posted January 23, 2002 03:21 PM
Okay, gotta contribute to this one even though my kids arent old enough for this yet.
I admit openly that I was one of those kids with the weird hair and makeup and weird everything else I could find. However my goal was never to make my mom nuts (although I probably did) I just liked being different & still do.
Example of my weirdness: I highlighted my hair purple one time. That wasnt unique enough for me so I needed something new. When I graduated highschool (5 years ago) my hair was dyed Blue-Black and my head was shaved from ear level down to the scalp with a bic razor. I french braided my hair, I didnt realize it at the time but after I put on my cap you couldnt tell I had any hair at all except for the braid in the back. (silly pictures) I wore black liptstick (made it myself) and basically all my makeup was black, blue, deep purple or deep red. And I carried a Winnie the Pooh Lunchbox as my purse for all of senior year. For graduation I got a Little Mermaid one! My husband, whom I dated all through high school says I was ecentric, he on the other hand did none of these odd things, no piercings (he cant even stand to watch me put earrings in!) he has no tatoos, he never dyed his hair a funny color. It wasnt influenced by music either...Im a diehard Grateful Dead fan...dont see too many of them with blue hair. I guess my point is that you dont always want to look for something to blame for your teen being outrageous, maybe they just want to be outrageous and say "hey Im different...I dont want to part of your society of clones" Perhaps their outrageousness is a good thing. My suggestion to those that dont want their kids to do something outrageous. Be careful, you may just make them do something more outrageous. Hair grows out, piercings close. Tatoos I would be cautious with because they are undoable...permanent forever. Unless you get that really expensive laser thing done but who can afford that!?! So on tatoos I would probably have a serious sit down discussion about it and if you do let them make sure they go to an extremely good, sanitized certified shop to get it done. The tatoo artist should change the needle frequently and right in front of you. Thats my 2 cents on this one. And incase anyone wonders, if my kids wanted to yes, Id let them, and yes Id pay for it only because I would rather make sure they had it done properly and safely. The only thing that would probably be a slow go would be the tatoo because it is permanent.
posted January 23, 2002 03:28 PM
This is one I think about myself! Let's see... I've done the orange hair thing... and I was 24 when I did it! LOL! I look back now ... and even then, I know I was in a depression and it was my way of becoming "someone else." I ran to the store and bought dye to cover it up that very same day. It was aweful!
I still think about tatoos from time to time. I think they can be cute, even sexy... but I don't want one when I'm old and wrinkled, so I won't get one now. Teens don't think in those terms though. I was a teen not that long ago.
As far as piercings go... my daughter's just a baby. I have each of my ears pierced twice. That's it. If she want's her ears pierced when she gets older, fine. But as for other body parts... I honestly don't know what I'd say. I guess belly button is ok. I'm not really thrilled about eyebrow and tongue piercings. She'd have to fight me on that one.
Do friends have an influence? Heck yeah! Kids think they're trying to be different, but they're actually all doing the same things. No one is an individual anymore. It all depends on who your friends are I guess.
We *gave DS #1 a tatoo for his 18th birthday (he can easily hide it wearing socks for job interviews, etc) DD received a naval piercing for her 16th BD, hey it comes out when needed. Both older sons have bleached their hair, I won't let the girls because they're on swim teams and the chlorine/dye/bleach will really mess up their hair. DS #2 shaved his head with a BIC at 12 (looked ridiculous but *he liked it), DD #2 (14) has *several holes in her ears/cartlidge. All of my DDs have at least one hole in each ear, as far as tatoos go I'm pretty open as long as they are not REAL obvious in everyday clothes.
------------------ Laura
Meet other WAHMs, network at in real life meetings MommyCo Free Membership and Support
posted January 23, 2002 05:18 PM
This is not an easy one to answer.
I never died my hair, except for blonde highlights (my hair is dirty blonde). I have 3 pierecings in my ears. I had my belly button piereced twice, but had to take it out with each kid. I want my belly button re-done. I want my eyebrow piereced. I love it.
My husband was the wild one. He died his hair all colors, listened to heavy metal & punk music. He has 3 tatoos, but they are all covered for work (he has one on each arm & one on his right calf).
