When I first got diagnosed back in 2003 I got a tattoo on my back with a butterfly with several sets of wings.. wish I had a pix to show as its beautiful.. on my lower back just above pants line..
The meaning to me was that a butterfly shows a change in life.. a new beginning.. little did I know that when I picked it out with two sets of wings... that I would not only need one set of wings for me ms but the other set came in handy to battle my cancer last yr

I just got my first tattoo after 2 years of thought! I designed a mandala to go on my hand, incorporating the atom, the cross, the star of David, the ouroboros, and the letters J. and V.--in the center, the eye of God. The meaning of all these symbols takes a while to explain but I'm happy with how I got them all together and the letters are for the initials of my dead parents. I do think it's important to get a tattoo with meaning...but I know people who just get things frivolously tatted too and it makes it's own kind of random beauty after a while...

See, now this is what I'm talking about. I don't mind him getting it. Just find his reason. Be it faith, fate, vision or memory of a loved one. Just not for the hell of it. He talked about the praying hands. I had to tell him not good. He wants to go in the Marine Corps. Any religous tatoo in some places he will be sent, will make him a target, even to non- militery personel. At least he understood that. I told him to get the hands after you live through a night that made you pray for the sun to come up.

Ideals change, but tattoos are permanent. I have just 2 so far: A "glass" black widow, and a tarantula. Everything in my life is connected the number 8 (long story), which is also a symbol for infinity. Hence the arachnid's appendages. The black widow symbolizes my dx w/ MS. The widow's neurotoxin affects the cns. I chose to make it glass because life is so fragile, and can often be shattered easily. The tarantula is not able to see much more than light, darkness, and motion. No color etc. This is precisely all I saw when I had onset w/ ON. I also try to moult often, or "shed skin". Life should be constant progress...;^)

I plan to have plenty of tattoos, I have three that I have been thinking of for a few years and still want, so they are a go. I would never, ever get a tat without taking the time to see if I'd have hated it. I don't have an exact time frame, just enough time to see if I'd feel remorse.

PS- I know your son is maybe young, and you seem like a real enlightened father. As you say, he's "dying to get a tattoo". Tattoos can definitely be pretty cool. But only if they are "cool" tattoos. Stupid, meaningless tattoos are just that: dumb, ridiculous tattoos. They are everywhere. People almost apologize to you that they got them while showing them to you. It's not until you think you'd be proud to show 'em that you should get them. Just show him that You are not against him in any way, you may actually be looking forward to it. I need one of mine touched up cuz I went to the wrong place, but the meaning was there. The right artist is also very important....good luck.

He made up his mind on the tatoo. But, has only gone to one shop. I think your right about the artist. He's going to Fla to visit a girl we met on the cruise we took. He told her he's getting a tat. So, he feels he needs to get it before he see's her again. Thanks

I got this flower tattoo about a year ago. It's an iris, which means hope. The colour represent the MS colours in both Canada and the US. I love it!

I also have a tattoo on my back that means nothing and I got it drunk, so I guess you can say I have experienced both sides of getting a tattoo. Having one that means something is very special to me!

i have a couple of tattoos some r 4 people i have loved an lost others r of things i like[did those myself]made sure that they were something i wouldn't regret getting an one will remain unfinished bcuz someone had stole my idea an i've grown out of the stage of wanting it finished

I have a couple. I got the first one 34 years ago...would I get the same tatoo today that I got when I was 19? Well, while I might not get the exact same one again, it is about a time in my life that I loved, and so while I might choose less colors and detail, and maybe place it somewhere that touch-ups would'nt hurt so much without the "pain killer" I had in me when I got it, I'm still glad to have it.

I will say that over the years I learned to think a little more about what, where, and who in designing my next ones. I would also like to stress the importance of a good artist and a clean shop.