Speaking of Tattoos

First let me say, this is NOT my daughter!

Emily asked me the other day if I would "hate her if she got another tattoo". I said, Yes! This from a Mom that always chose my battles carefully. Why does it bother me so much? She is almost 20 years old. Quite capable of making good decisions. Or is she?

She has made a few mistakes. She is a very good girl and I am proud of her. But, she asked. Of course I won't hate her. How could I? I love her unconditionally. But I feel pretty strong about this.

The first tattoo, was thought out carefully. She researched it for months. Picked a respectable Tattoo Shop. And she can cover it up. (It is on her foot). Also, she chose the word "Faith" rather than a guy's name or some stupid cartoon or trendy symbol.

I have heard that tattoos are addicting. That's odd. Why would someone need to continue to mark their body? If they are addicting, will she want another, then another, then another till she does look like this girl in the picture?

When she approached us about getting the first, she was very mature and self confidant about why she wanted this. I could have sworn she promised just the one. Or maybe that was her Dad, saying don't come tell us you are going to get another.

If Emily reads this, I want her to know that I hope she will think hard about getting another. What is cool today will not look so hot at 40. I have friends that would be happy to back this up and show you what you don't want to see. My friend that got a Rose on her hip at 19 is now in her 40's. She told me that after two pregnancies, and 20 some years, "it's not so pretty anymore". An invitation to see the future.

I love her no matter what. Removing them later will be costly and painful.

Please don't do it!

Mickey Mouse Tattoo?

I am very clumsy. I trip on my own two feet. I bonk my head all the time & twist my ankle so many times it's a wonder I haven't broken it a time or two.

On Saturday, I was climbing in my closet trying to get Santa hats for the girls (annual Christmas picture time). I didn't have a strong grip and came down crooked and too fast. I think I twisted my ankle, but the worse part was slamming into the door frame on my back end.

Annie heard the crash & came to pick me up off the floor. Owe Owe Owe! I faked being okay as I had plans to meet up with a couple of friends and didn't want Sergio to worry about my twisted ankle.

I survived. The pain past in a couple of days. Last night while showering I noticed the bruise... it looked like a Mickey Mouse Tattoo! Outline of the famous ears & head. Right there on my rear end! Not cute. I keep trying to look at it though. It reminds me of the cow we saw at Disney with the outline on her side (saved her from the slaughter house, Disney bought her!)

The Tattoo

Pretty Scary. Or is it?

This is my 19 year old baby Girl, Emily's foot (along with her friends foot). Emily's is the one that says "Faith". She had thought about this long and hard. She had always talked about wanting to get one. If you know my Emily this might surprise you. She just doesn't come across as a girl with a tattoo. (I know that made me sound old and judgemental!)

Anyway, back in January she had an assignment in one of her classes to find a sub culture group that she doesn't know anything about, blog about it, study it, discover it, and report about it. It was an assignment that took the entire semester to finish. After much searching she decided to do it on Tattoo parlors, and the people that get tattoos. Suddenly she is really learning alot on this subject. She visited many websites, tattoo parlors, and interviewed several artist as well as people that have tattoos. Through her education she became more intrigued.

Then came the talk to Mom & Dad.
At first, my husband was "NO WAY, DON'T EVEN GO THERE WITH ME!!!" I could not get over the thought of her foot being mutilated. But then we listened to her. When did she grow up? She approached it very mature, and after all she is 19 and did not have to ask for our approval. But she did, and our approval meant everything to her. So, much to our surprise, we gave her our blessing...kindof. I mean, at least she really looked into it and it wasn't something random that she had done one drunken night. And she didn't get something stupid or , a name or get it in an obvious spot. Her choice of location and what she had put on was ...okay. We understood. Lord, my Mother was freaking out when I got my ears double pierced! Times have changed. Oh and by the way, Emily also researched removal of tattoos.