Teenage girls and their 'wants'

thehappybutterfly

My daughter is 15 and we're having discussions about what she wants for her 16th birthday.

She has decided she wants a tattoo. I've said no. I've nothing against tattoos, in fact I have one myself, but I told her I wouldn't be a very responsible parent if I took her to a tattoo place and paid for it. When she's 18 she can get one and there's nothing I can do about it. I explained that the age of consent for a tattoo us 18 for a reason - a tattoo is a permanent thing that you're stuck with.

She then, quite rightly, pointed out that she can get married and have a baby when she's 16 but she can't get a tattoo without the consent of an adult. As she said, you can't get much more permanent than a child. And she's right!

I'm interested in other parents' views on the various ages of consent for drinking alcohol, getting married, having s e x, body piercings and tattoos. All of which my daughter is planning on doing at some point!!! :rotfl:

olias

She could always get drunk, have sex, get pregnant, elope and get married, then celebrate the event with a tattoo and a piercing. Could be quite a party!:p

Olias

hellokittygal

I think that 16 is too young for sex and marriage and driving, although I may not have said this a few years ago.
18 is when you are classed as an adult, and ithink that should be the age of consent for these things.

fluffnutter

Perhaps she's right, but the law on these types of things has never been that consistent. TBH, if getting married and having babies were a new thing just being invented, I suspect they'd carry an over 18 only restriction, rather than the 16 they have now.

That's just life and teenage girls will use any argument they can to get what they want!

YoungBaker

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

My daughter is 15 and we're having discussions about what she wants for her 16th birthday.

She has decided she wants a tattoo. I've said no. I've nothing against tattoos, in fact I have one myself, but I told her I wouldn't be a very responsible parent if I took her to a tattoo place and paid for it. When she's 18 she can get one and there's nothing I can do about it. I explained that the age of consent for a tattoo us 18 for a reason - a tattoo is a permanent thing that you're stuck with.

She then, quite rightly, pointed out that she can get married and have a baby when she's 16 but she can't get a tattoo without the consent of an adult. As she said, you can't get much more permanent than a child. And she's right!

I'm interested in other parents' views on the various ages of consent for drinking alcohol, getting married, having s e x, body piercings and tattoos. All of which my daughter is planning on doing at some point!!! :rotfl:

She definitely has a point although I think the difference is that whilst both a baby or a tattoo are permanent clearly they have different consequences. If she had a baby she would have the responsibility of that for 20 odd year, where as if she gets a tattoo the worst is she ends up regretting it.

I think the difference is she is obviously not as stupid to go out and get pregnant just because shes 16, and because a tattoo doesnt have as severe consequences shes more inclined to do so. However, if she really wants a tattoo so much thats going to be on her permanently why cant she wait another 2 years then get it, she will still have it for the rest of her life anyway and that gives her more time to think through what design etc. she definitely wants for good?

Bella73

To be honest I think they should all be 18

Lance

It is not legal: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1969/24/contents

Why not get a temporary one? These laws can be questioned as to the difference between 17 years and 11 months and 18 but there has to be a limit somewhere otherwise you'd have chav kids covered with tattoos from birth. Same with drinking, why not 16 but then if it is 16 what difference would 6 months make so then 15. The age of posing naked for pictures / video was raised to 18 but you can have sex at 16 so should we go back to 16 year old page threes..... and then why not 15 years and 9 months year olds?

busiscoming2

Yep, the law is an A$$.
None of it makes any real sense. I think it should all be 18.

Dunroamin

Do you still need parental consent to get married at 16?

fluffnutter

Dunroamin wrote: »

Do you still need parental consent to get married at 16?

I believe so. In England anyway. Perhaps not in Scotland (hence Gretna Green).

System

There is the argument that banning things makes them more attractive to teenagers. Perhaps she wants what she can't have? When she gets to 18 she might have gone off the idea of a tattoo.