It’s easy to get into small arguments with parents, whether it’s about leaving socks on the floor, or forgetting to take the trash out. A common way of seriously upsetting parents is by getting tattoos. Teens can’t wait to turn 18 because they gain more freedom. One of those freedoms is being able to get a tattoo without a parent or legal guardian. The problem is actually trying to convince them to give you the OK. For these students, going behind their back was the only way to get a piece of art permanently on their skin.
Sr. Marley Lenior had to face his parents after getting his first tattoo of a Japanese symbol. “I got it on a Friday, and my parents didn’t know until Monday morning when she finally saw the symbol on my leg,” Lenior said. “My father was okay with it since he did the same when he was a kid, but my mother felt like I went behind her back. After a couple days, she was okay with it since it was my body.” Lenior also has a tattoo on his forearm that says “blessed not stressed.”
Sr. Dakota Perkins has a unique story when getting her tattoo. “I got a stick and poke tattoo which wasn’t the safest thing to do, but I thought it was cool. I got a small drawing of the planet Saturn on my hip, and love it!” Perkins said. “When my parents found out I got it done, they were upset with the way I had it done. They thought it was unsafe and irresponsible. They were also upset that I went behind their back,” Perkins said. A stick and poke tattoo is when someone gets a needle that’s sterilized, and pokes into the skin while grabbing ink, and covering the skin where the needle entered.
Sr. Jarrit Scholten was one of those students who had to hide a tattoo from his parents. “I got my first tattoo when I was 15, and I got the words ambition coming down my rib cage, but I had to hide it from my parents for about 6 months before my parents actually saw it,” Scholten said. When hiding a tattoo 6 months is a long time, “They were surprised when they found out because 6 months ago I brought it up and they didn’t approve.” Scholten said.
When it comes to getting into arguments with parents, the occasional leaving your socks in the living room or forgetting to take out the trash conversation may come up and fade away within a few minutes, but getting a tattoo could last a lifetime.