I want tatoos. I want 3 actually, but I am a big baby when it comes to needles. My husband thinks it's funny b/c I went through 2 child births with no drugs, but am the biggest baby when it comes to needles. Maybe once I get a new job I will have $$ to get the tatoos I want.
As far as my children are concerened, they can have ear pierecing if they want, but other piercings & tatoos they cannot get until they are 18 years old. My husband & I were raised that way.
Does anyone watch WWF? If so, I don't want my children to look like Albert.
posted January 23, 2002 06:21 PM
I was a weird teenager too! hee hee I went through the wild stage and I dyed my hair pink...thank God it was only the temp color.
My son is only 5 so not weird stuff yet. But I myself have two tattoo's and I love them. One is a small dolphin on my ankle and an ankle band on my other ankle. I am thinking of my third one still.
posted January 23, 2002 06:40 PM
Oh boy this is a good one, lol. I'm 37 have 2 tattoos (one on each ankle, butterfly/rose and a sunflower/tweety birds face for the center) and only highlights put in my hair never dyed. have 3 ear piecings and cartlidge. Hubby doesn't care much for tattoos and me he said no more for me. I want one on my shoulderblade/back of a dove flying with a long stemmed red rose in his mouth (it's little). I'm sure if I pushed it, but for right now i'm kind of letting it rest. I was 30 when I got my first tattoo and 35 when I got the second one so maybe when I'm 40 I can get the third one,lol. My daughter is only 5 and has been amused with my tattoos since she was little,(especially the tweety one) never really asked if she could have one when she's older but when that time comes I'm sure there will be something new going on.
posted January 23, 2002 07:29 PM
i laughed when i saw this topic. i don't have any tatoos and i only have my ears pierced once but i used to color my hair different colors in high school - blue, pink, purple, black, red, blonde (my natural color is brown). i wore reddish black lipstick - when i wore lipstick.
i guess i couldn't tell my kids no if they wanted to do stuff like that. they don't seem like the type to do that though. anything permanent i would make them wait until they were older (my oldest is 12) and i would make sure that it was what they really wanted - pointing out to them that it can't be (easily) undone later. most of it is harmless. a person is defined by more than their hair color (lol)
posted January 23, 2002 07:57 PM
I'd be open minded. I have naturally red hair and when I was a senior in high school I dyed half of my hair black--my mom went nuts--LOL! It was out of rebellion That's the wildest thing I've ever done to my body. The people I hung around with looked alot wierder than I did! But my brother, well his hair has been bleached, dyed blue and at one point purple! His ears are peirced, too and he wants a tattoo but he's not old enough by Alabama law-or it maybe a county law. I'm pretty sure I'd be OK with it if my boys decided to do something "strange" but they are only 7 & 1 now so we have a few years to go.
[This message has been edited by TLD (edited January 23, 2002).]
posted January 24, 2002 09:20 PM
I find most of the responses here shocking! I never considered doing any of that "weird" stuff to myself. (No offense meant, ladies.)I do have both of my ears double pierced, but never wear earrings anymore because the piercings always get irritated when I do. If my daughters want their ears pierced when they are 13, if I can convince my husband, they will be allowed. Somewhere in the Bible (I'm terrible with scripture references) it says one should not defile one's body, which could refer to tattoos and piercings, so DH doesn't think they should. I don't agree, at least when it comes to ear piercing. I think eyebrows, tongues, belly-buttons, etc, are a little much, though. Once they reach 18, it's their decision, but before that, I'd have to say no. I wouldn't have a problem if one of my children decided to change hair color, but I would have to limit it to whatever Miss Clairol has available! No purple hair in my house! But, to each his own. There are many things much more harmful than unusual haircolors, tattoos, and (what I consider) odd body piercings. BTW, Doesn't it hurt to get the cartiledge in your ears pierced? Ouch!
[This message has been edited by Jewel (edited January 25, 2002).]
posted January 25, 2002 02:02 AM
Sorry to shock you Jewel My DD #2 tells me the cartlidge didn't hurt at all - the navel DID make DD #1 whince - although nobody knows she has it - she wears a one piece bathing suit and isn't one to wear clothes that show her tummy (hmmmm why did she want it?)
BTW when my girls are in their Bethel gowns you'd never know they had any piercings, and for some reason none of my girls wear any make-up except lip gloss.
