3/25/10

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's just common sense flying out the window...


Our darling Sassy turned 18 the other day, and we celebrated like every other family - with a nice meal at a local hotspot, a cake with candles, sang the big birthday song and enjoyed the night. We showered her not with Barbies, toys, or makeup, but with gas cards, Starbucks cards and cold hard cash.

Then last night's conversation went something like this:

"So, now that you're 18, how does it feel?" I asked.

"Great! Jane and I went and bought a lottery ticket, and I won five dollars! Then, I set my alarm that night for midnight, and we went driving around town after MIDNIGHT just because I could. And tonight I'm getting the tattoo." Big smile.



"You KNOW, you COULD do things that NORMAL 18 year-olds do, like, oh, I don't know, perhaps register to VOTE?"




"EWWWWWWWW! Mom, you are disgusting."



56 comments:

WeaselMomma said...

I think growing pains are something that parents suffer far more than children.

Lynn Kellan said...

Perhaps on my 50th birthday, I'll get a tattoo that says, "I can vote!"

Elizabeth @ My Life, Such as it is... said...

At least she told you! My BFF's son got a huge tat all the way down his back along his spine w/o telling his mom when he was 19. Total freakout on her part.

Cheryl said...

Used to be registering to vote was an honor. *sigh* Now I've got to go chase down my 5 nephews and nieces who are 18+ and make sure they've done their civic duty. I DO know which ones got tats.

R. J. said...

I love the exuberance of youth. I remember being 18 when it was daring to pierce my ears. I would like a pretty tattoo but one without words--it's permanent, no reboot.

Anonymous said...

Tats aren't so bad as long as they aren't highly visible. Stars on the shoulder? Not bad... nope, not bad at all.

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Ash said...

At least she had enough sense to choose a body part that won't be effected when she finally has babies.

You know, when she's over 35.

Sorry. That probably didn't help your growing pains.

Whatever happened to Rock the Vote?

Lori P said...

Oh my gosh, I think I just saw my life flash before my eyes! lol

Ash said...

P.S. any special meaning for the stars? Love hearing the stories behind the body art.

Boozy Tooth said...

It's only disgusting if you register as a Democrat.

LOL.

Happy Birthday Sassy.

Brian Miller said...

lol. first, love the title...
voting can seem gross with limited choices...
nice tat...

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

It's funny; I have a post tomorrow about my 16 year old getting a nose ring; the 19 year old already has a tattoo. Where did we go wrong??

Beth P. said...

Whoa! Driving around after midnight?! Wild and crazy! Haha. She should vote, but it is nice that she is enjoying herself. I really, really like that tatoo! Stars are an excellent choice!

mo.stoneskin said...

She's write. Voting and political awareness are simply gross animal instincts that should be stamped out.

Dee at Pedestrian Palate said...

If that's a pic of the tattoo, it's pretty tame. It could have been a huge map of Spain or an elaborate flying fish (both of which I have seen on young people and just asked "why?").

As Cape Cod Turns said...

I am hyperventilating and my oldest doesn't turn 18 for another 5 years. I am worried about her turning 13 next month!!
I think I told her she could get a tatoo when she was 18 hoping that she would forget by then....

Cora said...

Well, politics IS pretty revolting, you know. ;-)

Jules AF said...

I didn't do anything typical for my 18th or 21st birthday... I'm not normal.

CSY said...

Tats aren't that bad...my sister got one at 16 AND a belly button ring...my mom freaked out about the belly button ring, not the tat. I guess since my sister is the youngest of 5 it didn't matter about the tats anymore - the rest of us have them. I have 3 myself. Girl Child asked last week (on her 13th bday) if she could get a tat when she was 18, I told her I didn't care it's her body but make it meaningful and pretty...no stars on the face! I blame Kat Von D for that thought entering into her head.

Deb said...

-->I wish it wasn't on her shoulder...hello STRAPLESS wedding dress? But it's VERY cool that you let her get one. All of my friends who rushed to get theirs when we turned 18 all regret it now. I hope it's not the case for Sassy.
~deb

Anonymous said...

Ahhh this sounds like the conversation I had with my mom after I turned 18...however, I got the tattoo FIRST and THEN told her....She didn't believe it was real....and PRESSED IT WITH HER FINGER.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

i simply do not understand these beautiful young girls getting these things!!! lala just got one and i could slap her a good one.

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxooxxo

oh, tell her not to get one on her boobs because when they get long and empty it will be deformed. ps

Anonymous said...

It's cute! Like she got star dust on her shoulder. When are you getting yours?

The Good Cook said...

I don't get the tattoo, piercing thing - but then I am old, at least that's what my teenagers tell me.

My daughter turns 18 in June. I think we'll just lock her in her room.

RottenMom said...

My son did the same thing when he turned 18. Only he had his girlfriends name inked on his wrist. Oh yes he did. Still with the girl, whom we adore. But still, ON HIS WRIST!

The Mother said...

