[VinniesMommy]

I don't think she is ashamed of you. I just think Grandma doesn't like tattoos ((a lot of people in the older generation do not)) and she just wants Grandma to like you. She loves you, and just wants Grandma to do the same. She might just be afraid that Grandma might be to judgmental about your physical appearance to get to know and love the real you, you know what I mean? I have a few tattoos and there are a lot of people who think that makes me a bad mother ((I have no idea why)) and that's not true. She's probably just trying to keep the peace and have things run smoothly. I honestly wouldn't take it to heart.

About your know-it-all SIL, let it roll off your back. There are certain people in this world that take joy in finding things to put people down with. She doesn't approve of your choice, so she is trying to make you feel guilty about it. She's only doing it to make herself feel better. She doesn't like it, so she's trying to turn you against it too. The next time she starts up, tell her that by washing her hands so much it will make it worse when she gets sick because her body is not used to fighting off the germs. I am not sure if it is true or not, I heard it some where, but what she said wasn't true either, so just tell her you read it on the internet, because you are

Good luck!

[Tat2dBaldDude]

Originally Posted by JeanLynn81

This reminds me of the saying "Choose your battles wisely."

I completely understand how aggravating it can be. I do. But this is not something you should worry too much about. There are people out there who hate tattoos. Some are scared of dogs, or the color white. My friend loves sushi and it makes me want to vomit.

My grandmother on my mom's side reminds me everyday that I need to lose weight. Or tells me she doesn't like the way I dress my daughter. Despite it all I still love her because she's family. And I still love my friend even when she has the bright idea to bring all the fixin's and make sushi in my house.

Save your energy for the big things.

See, I have to give you MAJOR brownie points for tolerating that from your Grandmother on your mom's side. Personally, if that was my Grandmother and she made it a real effort to tell me daily that I have to lose weight (which is NOTHING LESS than requesting me to change a physical feature of mine) or told me how to dress my child, I wouldn't want a ANYTHING to do with her or with anyone else like that, for that matter. She sounds like she is one of those people who totally violates my personal self-policy for myself of "You either accept me 100% completely or you don't accept me at all". Not to sound shovounistic, but it reminds me of a quote I heard in a movie once..."You can't get a little bit pregnant." Same thing with my "self-policy". You don't get to "accept me partially" or say to yourself "Hmmm, he's a nice young man. I like him, but then I don't." No...I'm sorry. You either love me or you hate me. There shouldn't be any option for a "gray area" with that decision.
I'm not saying that my wife's family, Grandma and Sister-in-Law "hate" me...but without accepting my tattoos with no strings attached, they are proving (to me, at least) that they don't completely accept me.

[mrbugles]

They're not ashamed. It just sounds like they're really really old-fashioned and stuff like tattoos makes them uncomfortable. My family in law is the same way (they're japanese) and they have a whole bunch of things that I comply with when I drop by their place. It's just the way it is, roll with the punches (as long as you like her family). Unless you were living in their house like 100 percent of the time, then that would just be too restrictive.

[Tat2dBaldDude]

Originally Posted by mrbugles

They're not ashamed. It just sounds like they're really really old-fashioned and stuff like tattoos makes them uncomfortable. My family in law is the same way (they're japanese) and they have a whole bunch of things that I comply with when I drop by their place. It's just the way it is, roll with the punches (as long as you like her family). Unless you were living in their house like 100 percent of the time, then that would just be too restrictive.

See, that's the thing. They're nice people and all and her little hometown is a cute little town and all, but if my wife and I only went down there once or twice a year to visit for the weekend, it wouldn't kill me one bit. Sorry to be so brutally honest, but it wouldn't. Heck, my dad doesn't have anything against them, but told me that their personality is too dry for his liking that it wouldn't bother him if he never saw them again. Unfortunately, that's just how they (and their hometown) are/is. Boring and dull.

[iluvmymnms3]

In all actuallity...Dont be ashamed of yourself. The value of a soul is infinite. The most important thing in life is to love. The infinite proverb of "if ye are in the service of others ye are in the service of God"... well just really learn to love all with amazing love. When you look into the eyes of a small child, they have so much love in their eyes and no judgement, and no preconceived ideas of someone. We need to be as the little child.... all God has ever taught us is to love unconditionally...love ourselves unconditionally and love others unconditionally. If you really just love your wife's family, and not judge them that they are "judging you", then you will teach them to love unconditionally too. Some people are at different levels of the spectrum of knowing what true religion is...pure religion is loving unconditionally. So "kill them" with your love, be yourself. Serve them. Help them see that "judging" wrongly is not pure religion. Pure religion is loving so immensely that you can no longer see ones "so callled" or "actual" wrong doings, but only the infinite value of each individual soul, no matter what they do, say, background etc..... if you pray everyday for this gift of pure love, and ask God or whomever is your "Most high above all" you will learn what to do for you, your wife, your family, your neighbors, and anyone that you encounter in your life. Pray every morning that you can forget "yourself" and gain this pure form of love..... We as humans are human so it is natural to be prone to selfish notions, that is why on a daily basis we need help in aquiring this love. This is what Gad teaches us, this is what he sent His Son Jesus Christ to do to teach us how to "Be" ...and the ultimate lesson...to Love so immensly that you see the true value of a soul..... Beyond Measure. Have you ever been in a room where everyone is wearing white. It is amazing what "white" does to us humans...You begin to see the value of the person rather than judge. It is pretty much awesome. ..... so love your family. it is a daily "work" and sometimes discouraging because some people learn at different speeds, but pray to learn this type of Love. You are just as equal as anyone on this planet....and so are they.

[iluvmymnms3]

In all actuallity...Dont be ashamed of yourself. The value of a soul is infinite. The most important thing in life is to love. The infinite proverb of "if ye are in the service of others ye are in the service of Me"... well just really learn to love all with amazing love. When you look into the eyes of a small child, they have so much love in their eyes and no judgement, and no preconceived ideas of someone. We need to be as the little child.... all God has ever taught us is to love unconditionally...love ourselves unconditionally and love others unconditionally. If you really just love your wife's family, and not judge them that they are "judging you", then you will teach them to love unconditionally too. Some people are at different levels of the spectrum of knowing what true religion is...pure religion is loving unconditionally. So "kill them" with your love, be yourself. Serve them. Help them see that "judging" wrongly is not pure religion. Pure religion is loving so immensely that you can no longer see ones "so callled" or "actual" wrong doings, but only the infinite value of each individual soul, no matter what they do, say, background etc..... if you pray everyday for this gift of pure love, and ask God or whomever is your "Most high above all" you will learn what to do for you, your wife, your family, your neighbors, and anyone that you encounter in your life. Pray every morning that you can forget "yourself" and gain this pure form of love..... We as humans are human so it is natural to be prone to selfish notions, that is why on a daily basis we need help in aquiring this love. This is what Gad teaches us, this is what he sent His Son Jesus Christ to do to teach us how to "Be" ...and the ultimate lesson...to Love so immensly that you see the true value of a soul..... Beyond Measure. Have you ever been in a room where everyone is wearing white. It is amazing what "white" does to us humans...You begin to see the value of the person rather than judge. It is pretty much awesome. ..... so love your family. it is a daily "work" and sometimes discouraging because some people learn at different speeds, but pray to learn this type of Love. You are just as equal as anyone on this planet....and so are they.