I suppose it is a good thing that none of them want facial piercing, *I have a problem with that don't care whose over 18, as long as we're living together it isn't happening.
posted January 25, 2002 02:27 PM
I dont think the cartiledge hurt at all. The regular ear pierce hurt. If daughter has cartiledge pierced tell her to be careful when she takes the stud out...dont make the same mistake I did and leave it out too long...it closes FAST! I only had mine out a day maybe a day and half at most and it closed. I tried to shove a needle through it but I couldnt get it pierced right again. THe cartiledge is a tough spot to have pierced, you have to clean it really good everyday it gets infected really easy. I dont know how many people Ive seen with that spot infected.
This post has been so much fun so far! Glad to know we all did crazy things and understnad its part of growing up. Although just the other day I asked hubby if I could get blue streaks in my hair and I got that "how old are u" look from him. Im a chicken when it comes to body piercing, Id love to have belly button done, but hate having my belly button touched, so never had it done.
posted February 22, 2002 11:23 AM
My wife and I are both fairly open on this one. Our children are pretty young still (the oldest is four) so we don't have to deal with it for quite some time. I have two holes in my left ear and one in the right. I was allowed to do this when I turned 16. I also had my hair styled and colored in all sorts of crazy fashions. I still keep it kinda shaggy. I kind of miss having it down to my shoulders.
I think that I might have them hold off on getting tatoos untill they turn eighteen.
I will also explain to them that having certain hair colour/styles or piercings may impact their chances of getting certain jobs. If they can take the consequences then I don't have a problem!
------------------ Paul
And no, I am not Mr. Mom! LOL
[This message has been edited by SAHDofThree (edited February 22, 2002).]
[This message has been edited by SAHDofThree (edited February 22, 2002).]
posted February 22, 2002 02:44 PM
My kids aren't old enough for this one either, but my husband has dyed his hair weird colors, with my okay (green, red, orange) he has also sported a mohawk (that lasted for about a week), and he does have a tattoo, but he only got that also with my okay and at age 22. I would let my kids color their hair any color. I probably would let them get a tattoo, eventually, when they are old enough to consider that the visibility of one can affect some job prospects. I really don't like body piercings though. A belly button ring, I might get used to and maybe 2-3 earring holes, but nothing else.
Temporary tattoos would be absolutely fine with me. Speaking of tattoos, hubby wants to get one the old fashioned way. Ouch.....he'd have to find that guy here that knows how to do that and also ask the guy what design he should get as they have meanings and probably there is one that will go with his family name.
posted September 24, 2002 11:29 AM
Well I have my navel pierced AND I have a tatoo as well, but just one. I think it would be kind of hard for me to tell my daughter that I forbid her to get one.
I would advise her if she got one to make sure it wasn't huge or something she would have to worry about preventing her from getting a job. Where mine is it can be covered.
I would rather my daughter get a piercing or a tattoo than doing some worse things out there. Like having sex or doing drugs.
------------------ "I am in shape, round is a shape." ------------------------- Visit At Home America for housewares, candles and more!
Click here to browse and shop! ------------------------- Lingerie for any day of the week! Petite and Plus sizes. Adult gifts, costumes, massage oils and more!
quote:Originally posted by terrapin: Okay, gotta contribute to this one even though my kids arent old enough for this yet.
I admit openly that I was one of those kids with the weird hair and makeup and weird everything else I could find. However my goal was never to make my mom nuts (although I probably did) I just liked being different & still do.
Example of my weirdness: I highlighted my hair purple one time. That wasnt unique enough for me so I needed something new. When I graduated highschool (5 years ago) my hair was dyed Blue-Black and my head was shaved from ear level down to the scalp with a bic razor. I french braided my hair, I didnt realize it at the time but after I put on my cap you couldnt tell I had any hair at all except for the braid in the back. (silly pictures) I wore black liptstick (made it myself) and basically all my makeup was black, blue, deep purple or deep red. And I carried a Winnie the Pooh Lunchbox as my purse for all of senior year. For graduation I got a Little Mermaid one! My husband, whom I dated all through high school says I was ecentric, he on the other hand did none of these odd things, no piercings (he cant even stand to watch me put earrings in!) he has no tatoos, he never dyed his hair a funny color. It wasnt influenced by music either...Im a diehard Grateful Dead fan...dont see too many of them with blue hair. I guess my point is that you dont always want to look for something to blame for your teen being outrageous, maybe they just want to be outrageous and say "hey Im different...I dont want to part of your society of clones" Perhaps their outrageousness is a good thing. My suggestion to those that dont want their kids to do something outrageous. Be careful, you may just make them do something more outrageous. Hair grows out, piercings close. Tatoos I would be cautious with because they are undoable...permanent forever. Unless you get that really expensive laser thing done but who can afford that!?! So on tatoos I would probably have a serious sit down discussion about it and if you do let them make sure they go to an extremely good, sanitized certified shop to get it done. The tatoo artist should change the needle frequently and right in front of you. Thats my 2 cents on this one. And incase anyone wonders, if my kids wanted to yes, Id let them, and yes Id pay for it only because I would rather make sure they had it done properly and safely. The only thing that would probably be a slow go would be the tatoo because it is permanent.
