My Kid's First Tattoo

Ty's first tattoo, not finished yet.

My oldest kid got a tattoo.  

Saying that will take some time getting used to.  He's still healing actually and so am I.  It's definitely something I thought I wouldn't have to worry about for another year when he turned 18.  You know that age when your child is officially an ADULT.  I'm not gonna be dramatic and say I was mad because I actually wasn't.  I was just a little disappointed.  He's newly 17, celebrating his birthday at the end of January.  He's the oldest but still my baby and will always be.  He's still a teenager in my eyes... not able to make these types of decisions.  Or so I thought... maybe we don't give our kids enough credit because I am relieved that Ty had the foresight to get the tattoo behind his leg.  I would've died if he got a brand or name tattoo.  I guess that's what's cool with kids these days and not tribal bands or barbed wire like in my day.  I feel better telling myself that it could have been so much worse.  And he came over on his own to make sure I was okay and show me it.  He didn't hide it from us and it is artsy.

I wasn't close to my parents and couldn't tell them anything growing up.  When I was 17, all I thought about was lying to my parents because they couldn't handle the life I wanted to live.  And here is my kid at 17, sharing his life with me.  At 38 years old and four kids later, I'm definitely not the parent I thought I would be.  All parents have a vision of what's right and perfect but you gotta be willing to adjust down the line...  that's real parenting to me.