I've grown up around tattoos. My mother had them (and to this day continues to get them). Having been a hair stylist and in a band in the 80's, my mom was always the cool mom. Along with that came many valuable lessons on why hair color, piercings, and tattoos do not make someone any worse or better than someone without them. As I got older I quickly realized that not everyone was brought up the way that I was.
I got my first tattoo when I was 20. Hilariously enough my mother's reaction was "It's about damn time" Why did I wait so long to get my first one? Well, I spent awhile researching artists, found one I liked but then got into an abusive relationship where (among other things) he wouldn't let me get tattoos. This actually leads me to the story behind my first tattoo.
When I was 20 I went to the tattoo expo in Seattle. I didn't go there with the intention of getting a tattoo, but I think in the back of my mind I must have known I'd get one because I brought along a drawing I had done. While wandering around the expo I stumbled upon a booth with the tattoo shop I had picked out years earlier. Seeing this as a sign, I showed the artist my drawing and his enthusiasm for my design made me decide to finally get it done. He had never done a Space Needle before and was excited to do one. So he redrew my design so it would fit on my scrawny arm and I began my lifelong journey of collecting tattoos. As I sat in the chair I told him my story behind my design. I grew up in small towns in both Oregon and Texas. I was always an awkward teenager, perpetually the new kid, didn't really know who I was yet, and I never really felt like any of those places were my home. After I graduated high school I decided to move to Seattle. I knew I belonged in a big city and I wanted a fresh start. The moment I saw the Space Needle I knew I was home. I ended up working a few blocks from Seattle Center and every day on my way to work would drive by the Space Needle. Living in Seattle is when I really came into my own, and discovered who I am as a person. I've never been happier than I was when I lived there. Unfortunately, young me took that for granted. I ended up in a relationship that led me to the other side of the state. A relationship that turned out to be an abusive one. He wouldn't let me leave the house without knowing where I was going, who with, when I'd be back. I couldn't be friends with boys because "girls can't be friends with boys without wanting to fuck them". The day that he slapped me, I knew I had to leave. So I packed up my stuff and moved to Tacoma. It was close to Seattle but much cheaper. Once I left I realized just how much I had let him change me. So this tattoo is my reminder to remember where you came from and who you are and to never let another person change you.
So when people like this try to tell me that I will someday regret my tattoos, I get a little angry but mostly just saddened. It's a damn shame that people will still judge you based on what you have on your skin.
www.au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/watch/23144617/tattooed-ladies/
in case you wanted to watch the video this picture was captioned from.
I've had some pretty stupid stuff said to me about my tattoos. I work in retail and have had a couple customers refuse to come through my line because of my tattoos. However, I have way more customers who will come through my line simply because they like them and want to talk to me about them. I've also had people come through my line just to tell me that I "am so pretty, why would you ruin that with tattoos" as if somehow my tattoos make me less attractive, "are you sure you're not gonna regret those" as she points to the tattoo I got for my daughter. People also like to ask me what my mother thinks about them. That always gives me a good laugh, and I enjoy being able to tell them that up until recently my mom had as many tattoos as I did. Every one of my tattoos tells a story, even the spur of the moment one I got on my wrist. They are my prized possessions, works of art that tell the life story of it's canvas.
I did not get them to appear more attractive to men, as if that is the only thing women should be concerned with. I didn't get them with anyone else's opinion in mind except my own.
I've encountered the rude stares, the backhanded comments, and the loud whispers, but at the end of the day I know that I'm a good person and a great mother. Their intolerance only shows their true colors and I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. My mother taught me well and every time my daughter walks up to me, pushes my sleeves up, touches my tattoos and says "pretty" (in that adorable toddler voice) I know that I'm teaching my daughter well too.
What's the dumbest thing anyone's ever said about your tattoos?
