My five-year-old was being too quiet last night. That should've been the first sign. (You'd think I was new at this whole parenting thing.)

We called her down to dinner and she came in her underwear covered with 10 temporary tattoos -- four on each limb, one barbed-wire tatt around her neck and one on her chest that, combined with the neck tatt, looked like a necklace.

I stood there with my mouth hanging and said, "Nice."

All I could think was....I have to send this kid to school tomorrow and...worse, I have to been in public with her tomorrow when we go to Disney on Ice.

I silently cursed the neighbor friend who gave her the tattoos for her birthday.

Then, I laughed and reminded myself that it's harmless form of self-expression and that people can think whatever they want to think.

And, I wondered if I'd still feel the same way in 13 years ...when she wants tatts that are more than temporary.

This is the same child that told me this morning, "Mom, Amy (our hairdresser) told me that when I'm 16, I can get highlights."

Somehow I just know they won't be chestnut or honey highlights...they'll be vibrant violet or screaming hot pink.