LOL
I have colored my hair before but nothing that drastic, once I had a blonde streak in the front (my hair is black), and another time I dyed my hair red, reddish brown and blonde another time.
------------------ "I am in shape, round is a shape." ------------------------- Visit At Home America for housewares, candles and more!
Click here to browse and shop! ------------------------- Lingerie for any day of the week! Petite and Plus sizes. Adult gifts, costumes, massage oils and more!
quote:Originally posted by sharonb2002: As far as piercings go... my daughter's just a baby. I have each of my ears pierced twice. That's it. If she want's her ears pierced when she gets older, fine. JMHO
Sharon
I feel you on that, everyone kept asking me when I would pierce my daughters ears. If she wants em pierced, she can do that on her own when shes older.
I pierced my own ears when I was 12 with a needle and thread..... 3 times! So I have three holes in each ear, that I don't even use all of them. LOL
------------------ "I am in shape, round is a shape." ------------------------- Visit At Home America for housewares, candles and more!
Click here to browse and shop! ------------------------- Lingerie for any day of the week! Petite and Plus sizes. Adult gifts, costumes, massage oils and more!
posted September 24, 2002 12:59 PM
WOW!!! I guess I'm going on record as being the ultra conservative one here In the 80's lots of kids were doing safety pins and some did some wild things with there hair. All I could muster up was to wear 5 earrings in one ear, one in the other. That stopped as soon as I graduated highschool. I don't want my kids doing that, so they will have to wait till they're 18. There are so many other ways to express individualism...
posted November 11, 2002 04:46 AM
LOL Ok I loved this post. You guys are too funny. Well in my very large extended family there are many men with tattoos and the women had one hole in their ears. For some reason everytime I asked my mom to get my ears pierced she said no. Then one day I enlisted the help of her sister and wala my life as a canvas was started. She was really strict and didn't let me get anymore piercings so I started to get more when I was 18. I now have 6 holes in each ear. Since my daughter was born I've only worn the three on top cause she liked the shiny things. As for hair color or style she didn't care. My dad liked to try and kick up a fuss but we only really used "Sun In" to try and lighten our hair in the sun. My brother ran the gamut of hair styles. Even springing one on my parents on Thanksgiving at my grandmas in front of all my extended family. Dad had a fit with that one. Mom thought it was funny. I now have a tattoo that I created on my left shoulder. It's a hibiscus flower and a Hawaiian instrument and I've gotten my tongue pierced. My husband was "naked" LOL when I met him. I got to pierce one of his ears though I wanted to do both and he chose to get a tattoo. And while he was away at school (he's in the militar) he got his tongue pierced the same week I did. Though he had to take the tongue one out cause he got in trouble. He doesn't have much hair and with his job can't do much funky with it. But with my kids I figure they can try what ever within reason at the right ages. If they can care for it then I'd probably say ok. I don't see a problem with it.
