<p>I have a friend who wants to be a tattoo artist…she’s applying to art schools. I think her mom was hoping that if she threw her weight behind the idea, the actual reality of what it takes to succeed would push my friend back into a “normal” job (oh, I can’t just leave school and be a bum on the beach? Eh, screw being a tattoo artist!). Instead, she seems really into it…I think it was actually a great compromise. Should the tattoo thing not work out, maybe she’ll be the next great painter ;).</p>