‘My partner took my 16-year-old son to get a tattoo after I said no – I’m furious’

The mum was, understandably, not happy when her partner undermined her and allowed their 16-year-old son to get a tattoo – despite the fact she’d previously said no

When you’re in a relationship, you expect your partner to respect your boundaries – especially when it comes to children. If you specifically say you don’t want your child to do something, and your partner subsequently undermines you, it can really put a strain on a relationship.

One woman took to Mumsnet to explain that she’d told her 16-year-old son that he could not have a tattoo because she’d noticed he seemed to change his mind an awful lot, so she wanted him to wait until he was older, to see whether he still wanted a tattoo in a few years. Her partner then decided to go against her wishes and went with the teen to give parental consent for the tattoo – and the mum was not happy at all.

She wrote: “I’m posting to see if I’m being unreasonable to be furious. My son is 16, he goes through phases of wanting things and then losing interest (like most teens probably!). For about a year he’d been going on about wanting an eyebrow piercing, in the end I let him and it was only in for about 6/7 months until he lost interest and took it out.

“He’d also been asking for a lip piercing recently, I said no and he’s now lost interest in that – the same as a nose piercing. Those are just examples of how quickly he changes his mind.

“He’s always said he wanted a tattoo, and recently he’s decided what of and had been asking me. I’ve said no and he needs to wait until he’s 18 which he wasn’t happy about. He came back home today with my partner and he’s had the tattoo, he had given him consent and I’m furious.

“My partner says I’m overreacting and it’s just a tattoo and doesn’t seem to understand he’s in the wrong. Am I being unreasonable?”

The post received a mixed response, with some parents not seeing the issue and others being mortified for the mum.

One wrote: “You are not being unreasonable. Your partner didn’t even discuss it with you and how you felt about him getting a tattoo!”

Another agreed: “You aren’t being unreasonable and your partner is a t***.”

“I would be foaming”, someone else commented.

“Didn’t read but unless it’s something disgustingly offensive you are being unreasonable”, another waded in.

Someone else said: “A few of my school friends had tattoos at 15/16. It happens. But I would be FUMING.”

“It depends, in my opinion. How big/ridiculous/offensive/visible is it? If it’s small, discreet, and he won’t regret it bitterly, then you are being a little unreasonable, but I would be too if it was my 16-year-old.”

“I would be absolutely furious”, one raged.

How would you feel if your 16-year-old got a tattoo without your consent? Let us know in the comments.