posted November 12, 2002 11:26 AM
I admit, I was a goth chick. Never wore anything that wasn't black and wore dark makeup (I am a redhead and have naturally fair skin to add the effect I even died my hair black for a while. It drove my parents nuts but I was really a good kid. I made sraight A's and didn't get into any more trouble than a "regular" kid. I guess I'm saying that I'm all for expression. If my kids were to do the same I wouldn't think too much on it unless some tell-tale signs show up that means they're heading for trouble. -Mary
posted November 20, 2002 07:57 AM
Hi, this is a great topic for me. I have my eyebrow pierced and a tatoo on my ankle. I plan on getting a few more tatoo's. I experimented as a kid with my hair. My hair is naturally dark brown. I dyed it blonde, had streaks, and had a rat tail that was blonde. My husband has his eyebrow pierced and one ear pierced. My 15 yr. old step-son has his ear pierced and just got his lip pierced. His hair has been every color and style you can imagine. I feel if my children are doing well in school they can choose their individuality with in reason. My parents did it in their day, we did it in our day, and it will be done again in my children's day.
posted December 01, 2002 06:10 PM
I like that--if they're doing well in school and aren't lawbreakers, then why not let them experiment(as long as it's not against your family religion)? When I was in high school my mom let me dye my hair purple. Her only requirement was that I didn't get any weird haircuts(mohawk, half my head shaved,etc). I got my ears pierced at 14, when my mom said it was ok because she thought I could take care of them on my own then. It hurt! After that I wasn't interested in getting any piercings. As for tattoos, I am a really big scaredy cat when it comes to needles, so I never wanted a tat. I think that as long as the only objective for doing it is self-expression, then I would let my kids do it. My only worry is that it not be gang-related(We live in a major city).
My husband and I are taking care of my 17 year old cousin, and she wants a tattoo and to get her tongue pierced. I told her that she needs to do the research to find out prices, and the money has to come out of her allowance. I will be accompanying her to the shop when she is ready to go. She so far only has her ears pierced but she tried to pierce her tongue once by herself(before she came to live with us). She agrees with me that it should be done by a professional next time!
posted March 12, 2003 06:35 PM
DD recently got her ears pierced, shes 18 Had tried before but was always to close to ball season. I've considered a tatoos for years. Doubt that I do it, I just like to think about it. I dye my purple all the time. Its so darn black, I have to stand in the sun and say see? DD says she will get a tatoo. Like me shes been saying it for awhile. I think thats fine but put it a place you can cover up. I know several guys who were turned down for certain jobs because of the tatoos.
Something I am seeing. Is alot of girls from religious upbringing, going home and shocking their parents with the above. Rebellion? I think so.
posted March 12, 2003 09:55 PM
Lets see - I wore head to toe black always. I'm very pale and have blond hair so the black was very noticeable. I still pretty much live in black. Listened to heavy metal and hard rock (still do).
I had my ears pierced when I was 9 and had only one hole in each ear until December. Unfortunately I had trouble with the second piercings and they closed up.
I have 1 tattoo that I got after winning a 1700 jackpot at a casino. It was my gift to myself and I had been wanting it forever. Its a dragon on my left shoulder blade. Only visible when naked or wearing a spaghetti strap shirt (a major rarity). I love it and think of it as my protector.
Other than that, pretty normal. The extent of dying my hair was red a couple of years ago. I am considering doing the black on the underlayer or the tips but haven't quite decided yet. My hair goes down to the middle of my bag and I will let it keep going til I am sitting on it.
Jennifer
------------------ Jennifer Strumbel OnRiverStreet.com Candles, Coffee, Scented Stones, Totes & More! Stop by for your FREE Sample today!
posted March 12, 2003 10:35 PM
I am thinking about doing the red tip. My hair is cut in a bob right now though so i don't know how that would work. Maybe my bangs? lol
posted March 13, 2003 02:00 AM
Im going to get blue underneath and tips Im still a nut ~lol~ Ive always wanted blue but never could find it at the store always sold out LOL ~ The salon we go to does blue so Im just going to have them do it WOOHOO
Ive always wanted a tatoo and I always talk bout it too. My best friend just got her third this weekend...lol and we were supposed to get our first ones together the week we graduated highschool but I didnt get to go cause I didnt have the money to get mine and havent gotten any yet for the same reason, they are so expensive and Im a big chicken! LOL I want one of those weird new ones that disappears in 5 years LOL
posted March 13, 2003 03:59 AM
Hi Terrapin, I don't have any children, yet, but if I did, I would be a hypocrite if I told them, no piercings, no tatts, and no funky hair colors. I have all three, LOL. I would only require that they wait, until they are at least 17, before they do anything drastic, like a tattoo. Piercings and hair color can come out. The funny thing is that people think that I am this wild, outrageous person, but I'm actually fairly quiet and, well, boring, LOL! I was talking to this one lady, and I mentioned that when my husband gets back, I am going to bake him a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. She looked shocked and says, " I would never believe that someone like you would bake" LOL.
posted March 13, 2003 12:55 PM
My kids go to Catholic school, the girls can not even wear nail polish. IN the summer I allow them the freedom to dye their hair and express themselves, but they may not go to school like that. I buy temp hair dye for my son to wear to dances, etc.
