How do your non-tattooed friends react to your tattoo's?

[Roxie Rose]

Hi all!

So I have several tattoo's including a large piece on my back and I waited until I was considerably older to get most of mine (first one at 23, am now 27).  I absolutely love my ink and am planning on getting my feet, calves and forearm done next.  My problem is that I am finding that many of my friends (not all, but a fair few) are vocally unhappy about my decision to start getting more tattoo's.  It upsets me because I am older and think long and hard about what I want, where and by whom before I make the decision, so it is definitely not an impulse for me.  Because I have grown up with my friends and it has been a fairly late lifestyle choice then I keep getting 'are you having a midlife crisis' chucked at me!  I find it hard to fight my corner and infact don't really know why I have to explain myself in the first place.  Someone even once said getting tattoo's was selfish......never quite worked that one out!

For me I have never been happier with the way I look and know that I will be even happier once I have the pieces which I want done.  Has anyone else had this happen to them?  How did you deal with it?

 

Roxie

 

P.S. Don't even get me started on my mum either, she HATES them and despite the fact I am a grown woman I have to hide some from her.  I love having a close family but times like that drive me insane!

[Buttercup Clothing]

All of the friends I have now met me as I am, with 8 tattoos most of which are large and colorful. So they really don't care, it's just not something that ever comes up. I only have one person in my life who is vocal about hating my tattoos and that is my brother. Last time I saw him another family member who is not tattooed, but is fascinated by them was asking to see some of my work and as I lifted my sleeves and skirt to show her some pieces, I could  hear my brother moaning and groaning as if my tattoos were causing him extreme physical pain. I know he thinks I ruined myself, but whatever. It's my body. I love my art work. As for how I deal with it, I don't. It's his issue and I don't discuss it. I think tattoos are not for everyone and that's totally ok for those people. But just like any other decisions you make in life, they should be your decisions and yours alone. Good luck. :)