So to keep those who are curious from coming to your own conclusions here's the "disappointment" I was referring to in my first post. I know that my own imagination, if left to itself, can come up with some mighty wild conclusions.

My youngest son is planning to get a full sleeve tattoo. His whole arm! Not going to start out with a small one in an inconspicious place in case he doesn't like it. No.....his entire arm! The money to pay for this is from a quarterly bonus he got from work. He earned the money. He should be able to do with it what he wants. I just cannot help but think that this bonus would more than pay for my rent for the month! Not that he is responsible for paying my bills......but he knows that I struggle and an offer would have been nice. I would have said "no" but just the fact that he even thought about it would have made me happy. This is such a selfish "want", in my opinion. I thought I taught him better than this.

My oldest son told me about this. He has a small tattoo on his upper arm that doesn't show unless he goes shirtless. He told his brother that he really thinks he should start small. He's not one to "preach" to his brother and I wish he had said more to him but what he did tell him was probably enough. I asked him to talk to him about it more when they spoke the next time and he promised he would. Younger DS tends to listen more when older DS talks to him.

I'm not against tattoos.......just would not ever get one myself. Mainly because I know they hurt! And it's just not within my personality to get one. I know this may seem mild compared to some of the things some parents contend with and I'm aware of that. I'm just itching to tell him that 15 years down the road he's going to probably regret this and wish he could wear a short sleeved shirt without people assuming he's part of a motorcycle gang.

Somehow I feel partly responsible for this because I feel like the past ten years my kids have been shouldering the "burden" of trying to make sure I'm okay (due to DH's death) and then due to my dx of MS. Neither of which I could have done anything about but I still feel guilty because of it. I feel like he's finally feeling like he can break free and live his own life and this is just a result of that. Plus, his girlfriend has one on her back and I think she's influencing his decision. If he'd just wait 6 months and then, if he still wants it, then do it I'd feel somewhat better about it.

Okay, anyone who is still reading I want to thank you. I didn't mean to ramble on so about this. On one hand I want to tell myself "shut up and count your blessings that he's not taking drugs or doing something else illegal". On the other hand I want to tell him "please just wait a while and see if you still want this as badly then". It's alot of money to spend so foolishly. But that's my opinion and I wasn't asked for my opinion. So I'm keeping my mouth shut.....hard as it may be.

Thanks for all the support....ya'll are wonderful people.