Tatoos -- ulitmate gross out to me. I immediately think less of someone who has one. Sorry if that offends anyone, it is just my opinion. SO my kids may not have one and live at home. period. If my underage child got one I would sue the pants off the person who did it.
Piercings - my little one got her ear piercing infected and had to have the earring surgically removed. Since then she often says to people with unusual piercings "boy is that going to hurt when it gets infected." Then she tells them how bad it felt and how much it hurt when they cut that earring out of her ear and all the green pus and blood shot out. Not too worried about that child piercing anything else!!!! My other daughter got one ear pierced and walked away, never to return. not too worried about her, either. My son knows that he can not pierce his ear until he can drive his own self to the mall. 16 is the age for him. He accepts this. House rules - one piercing in the earn none elsewhere.
posted March 13, 2003 01:58 PM
Well, I have two holes in each ear, no weird hair color (except what I use to cover the gray! lol!) and no tattoes.
We told our oldest dd that she had to be 14 before she could get her ears pierced, but we finally caved in when she was 12 because all her friends already had them pierced. She chickened out twice before she actually got it done, and has now let them grow in!!! She just kept forgetting to put earrings in!
My youngest dd is 9 and REALLY wants hers pierced. I think we'll let her when she turns 10. We'll see.
I'm sorry, but I have a very hard time talking to anyone face to face that has their eyebrow, lips or tongue pierced!!! It's such a distraction!!! My eyes keep wondering to their piercing and I miss most of what they are saying! lol!
There is a girl in my daughter's school that had the side of her mouth pierced and had a safety pin in it. It was so gross, I'm sorry! This year, they banned all piercings in the school, except for in the ears. If you have a belly ring, it just can't be visible, which isn't a problem because you aren't allowed to have any stomach skin showing any way.
My brother and his wife have many tattoos! My brother started when he was in the Army with eagles in three different places. His wife has one on her ankle and one on her shoulder. They don't have any kids, and don't plan to have any, and are very young at heart.
I've always kinda been tempted to get a very small tattoo on my ankle. I love to wear ankle bracelets in the summer and think that a little flower or butterfly would be cool. But nothing big!
So, for me, mutiple piercing in the ears are okay, and even the belly button is okay, tattoos are okay, once you are over 18, and I'm not sure about weird hair!!! I just can't picture either of my girls going that extreme!!! Dd who is 12 doesn't even wear any make up yet. I'll guess we'll have to cross that bridge when we get to it!
Bev
------------------ <><><><><><><><> A Legacy for Your Health...Tahitian Noni Juice!
posted March 14, 2003 10:57 AM
I have ears, eyebrow and tongue done. Hair has been every color you can imagine.
athomeworker, I'm not sure the circumstances of your daughter's ear getting infected, but the guns they use at the mall are nasty and a breeding ground for infection and germs.. they can't 100% sterilize those guns and the way the needle is forced through your ear is terrible too. A profesional piercer will not use a gun, and it's must safer and more clean. Another scary thing, aside from the guns being bad, a lot of the mall piercers just attend a short class for the day to learn how to do it.
posted March 15, 2003 07:24 AM
This really has been a hoot to go through! I never thought about it, but I guess when you work from home you it really doesn't matter how many tattoos you have, or where. Piercings for that matter. How liberating! Not that I plan to do anymore to my body that I already have.
I was very conservative through high school. Once I started college, though, I experimented. My hair is very dark brown and like potter (I think she's the one) I had to step into the sun to show highlights. I tried purple cellophanes but since it was hard to tell, I didn't try it again. Never wanted to be blonde or red, or any other color. I tried highlights once but ended up looking like my calico cat. YUK! Then dying was just a matter of trying to cover-up my mistake.
Body piercing, I have each ear pierced once. My left ear once had three holes, but they closed up.
