I am 39 yrs old and would like a new tattoo. I got my first one (a vine around my ankle) when I was 26. A year after getting my ankle tattoo, I got married to someone who is not a fan of tattoos and then a year later I gave birth to my daughter. I also went back to my bible meetings around that time and started to feel very different because they did not agree with getting tattoos. Just recently, a fellow employee of my husband's decided she wanted a tattoo, so we all went to a tattoo parlor and I ended up adding a butterfly to my already existing ankle vine. Shockingly, my husband supported my decision to get one, and even encouraged me to have my old tattoo reworked since it looked faded. So, to date, I have had the old tattoo reworked and also added a dragonfly to the vine. I have always wanted a ladybug tattoo and decided I want to get one placed on my other ankle. When I mentioned this to my husband tonight, he was NOT supportive and asked me why I had to keep getting tattoos. He said he didn't understand the reason for doing any of it. Also, I have not been attending my bible meetings for the past few months and would like to return to them, but I know how they feel about tattoos. As badly as I want one, I don't want to upset my husband or cause people at my bible meetings to distance themselves from me because they consider me to be "non-christian" and a bad influence. I honestly don't know what to do. Should I stop worrying about what others think and follow my heart or do you think I will only be inviting problems into my life if I go ahead with getting the ladybug?

ah religion and tattoos never mix lol well at least with todays beliefs anyway. id say if they dont like it then doesnt that make them non christian.. for judging others on image ? i thought christians believed if your heart was pure and jesus in your life then it doesnt matter about anything else. i HATE all religions so i really dont care what people think.. but if i was you i would tell them and your husband you get tattoos so when you die god will see your body in the huge pile of other dead bodies and he will be drawn to it because of your tattoos. they make you stand out and god will choose you first to take to heaven... some people really beleive that... though it isnt christianity. but thats the only reason they get coverd in tattoos.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kim g,

update: My husband and I talked and he said even though he personally would not get a tattoo, he does not care if decide to get them. He said his only concern was that he didn't understand my reason for getting them. He thinks I want them in order to make myself feel better about myself. In some respects he's right. But if getting tattoos makes you feel good about yourself, what's wrong with that?

A lot of people are going to say "heck no" (in stronger words), nobody should tell you what to do, ect. The truth is, when you've been in a relationship for a long time (17 yrs in my case) you need to take the feelings of the other individual into consideration. It would be nice if our actions only affected ourselves but that's not the way it is.
I got my 1st tattoo last year for my 44th birthday, we (hubby and I) started discussing it around my 43rd birthday, he was TOTALLY against it. One night he saw me watching Miami Ink and we discussed it again, I told him what I had chosen and why and the meaning this particular piece had for me. Then I discussed it with my daughters (13 and 9 at the time), they thought I was a little cracked but didn't have any strong feelings for or against. My "lower back" tattoo ended up becoming 6 hours of work (we blew it up by 15%). It's more than I was planning but it fits my curves and I love it, hubby loves the detail, I still catch him looking when I get out of the shower.

As far as the church goes, it may be time to find a new one. I was raised Catholic, hubby is basically a "fallen away" Catholic, last year we decided to go to a non-denominational church and have found it to be so much better, there are people there with full sleeves and stretched lobes sitting right next to 60 yr old couples, no one seems to care, it's so refreshing.

i'm a 41 yr old catholic woman, i got my first tattoo with my husband (boyfriend at the time) 17 years ago, my second i didn't tell anyone i was getting and that was 7 yrs ago and my husband and i got matching ones last year to symbolize our "renewed" marriage. i believe it comes down to what you want, if your bible study judges you because of your tattoos, i'd say you're in the wrong church, i've only gotten complements about my tatoos from people at my church and anyone else's opinion i frankly don't care about. do what makes you happy, not everyone agrees with tattoos and you'll never convince those people otherwise. so do what YOU want!!

Thanks for the replies. Both of you are right, I really shouldn't let others dictate what I do. I did talk more with my husband about it and he is back on board with being supportive. As for the bible group - both of you are right. I may never convince others that tattoos are not a bad thing and that people who have tattoos are not axe murders or street thugs. I totally believe in what my bible group teaches so I don't want to leave the religion. I just need to remind myself that my faith is between me and my God, so what others think of me should not matter. Besides, doesn't the bible teach us NOT to judge others?? So, today I stopped by my tattoo artist's studio and discussed getting the new tattoo. I have an idea of what I want so my artist asked me to do some research and then bring in photos of what I like and he will come up with something for me. If all goes well, then I will get my new tattoo next Friday. Thanks so much for the comments - it helped me remember that I live my life for me, not for others.

I beleive it was either TLC or Discovery, but they had a special on tattoo's long before Miami Ink. They discussed how the early christians actually tattoo'ed crosses on their wrists to identify each other. These were the original martyrs, so maybe if someone has a problem, you can discuss the religious aspect of it as well.

I did all the stuff I was told to do - wait until you are as far as you can in your career, don't let them show, keep them small, and make sure you husband approves.

I got my first tat at 50, after I retired, - a small rose above my breast, my second one is on my left arm a little bigger but I can cover it.

Then I found out that I'm going to die within five years.

My tattoo person has my next tat. It's big, it's going on my arm and can't be covered easily. I don't have a lot of 'I wish I hads' but I sure would have not waited to get a tattoo. I think they are beautiful. I am going to get a rose-bud tat on my hand after this one. And after I ask one of the guys if I can tattoo over scares (I've asked two artists and gotten two answers) I may do my whole arm. Both arms!!! The drugs I'm on have made me puff up like the tire guy so my arms and legs are it and probably not my legs because me and shorts - no.

What I'm saying is if you really want it don't wait - go to it!

aaaahhhhh!!!!!tattooing isn't something unholy i'm sure if jesus were here today he would probably have no problem with people sporting heavy amounts of ink.If you want tattoos get tattoos if you don't,don't who cares what anyone else thinks.You are the person who's going to have many years of enjoying a piece of art that is on you.And it's only a ladybug!!To be honest if I were you i would go get full sleeves.Anyone who thinks a tiny ladybug on the ankle is a issue clearly needs to reevaluate the thoughts in their head.