Tattoo Advice Needed

Side 1 says... My wife and I have been together for over 2 1/2 years and were just married this past summer. We met in May, 2006. Since March of 2003, I have had 3 tattoos. One is religious kanji s-c-r-i-p-t on my left bicep, one is a black panther on my right bicep and one is a flaming sun around my navel. None of them are offensive. When we met, my wife didn't seem to have any problem with my tattoos. If she did, she never mentioned anything to me. I have never, and do never, go around flaunting them, but if anyone walks up to me in public, whether it be a 4 year old child (I've had that one happen), a teenager or a 70 year old senior citizen, and they ask to see them, I've never hesitated to show them off.

She is a religious school teacher at a small religious high school (about 50 students). She also comes from a small town about 2 hours south of here where everyone knows everyone and everybody knows everybody's business, whereas I am a big city guy (born and raised in the second largest city in our state).

I've never had to hide my tattoos from anyone or at any place I've worked at, but I've always had to be EXTREMELY cautious with having them show around my wife's grandma. My wife has specifically suggested that I not have them visible in any way around her grandma saying "I don't think it's a good idea. Grandma might get upset". Her grandma is very old-fashioned and straight-laced (as are most of my wife's friends and people that her parents know).

I still remember the day (3 months into our dating period) I was sitting at her parents dining room table and her mom said "Sorry we have to do that, but it's just that Grandma...". The first thought in my mind was "Ohhhhhh ho ho! So, you people are ashamed of me or the choices I've made! Wow! Niiiice. Real nice."

My thought is, in those first three months, and specifically that day that I was sitting at that dining room table, they (my wife, her sister and her parents) knew what they were getting with me if my wife proceeded in the dating stage with me.

Ok, so you make the call. Is it understandable to any extent to ask me to comply with my wife's wishes or does it sound like her and her family are ashamed of me or the fact that I have tattoos?