Tattoos...well, like I said, I did some experimenting in college. I have one about the size of a dime, maybe a little bigger of the Rolling Stones' logo. It's in a very discreet place that only 3 men have seen...my ex, my husband, and of course, the artist. I used to think it was erotic. Now I forget it's even there.
So I guess I'd be a hypocrit if I denied my children any of these. My son's 10 and wants his ear pierced like his father. I told him once he's living on his own, he can pierce anything he wants. Personally, I don't like men with pierced ears. I guess it's stereotypical, but to me, it's a girl thing. My daughter's only 2 so I've a few years yet to cross that bridge with her. She's a fiesty one, tho. I can just imagine the things she's going to do. Looks like I'll have to start dying my hair again just to cover up the gray she's bound to give me. lol
posted October 23, 2003 07:55 AM
I am 12 years old. I have had me ears pierced 4 times and the top on grew other so I had to get it done again! I got blonde hair (natral) and I am planning to keep it that way, in the end I probably end up with rainbow hair but at the end of the day it dosent really matter. I also got my hand web pierced. For those of you that are not quite sure what that is it is the fleshy bit between each finger, mine is between my index finger and my middle finger, most people have it between there thumb and index finger. I put I little dimond earing in it and it looks really nice, I did the piercing myself. I but the needle in boiling water so it is clean and I don't get un infection and numbed my hand in frezzing ice water andjust went for it. It grew out adventuraly but I just got it re done. It dose hurt but I did it at home, if I got it professionally don't I heard it dosent hurt at all but it is £30 or something and plus my mum dosent know and if I did get it don't at the stuido she is most likly to find out! I havent got a tatto and I don't want a tatttoo I got this henna stuff but when I look in the mirror I hate it! Thanxs for reading my message Sam
posted October 27, 2003 12:29 PM
I was also a "strange" child! LOL. I am 35 and have my navel pierced. Other than that, I am normal. I am the mother of two. One, my girl, is 10. My opinion is simply this--if the child is secure in who they are, responsible, and doing well in other areas, I would grit my teeth and let them experiment. But only in areas that aren't permenant. I have a tattoo- got it when I was 24.. (still wasn't old enough). I have no problem with tattoos, yet your tastes WILL change! Those, I must say, should wait until the child is old enough to make their own decisions and live with them. I know that some children who do these things are screaming for attention - I was one. I was lost!! However, I turned out ok. You know your child. If they are excelling in the "important" areas, you know it. I'm rambling.. my opinion- and that's all it is - is that this can be ok and normal. Not allowing children to experiment CAN backfire. And if it is your opinion that they are "lashing out" for some reason, I'd make sure I dove into finding out the reasons. Just my opinion--- good luck! Parenting certainly has no clean cut RIGHT or WRONGs!!!
posted October 29, 2003 11:28 PM
34 years old here, two tattoos and a navel piercing. I got the tattoos in my late 20's and the navel piercing was just done this summer, lol, so I cant blame any of it on being a teeneager trying to be different. I have two holes in each ear but I only put earrings in about once every two or three years, the holes never close up in between luckily. I absolutely LOVE my navel piercing, they have such cute jewelry now for it. I have american flags, snoopy, spongebob, you can tell I have very grown up sofisticated tastes, LOL. One of my tattoos is the world wildlife panda bear, the other is a pair of dolphins. I would get several more tats if i could afford it, I think theyre beautiful. When Im 80 they may not be but I wont be walking around in the styles I wear now when Im that age so who's gonna know? LOL And I dont know about other men, but the navel piercing absolutly drives my fiance wild! (He is 41 and has a couple of tats from his navy days but is pretty conservative otherwise)
posted November 03, 2003 08:28 AM
This has made me laugh. My son is only two months old so I won't have to worry about it for a while. I've had pink hair, oarnge hair, yellow hair, with dyed eyebrows to match, make-up in every shade (including black) eyebrow peircings, ear peircings, tounge peircings.... You name it I've done it (except get a tattoo, never had the extra money.) I was raised by my grandparents... they were never thrilled with the look (especially not when I brought home the matching blue-haired boyfriend.) but they never complained. After all, I brought home straight A's, was part of the Academic team, won awards for writing left and right. They didn't care what I did as long as it didn't have a negative impact on my school/college work. I think it's a phase a person moves in and out of. Heck, as soon as I have a stable work at home job and don't have to look presentable any more the hair is going back to pink (it looked really nice with my complection) and my tounge is getting repeirced (something to do with my mouth other than bite my nails.) I had a blast with all of it. I wouldn't deny my son that. I think I'd even encourage it. IF he keeps his grades up. I never had any displine problems and was never suspended from school (I don't think I ever got an afterschool either, unless it was for being late.) I think I behaved so well and studied so hard because I WAS allowed to dress and act crazy. There was no need to act out, I had plenty of freedom. As far as defiling my temple.... I don't look at it as defiling my temple...cocaine, crack, heroine....that's defiling your temple. I'm just decorating mine LOL!!!
