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As tattoos are becoming more and more socially acceptable, more and more teens are getting tattoos before the age of eighteen. Their parents accept the fact that they are trying to express themselves and try to help their child choose an appropriate tattoo that they won't regret.

I was one of those teens. I was fifteen when I received my first tattoo on my right arm. My first tattoo is of four ribbons-red, yellow, purple, and blue-that represent a major life obstacle that I have overcome. The ribbons are arranged in a circle and the word "survivor" is tattooed in the middle.

Red - Drug and Alcohol Abuse Survivor
Yellow - Suicide Attempt Survivor
Purple - Rape Survivor
Blue - Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor
I chose this tattoo because it is very special to me and I know for sure that I won't regret having this done when I am older. My other tattoo is a black and white rose on my left foot. I chose this tattoo because I love roses and to me, they represent strength and beauty. I received the rose tattoo when I was 16. When choosing my tattoos, I also chose locations that can be easily hidden.

When teens are considering getting a tattoo, parents should sit down and talk with them. Getting a tattoo is not the end of the world and shouldn't be treated as such. A parent should analyze whether or not they think their teen is responsible enough to get a tattoo. If you decide that your teen is not responsible enough to get a tattoo, explain to them what your reasons are for thinking so. Explaining your actions to your teen will help them understand where you are coming from better than a simple answer like "just because" or "because I said so."

If you do decide that your teen is responsible enough to get a tattoo, you should do a few things to help them further their decision and make responsible choices. Take a trip to a few different tattoo parlors to evaluate their work, friendliness, and cleansliness. After finding an appropriate parlor, then you should look at different tattoos and help your teen decide which one to get. You should remind them that what they like now, may not be what they like 5, 10, or 50 years from now. Once you and your teen make all of the final decisions, sit back and watch your teen receive his or her tattoo.

In the end, it can be a fun thing to do together and you can help your child learn how to be a responsible adult along the way.

Learn more about this author, Corey Pike.
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