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Since I work with children it seems I spend most of my days in some way combating peer pressure. I try to encourage my students to think for themselves and make their own decisions. I have always encouraged LJ and Mollie to do the same. And I have always felt
comfortable with the friends they have chosen. Although Mollie is only 15 I can tell she truly has a mind of her own. She may not always do the right thing but it will be her decision and not because she is following the crowd.All this made for an interesting conversation with her the other day. I am not sure exactly how it came up but I was expressing a desire meet with some of the folks I talk with daily out here. Nick jokingly made the comment that he didn’t think that would be safe and that if I ever did that I would be liable to come home with a tattoo or something. Although that is not in my realm of reality I paused in thought for a moment. I am extremely close to many folks out here. And suddenly I pictured several of us together getting a small matching tattoo on an ankle or something.
I couldn’t help thinking “Would I?” It wouldn’t be peer pressure but rather a bonding experience. Now understand this isn’t going to happen but these thoughts were floating around in my mind. Apparently Mollie was watching me and the next thing I heard was
“MOM!”
“What?” I asked with just the tiniest bit of guilt.
“You were thinking about it weren’t you? Are you telling me you would think of getting a tattoo?”
“No” I answered truthfully “I would never get a tattoo! You know that!”
“Then why did you have that look on your face? You were actually thinking about it! You cannot get a tattoo whether your friends do or not! If all your friends jumped off a cliff would you? I am not going to someday be telling my daughter she cannot get a tattoo only to hear her say ‘Grandma PK has one’!
This was such
a backward conversation with my daughter that I couldn’t help laughing at the serious look on her face as she scolded me. So girls, should we ever have a chance to get together I just want you to know – NO TATTOOS! At least anywhere Mollie will ever see!