posted November 03, 2003 11:02 AM
I just don't get the tongue piercing. That one just floors me. I have a very hard time even looking at someone that has their lip or tongue pierced!!!! It makes me cringe! lol! OUCH!!!!
posted November 03, 2003 08:41 PM
LOL Franny. I'm 21 and have had my eyebrow pierced (took it out when I got pregnant), my ears (3 times--still have them), my belly button-(still have) and my tongue (took this out when I got pregnant but, just recently redid it). I don't have any tattoos. I like the idea of being able to express myself without any permanence to it. If my son (or daughter, if I have one) chose to get a piercing, I'd be OK with it if it were the tongue, belly button or ear. The first two are hidden well enough. I don't think I'd go for the eyebrow or lip. I'd want something that was easily hidden. And, tattoos are off limits til they're out of my house. Robin
posted November 04, 2003 12:04 AM
LOL! I saw this post and just had to click to see what this was all about.
I was into blue hair and black lipstick/fingernanil polish, combat boots, crazy hats, etc. when I was a teen. I was also an honor roll student, didn't date till I was in college, never drank, never did drugs and was an all around good kid. So, as long as it isn't a tattoo or piercing (other than ear piercing) I'd let my kids do as they like. Even though my two are really young, I feel like if you know who your kids are on the inside then it shouldn't matter how they dress. At that age you are still trying to figure out who you are and if your parents are anal and like to plan your life for you like mine were then your kids need a creative outlet. As long as you don't see signs of things that could hurt them, the crazy dress is just a fashion statement and a way to have some type of control in a life that they are mostly still told what to do and when to do it. Talk to them and see where they are at emotionally but don't worry too much about how they dress.
Please note: Any work at home or home business advice as well as the opinions expressed within WAHM.com forums and mailing lists are not necessarily those of WAHM.com. Any advice given by forum or mailing list participants is not endorsed by WAHM.com. By participating in these discussions, you agree to allow WAHM.com and its parent company Maricle Media, Inc. and its affiliates to use, reproduce, display and distribute your contributions, in any medium now existing or hereafter developed. Your personal information will not be sold or used by WAHM.com. Use of email addresses posted on these boards for the purpose of sending unsolicited email is prohibited.
posted January 23, 2002 03:04 PM
and only highlights put in my hair never dyed. have 3 ear piecings and cartlidge. Hubby doesn't care much for tattoos and me he said no more for me. I want one on my shoulderblade/back of a dove flying with a long stemmed red rose in his mouth (it's little). I'm sure if I pushed it, but for right now i'm kind of letting it rest. I was 30 when I got my first tattoo and 35 when I got the second one so maybe when I'm 40 I can get the third one,lol. My daughter is only 5 and has been amused with my tattoos since she was little,(especially the tweety one) never really asked if she could have one when she's older but when that time comes I'm sure there will be something new going on.
I never considered doing any of that "weird" stuff to myself. (No offense meant, ladies.)I do have both of my ears double pierced, but never wear earrings anymore because the piercings always get irritated when I do. If my daughters want their ears pierced when they are 13, if I can convince my husband, they will be allowed. Somewhere in the Bible (I'm terrible with scripture references) it says one should not defile one's body, which could refer to tattoos and piercings, so DH doesn't think they should. I don't agree, at least when it comes to ear piercing. I think eyebrows, tongues, belly-buttons, etc, are a little much, though. Once they reach 18, it's their decision, but before that, I'd have to say no. I wouldn't have a problem if one of my children decided to change hair color, but I would have to limit it to whatever Miss Clairol has available! No purple hair in my house! 
