[Isabo]

How was everyone's Christmas?
Mine was a bit strained.
My daughter arrived early boxing day in a foul mood. I love the beloved offspring but she can be a bit much for civilised company sometimes. She also arrived alone and without boyfriend in tow which was the first clue to the problem. She has a wonderful boyfriend whom she does not deserve, they've been an item more often than not for the last ten years. They should be happily married or living together except that beloved offspring can be very stubborn and silly sometimes.
The boyfriend arrived in the afternoon. Beloved offspring locked herself in her bedroom. Schoolgirl behaviour! and also naughty as they always sleep together. Over a hot chocolate I got the story from him.
Christmas eve he met with some of his friends and had a drink or three. he went home much the worse for wear, he felt lonely and tried phoning beloved offspring, who's phone was engaged. To show the strenght of his feelings he decided on an indelible proof of endearment, the silly clot tattooed her name on his arm. She saw it the following night at his parents when they went to bed and she went berserk!
My first reaction was: WHAT! My daughter has more tattoos than a heavy metal group. But the silly clot explained he had made a spelling mistake! I still didn't see a problem as my daughter's name is Roberta Valeria, but everyone has alway called her Bobbi or Bobbi Valeria and spelled Bobbi every way imaginable. Yes you've all guessed it - he spelled Valeria wrong - he left out the "i"!
I gave him some more hot chocolate, told him there were all sorts of options like removal, cover-ups etc (thanks to my daughter and her friends I am now quite expert on the subject), and went to talk to beloved offspring.
Bottom line from her; she was blazing that he spelled her name wrong, that he didn't discuss it with her first, that he did it himself and badly, and that he had a tattoo at all! She was especially adamant on this last point!
I agree that a crude tattoo on the forearm of a young lawyer is not a good idea but let's be honest, neither is a wife with blue hair and extensive bodyart and piercings - yes they are the odd couple. I made her promise to kiss and make up and went back downstairs. I sent the twit upstairs with instructions to say the name would be removed. I then spent an hour tracking down my dermatologist for advice on what best to do. The atmosphere has improved a little today and we went to the dermatologist , boyfriend's been given a cream which will make the tattoo scab more and remove more of the ink and he's been booked in for laser removal. The dermatologist said he was lucky he didn't make the usual amateur mistake of going too deep with the needle. The lad is very sheepish but happy matters are on the mend. I am just confused about my daughter's reaction but I did secretly enjoy playing fairy godmother for them.
Am I alone in having to deal with the emotional problems of grown up children? and before anyone asks - No I will not post photos