Tattoos

One of the core attributes I try to install in my children is to try not to judge others (ignore hypocrisy with post below). It's fighting against human nature and quite frankly, our current society. But this is what made my conversation with my 4 yr old so challenging.

We had an hour long conversation on tattoos. His teacher has one and he wants one, the kind that you can't rub off. I tell him right away he has to be 18 before he can get one, but I still want him to make the decision for himself. I try attacking this from the perspective of he has it forever.

Me: What would you get?
Son: A Power Ranger!!
Me: Think you'd still want that when you're 28?
Son: Yes!

Hm, that's not working. Well, he hates needles.

Me: They make tattoos by sticking you with needles over and over and it really hurts.
Son: Do adults cry when they get shots?
Me: No
Son: Well, then I won't cry when I get my tattoo when I'm an adult

Is it bad when your 4 yr old can argue a case better than you can?

Son: Can I make my own tattoo?
Me: Oh, no.
Son: Why?
Me: It would look terrible, a tattoo artist does them
Son: Who's a tattoo artist?
Me: I don't know any.
Son: But we have to find one.
Me: Well, they work at tattoo parlors.
Son: Where?
Me: I don't know, but maybe you can ask your teacher where she got hers.
Son: Yeah!

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he asks his teacher where she got her tattoo and tells her he's getting one too.