final decision.
My husband and I are divorced and of course he flipped a lid (or is the term, blew a gasket?) when he heard about her group’s plan for a graduation and birthday celebration. Although I am not sold on the idea I did explain that it is not like she wants to have dragon tattoos painted across her face; She just wants a simple flower on her ankle.
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Darby | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
You should really be grateful that your daughter and you have a close enough relationship that she asked you your opinion about the tattoo. I think that in order to keep the lines of communication open, you should treat her as an adult and with respect. You can tell her your true opinion, but you must also admit that it is her choice.
Kenneth | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Wow, I can’t believe that her and all of her friends are spreading out across the United States! We had a major college in my hometown, and all of my good friends (except for one) went to that college. I know now though, that we should have branched out more, but at least we got to stay close!
Mad222 | Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I think fathers, especially if the parents are divorced, are a lot more protective of their daughters when it comes to things like this (including piercings and crazy hair colors, etc.). Hopefully he understands, just like you do, that this is her choice and you can’t protect her forever.
Francis | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
Look at it this way- least it is a flower, and not a huge back tattoo or her (current) boyfriend’s name in a heart on her arm. Even if her friends and her grow apart, the tattoo can still be a symbol of her going into adulthood.
RP123 | Feb 19, 2009 | Reply
A ‘permanent birthday’ is a great way of putting it! I never thought of it that way. Like you said, she will be 18, so she can legally get the tattoo whether or not you approve of it. I would just suggest that she gets something small.