So my son, let’s call him Liam for privacy, wants to get a tattoo of his fave band’s logo, and he’s dead set on it. But the thing is he’s only 16 and both my husband and I told him that if he wants it that bad he can wait until he is 18 to get it.
He’s saying I’m "ruining his life" and that he’s "mature enough". So I told him again that he will not be allowed to get a tattoo until he is 18. Now he’s sulking, saying I don’t trust him.
AITA for being a mean parent?
Parenting! Not the a!
NTA. He can wait until he gets a bit more frontal lobe before altering his body permanently. You do not have to be complicit. I don’t trust him to make this decision, and neither should you.
Just let him know that the more he sulks about it the more he proves he’s not mature enough to get it.
nta! there’s a chance he won’t even like the band in 2 years. I think it’s acceptable to wait that long if he still wants the tat. just make a reminder to bring it up to him when he’s 18, because I’m sure he’d appreciate the discussion being remembered.
NTA, I really wanted a tattoo of my favourite bands logo when I was 16. By the time I was 18 and old enough to get a tattoo, guess who wasn’t my favourite band anymore?
I still love them, but I’m glad I didn’t get that tattoo
NTA
If he still loves this band that much when he’s 18, he can get it then. 2 years seems like a long time to a teenager but it’s really not.
There’s a reason you need to be 18 to get a tattoo without parental consent. NAH – he’s just sulking. He may even appreciate it later.
NTA
Says he’s mature enough… sulks…
People who are “mature enough” don’t claim their life is ruined because they have to wait to get a tattoo. People who throw tantrums because they have to wait a whole 2 years to get a tattoo are, in fact, not mature enough for a tattoo. He can wait. NTA.
You didn’t say ‘never,’ you said ‘wait.’ That’s called reasonable parenting, not cruelty.
Haha mature enough for a tattoo but not mature enough to wait a couple years and not throw out the most tired stereotypical immature teen accusation? NTA
NTA the audacity to say both that you are “ruining his life” by not letting him get a tattoo until later and that he’s “mature enough” is hilarious
NTA—anyone who says their life is ruined by not having a tattoo of their favorite band’s logo is not “mature enough”
NTA his reaction is pretty immature. In two years time he may have moved on from this band anyway. If not, he’ll have a tattoo that he really wants by then. Kids change their minds and their tastes change during this age. A tattoo is very permanent.