Momfidence! - P.S. Kids They Last Forever

About this Blog

Momfidence! cheers on commonsense parenting and sighs at the rest. How to worry less, wing it more. A.k.a. parenting by the seat of my mid-rise mom jeans.

About Paula Spencer

I'm the author of Momfidence! An Oreo Never Killed Anybody and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting, and a mom of four in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (where you can't even buy Oreos at the two wholesome groceries nearest to my home).

Some Kindred Blogs

Parentopia On mommy guilt
The Mother of All Blogs My fave fellow mom of four
MommaBlog in FotosLooks like my house
Parent Talk Today Kindred writer
Momformation ParentCenter
FreeRangeKidsSet them free!
Jane Austen Addict For diversion
Diet Naked For inspiration
Dr. Helen For conversation
BlythTimes For smart insights
LifeCoachBlog for positive reminders
Plan B for thinkin' past motherhood
Self Caring Caregiver blog I also write
College-path (trust me, eventually, you'll be there!)

P.S. Kids They Last Forever

March 05, 2009

And I don't care that it's pink.

Okay I'm late to this story but why why why is Barbie at 50 (this year) getting a tattoo? I don't care if you're 8 or 18 or 28 or 50, I don't like tattoos. I have never seen one that isn't ugly. And now that they're disfiguring Barbie (new Tattoo Barbie comes complete with her own tattoo gun!) they're sending kids the message that tattoos are lovely and normal and wash-off-able.

It's every bit as dismaying and age-inappropriate as a Bratz doll thong to me.

I know everyone under 30 will disagree with me on this one. But it's my blog so I can grouse as I please.

Comments

Melanie says...

I am under 30 and I agree with you completely! I think tattoos are ugly and it is NOT appropriate for children.

Steph says...

No, this could be a good thing! I can't think of a better way to ruin the appeal of tattoos for today's rebellious teenagers than to put them on Barbie dolls.

Now if only we could get all the grandparents to get inked as well....

Paula says...

Oh Steph great contrarian thinking there! Love it!

Denise says...

Interestingly enough the grandfathers' - mainly - wish they'd never gotten inked in the first place. "Just plain silliness of youth" is their explanation - looks terrible on sagging skin. Although I have thought about doing it myself from time to time, I have always been turned off from doing it by the fact that it is permanent and I've never seen any that looked very nice at all. And then the phase passes and I'm so very glad I didn't go ahead with it after all. Thank God!

Denise says...

katie says...

I think this is silly, but I also don't know if it is really setting a bag example either. I mean barbi is obviously a grown woman, correct? Skipper is younger, I would see a problem with that. :) Just playing devil's advocate here. My husband has a tattoo he got when he was 15 (don't ask!!) and regreted it the very next day (DUH!!) and I keep telling him to just spend the money to get it touched up or finished. It really is horrible! He is more self consious of it now that we have kids, but I also pointed out that it is a good lesson for them. I never went through with it. There were times I wanted one, but I never did and most of the time I am happy with my foresight!

Julie says...

I'm under 30 and I TOTALLY agree with you. Love your stuff!!!

Moria Zuriel says...

I'm under 30 and I'm with you, 110%!!! This is UNREAL!

Cathy says...

Maybe they should include a poster with this Barbie like one I saw at the doctor's office the other day: "the top 10 risk factors for Hepatitis C" - and having tatoos/body piercings was right up there in the top 10!

Denise says...

not a bad idea Cathy!

Paula says...

been away and missed all this...relieved because I was afraid I'd be fiercely flamed for daring to go against the tat trend!

Carrie says...

Is there really a Bratz thong? Just what a slut doll needs -- that AND a tattoo!

Pat says...

Yes, and ewwwwww

Kelly says...

The only reason I dislike tattoos is because I have seen what they look like after 20-40 years on the body. My father, grandfather, uncles- they all have them and let me tell you, after a few decades of wear and tear they look nothing like I assume they did when they were first inked.

Paula K. says...

While children do need to recognize that tattoos are permanent and getting a tattoo is not something that should be done one a whim, it is also useful to teach children that there is nothing immoral or wrong about people having tattoos. While you might not like them, it is an individual choice and people who choose to get body art are not bad or stupid people. Hopefully this is shows a changing of our zeitgeist and people with tattoos will soon not have to deal with other's biases and stereotypes.

Jenn R. says...

Wow, I feel so sorry for some of your children! I am so disappointed to hear some of these comments. I am a tattooed mom and my husband is also tattooed. We are both professionals. We are good hard working people with great kids. We are very family oriented Faith based family. I am raising my children to be open minded and to not judge people based on appearance. They don't see us as any different than people without tattoos. My children know that they have to wait until they are 18 to get a tattoo and I will encourage them to take plenty of time to think about what they get. To the people who say ewwwww and that tattoos are ugly. Are you so perfect you can judge? Are you right up there with the Saints? By the way Paula, tattoos are lovely and normal!! What if people talked nasty about your appearance Paula? Do you people talk to your children? If Barbie having a tattoo is enough of an influence on your child to make them go out and get a tattoo then you must not communicate with your child. My daughter plays with a pretend doctors kit but she doesn't go out into the world claiming she's a doctor! They are toys. Get a grip! It's very frustrating to hear people be so nasty when I am trying my best to raise my kids to care about people and to see the good in everyone! If this is the way you guys talk then I can only imagine what you teach your children. All I know is I can sleep sound tonight knowing I am raising my kids to be loving, caring, kind people who will see good in everyone and will not worry what close minded people think. They will be happy with who they are, tattooed or not! I can only hope your children will get out from under your thumb and be able to express themselves however they choose as adults. And I hope if they do choose to express themselves you do not punish them for it. Learn to love people for their differences. What a boring cookie cutter world this would be if we were all the same.

Ashley says...

Getting a tattoo would have been pretty G-rated compared to some of the tawdry adventures my barbies used to get into. I think all the unprotected sex they had with Ken was probably a bigger risk factor for hepatitis than getting tattooed :0)

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