| | | | Dealing With Teen Body Piercing |
By Darlene Zagata
When I got my daughter’s ears pierced years ago I never suspected that someday not too far away teenagers would be piercing their bodies in all manner of ways. Although many of my daughter’s friends have pierced body parts I have always been able to talk her out of the idea. I do realize that teenagers are only trying to make a statement of their own uniqueness. That much remains the same from generation to generation. Only the style, fashion and slang changes.
As a parent, I wasn’t exactly happy with the idea of tattoos either yet two of my three sons ended up getting tattoos. Although I didn’t permit it while they were under the age of eighteen, they just waited until they were old enough. So the only thing I did was postpone the inevitable. I worried about infection but luckily everything turned out well. In the end, the choice is ultimately theirs.
Tattoos are a common form of adornment as is body piercing these days but they’ve been around for a very long time. Tattoos were used as tribal marks and body piercing has also been found to be part of the physical adornment of ancient civilizations. Nose rings, and other forms of body art involving piercing are still used with significance in many tribal cultures around the world.
Basically if a teen is determined to get a tattoo or piercing he or she will just wait until the age when parental consent is no longer needed. But the positive note about making them wait is that by the time they can do so on their own, they may no longer have the desire.
Piercing and tattoos can have a negative effect in certain areas of life. Although people should not judge by appearance, they often do. Employers are often reluctant to hire those that display and array of piercing and/or tattoos. Although it may seem unfair, unfortunately it is a reality. Many businesses have policies that clearly state such items to be deemed unacceptable in the workplace. Once hired, such an individual may be instructed to remove any piercing and to wear clothing that covers tattoos.
With regard to piercing, some parents may be bothered by the sexual innuendos often associated with certain piercing such as in the wearing of a tongue ring. Some parents may not be aware of the associations at all but those that are may suspect that their teen is sexually active or at least considering becoming active. Once again this is where open communication comes into play between parents and their offspring.
If you have concerns over piercing express those concerns to your teen. Often teenagers are only interested in getting a tattoo or piercing simply because a friend has done so. You’re the parent. If your teen has your permission then at least make sure it is something he or she really wants rather than doing it just to be like their friends. Encourage your teen to be the unique individual he or she really is in outer appearance as well as inner being.
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