Puzzle of a Tattoo (2)
Once there was the locket and then there was the photos in wallets—-and then personalized t-shirts with the kids’ faces ironed-on—–and now mothers are proclaiming their love for their pride and joy with ………..mommy tattoos. Says today’s New York Times:
Tattoo Culture, a shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, even stocks a children’s book called “Mommy Has a Tattoo,” by Phil Padwe, which is supposed to encourage children to not fear people with tattoos.Dave Kimelberg, a Boston lawyer who runs InkedInc.com, a tattoo fan site, said of the mommy tattoos: “It just doesn’t get much more wholesome than this.”
Mary Kosut, an assistant professor of sociology and media at Purchase College, the State University of New York, notes that tattoos have become “statements of family values in some corners”:
“I kind of feel like it’s the same sort of thing as buying a Ramones T-shirt for your baby……If it makes you happy that’s great, but is anything really cool anymore?”
Tattooing is nothing new to autism mothers, some of whom have gotten a puzzle ribbon tattoo, but see autism dad Bill Davis’ full-chest puzzle ribbon tattoo, as seen in a photo in his book Breaking Autism’s Barriers: A Family’s Story. There’s a whole discussion of this topic on an Autism Speaks message board.
So just so you know: I am non-cool. I don’t have one and have no plans of getting one.
(Though I can now reveal that Jim and I flirted with the idea of Charlie being Joey Ramone for Halloween.)
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POSTED IN: Parenting
12 opinions for Puzzle of a Tattoo (2)
jypsy
Nov 22, 2007 at 1:16 pm
I have one. It’s not a puzzle ribbon. Any guesses?
Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 22, 2007 at 1:18 pm
A running shoe…..
livsparents
Nov 22, 2007 at 1:21 pm
You know that tattos are no longer a rebellion when a singer on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float is sporting two full sleeve tattos. 10 years ago, it would have been shocking, now it’s just another way of being. Good Charlotte was the band….
jypsy
Nov 22, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Ha! No…. that would be Alex’s idea of a tattoo (in fact PEI’s fastest, Stan Chaisson, who Alex trained with the past many months has that stick man, international symbol of a runner - like they use during the Olympics - on the back of his shoulder where my tattoo is). I got mine when I was Dxed with MS, 11 years ago, my daughter, 4yo then, was with me at the time. She curled up in the corner and fell asleep after a bit. Last month I took her, now 15, to Toronto for 4 days and had that faded tattoo covered up with another, same thing but slightly different & bigger. My kids all really like it, as does my husband (even if he doesn’t understand “why anyone would get a tattoo on their back where they can’ see it”) Those who know me would agree it suits me very well….
jypsy
Nov 22, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Here is the picture my daughter took right after it was finished
Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 22, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Nice!
Stimey
Nov 22, 2007 at 3:44 pm
I have 3 tattoos, none of which are mommy tattoos, but I do have plans for one. We assigned each of our kids an animal mascot, so I want to get one with their mascots. It’s a little nerdy, I know. :)
Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 22, 2007 at 3:59 pm
How about your love one’s genetic code?
Estee
Nov 22, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Ha! I would wear my son’s DNA code with pride. But I think you know my feeling on the puzzle piece image for autism.
To my chagrin, in the shadow of James Lipton of The Actor’s Studio who is a lover of tattoos, “my [husband] won’t let me get one.” Please keep telling me, however, what you have and where you’ve placed it. Think of Jame’s eyes as they brighten with intrigue….that’s me!!!!
bullet
Nov 22, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I’ve never had a tattoo. Or dyed my hair. Or had anything pierced.
I clearly like to live life dangerously.
jypsy
Nov 22, 2007 at 7:13 pm
I’ve never dyed my hair but my ears are pierced….. numerous times (4 holes in one ear, 2 in the other).
I have my “mommy tattoo” planned but I expect I’ll be saving up for a while and working hard to justify it (I have trouble spending money on myself). It will be a ring of swallows around my ankle, 3 in blues, one in pinky-purple, 4 different sizes, in order from largest to smallest (the pinky-purple one being the smallest), the middle blue one flying in the opposite direction from the rest. They’ll be “tied together” by something…. like maybe ribbons in their beaks.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Nov 23, 2007 at 12:24 am
Re bullet’s comment: same here, same here, used to.
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