One of my grad school friends used to say that the gene for common sense was on the X chromosome--and you needed two copies for expression.

slow panic said...

the scary thing is i think she is doing the things that normal 18 year olds do. oy.

Joanie said...

My kid turned 18, she dyed her hair red, cut it and got her lip pierced... when she was in Oregon (the REAL Oregon). I didn't recognize her when I picked her up from the airport!

SkylersDad said...

The tat is subtle, very nice. There are so very many more that are bad... ;^)

Kathy's Klothesline said...

My girls have tats ....... just wish my youngest hadn't gooten her first one in Mexico. She didn't even warn me, just did it. Got their eyebrows pierced together and then stuck them in my face and asked what I thought ....... We were at work and she (the older sisiter) did this in front of all the guys that worked for us, no doubt thinking I would edit my comments. I didn't, she cried and my prediction of pain and infection came true for both of them. I wasn't even sorry for their pain. Am I a bad mother?

Sue said...

She DID do what "normal" 18 year olds do, piercings, tatt's, etc. Both of my girls have tattoo's, and my son, well lets not talk about his. And, please, it isn't "disgusting" to register as a Democrat. Life is about choice, and young adults learn as they grow about those choices, and we just pray each day they make the right choices. Happy 2nd stage of young adulthood!

Take care, Sue

Reading Rosie said...

Okay, I have to ask...my oldest son turns 20 next month. So far he has registered to vote (Republican), has no tattoos or piercings, works 40 hours a week every summer to earn money for college, and hugs and kisses his mother in public. What's wrong with him?

Anonymous said...

driving after midnight, I remeber when that was a big deal, now Im all in bed and out for the night by 9, times change...enjoy the youth, it doesnt last forever, lol

Alexandra said...

OMG, I've heard about this as a rite of passage lately.

Hold me, I'm scared...

Paul Benjamin said...

Wow, this reminds me why I don't ever want kids... I think... HAHA!

Desert Rose said...

I'd rather have a tattoo (which I have a few) than talk politics any day!

Kate said...

It's a pretty tasteful tattoo. You gotta give her credit for that.

The Girl Next Door said...

Great that she shared with you, but I am hoping my kids don't go that road. Indeed, at 18 i will be paying for college, which gives me leverage. at least that's what I've told THEM!

Happy birthday Sassy. Crazy Midnight driver.

Angie said...

Hee hee...when I turned 18 I went out with my girlfriends and got a fake tattoo. My one friend (who is a genius) covered it with gauze and medical tape. My mom almost fainted. :)

I don't even have kids and I'm already regretting putting her thru that.

Linda said...

My younger son has 3 tattoos, all gotten after he moved out and was earning his own living. Carefully planned so that they can all be covered if so desired. One 'joke' tramp stamp of a wizard on his back, one arm covered in black rings from wrist to elbow signifying the Fibonacci number sequence, and two dotted lines on his head, so he has guidelines for cutting his mohawk.

So, do little flowers or stars sound better now?

Oh and he did register to vote as well.

PurestGreen said...

I don't know any 18-year-old's who went right out and registered to vote. But my-oh-my, my parents still would have killed me if I had dared get a tattoo. Just tell her not to tattoo her hips or chest. We stretch, my dear! We all stretch!

Kris said...

I got a tattoo on my 18th birthday too. I told my mom it'd be a small one. She freaked out when she saw it because it wasn't all that small...

Irish Gumbo said...

Voting? Damn, that's just nasty! (snicker)

G. B. Miller said...

Unfortunately, getting a tat is considered "normal" in this day and age.

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

Yeah, register to vote and THEN get the tattoo. Jeez...Kids these days do things all backwards.

Unknown said...

Wait 'til she's 21 and she'll wait up all night so she can go drink... legally, that is!

Brenda Susan said...

As the others have said, she is being very normal. The star tattoo is adorable, you can be thankful for that. I got a butterfly on my wrist last summer.......but that wasn't until I was 54 years old! Ha!

Michele said...

If she registered to vote that would mean she might have to, well, vote. Com on mom, only nerds to that.

Anonymous said...

Hold on real tight, there are many more new things planned!

Nej said...

Politicians do seem sorta slimy....and I'll agree that slimy is gross. :-)

Magpie said...

Voting is disgusting?

Baby Sweetness said...

LOL!!!!

Anonymous said...

OMG LOL!! you know what? my sister (who is 33) just got that same tattoo- how odd is that? but she has 3 dark ones to represent each one of her sons. And no I didn't approve

Mocha Dad said...

These sound like things I did when I turned 18.

Joey said...

When Sydney turned eighteen she got one too.

She has Scoliosis, so she got this Chinese saying put on her side where the curve is. I was just STUNNED.

Now, it's part of her, and I love it.
It's pretty big, but for Syd, it is a statement for overcoming Scoliosis. And she DID wait. I'm proud of her for that.

The piercings? She has her navel pierced. I can't wait until that comes out.

Kelly Dawn said...

Kadie turned 18 on October 8 and got her tattoo on October 21....lol...7 stars across the top of her foot - considering I have two - there was not much i could say...lol