AJ's Tattoo

When my son AJ was 17, he got a tattoo.  I had no idea he was even thinking of getting one.  My husband and I along with AJ and a friend of his were on a mini vacation for a weekend.  My husband and I had called it a night and gone back to the hotel while the boys had decided to hang out at the mall near us.  17 year old boys do not want to hang out with the parents and possibly go to bed too early.  At about midnight, they both showed up.  Waking my husband and I, they proudly announced they had gotten tattoos.  Half asleep, I watched as AJ removed his shirt and showed me a cross tattooed on his back.  I was quiet.  I was in shock.  His response to my silence was, "Mom, it's in your favorite color."  That was about 5 years ago and since then he has gotten  a couple more tattoos.  Being a supportive mom, I have taken it in stride that he has been having someone draw artwork on his body with a needle.  I would never have anyone use a needle for artwork on my body.  But that is my AJ marching to his own beat.  The only advice I have offered throughout this is that he not put a tattoo where it could be seen while wearing a shirt.  I felt that AJ could be judged negatively by future employers who might think the tattoos were not appropriate for their workplace.  If you are a parent, you know that you are not always sure your child is listening to your advice.  Last week, my husband and I were having lunch with AJ and he said, "Mom, I don't want you to get upset.  I am getting a new tattoo.  It won't be on my face, neck or hands.  You won't be able to see it when I wear a good shirt."  I smiled and he smiled back at me, happy that I was okay with the new tattoo.  I had smiled because I realized he had been listening to me all this time.