I was in the studio audience for the taping of the tattoo part of this show. I know it was edited for brevity, but it stayed pretty true to form; although there was more emphasis on the mother's double standards. She threatened to kick her 22 year old (not a teenager) daughter out of the house if she got one more tattoo, when all along the mother hide the fact that she had a tattoo of her own, and Dr.Phil made her fess up to her double standard.
After the show, Dr.Phil came back on stage & took questions from the audience. Almost all the people chosen to speak, had negative or regretful comments regarding tattoos. I couldn't stand it another minute, so I raised my hand & Dr.Phil called on me. I stood right up & stated that I was 49 years old & just got my first tattoo. Finally, all the "tattooed & proud of it" people in the audience, came out of their shells & applauded.
My younger son had wanted a tattoo in his early teens. My ex-husband & I told him that he had to met 3 criteria before getting a tattoo:
1. He had to wait until he was 18.
2. He had to get straight A's in school.
3. He had to save his allowance & gift money to pay for the tattoo himself.
We didn't think he could meet criteria #2 because of his ADHD, but he sure fooled us. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but he was so proud of his report card, that we didn't dare renege on our agreement.
Being that my ex-husband hates needles, I was the one who took our son for his first, tasteful tattoo. We got so caught up in the mother/son bonding moment, that my son suggested that I get a tattoo also. I don't know what I was thinking, but I went ahead & got a tattoo of a cute little "wooley" lamb (in honor of my last name) with a little red heart. It's on my upper left arm, & is only visible if I wear sleeveless blouses (which is never). It's not that I'm embarrassed about the tattoo. I just don't like how my arms look in a sleeveless top.
I'm now 50 & I've added 2 little ladybug tattoos, one on each side of the wooley-lamb. I'm having my son's names tattooed under each ladybug (because we all know that the red ladybugs are no ladies) & I'm going to add "Wilden Wooley" above & below the lamb. These are the only tattoos I'm ever going to get, & yes....I'm very proud of them, & both of my sons, who are now 20 & 22. By the way, my older son has no desire to get a tattoo & that's ok too.
