At risk of having my head chewed off, I'm going to say something here.
My husband has a lot of tattoos. Some he wished he did not have, as they represent a certain time in his life, when he belonged to a certain "group". He is slowly having them reworked, as it is quite expensive.( He also has many awesome tattoos that I love, and that he is proud of.)
Therefore, when our daughter, now 23, and our 15 year old son, wanted tattoo's, we told them both, they must not get just any old tattoo. They must mean something, be tasteful, and be something they could live with, for the rest of their lives.
Our daughter has designed all 4 of her tattoo's, they are beautiful, meaningful, and in areas where they can be covered, if necessary. They do not interfere with her work.
Our son got his tattoo 2 months ago, it is a tribute to Dimebag Darryl, and it is done very nicely. He's not getting another one, now until he is 18, and he can pay for it.
I look at it this way....when my son decides to cut his hair into a Mohawk, or get a tastefully done tattoo, he's experimenting with expression.
He's NOT experimenting with drugs.
He is a happy, well adjusted young man, plays football, and guitar, and does well in school. He is not screaming out for attention. He likes the tattoo. He wanted it, he got it.
Now, I may not want him to go to the degree that others here have gone to, but when he is of age, and he decides that he MAY want to, that is his choice. His body. It is something that he will have to live with, for the rest of his life.
I'll not love him any less.