Mommy has a tattoo...

Mommy has a tattoo: All kinds of women are marking life's passages with
body art, sometimes before and sometimes after motherhood

By Jenni Person

Kalyn James unties her sarong, revealing a round pregnant belly as she
prepares to join her 4-year-old daughter, Phoenix, in a neighbor's
pool. Much to the surprise of fellow bathers, James' swelling orb is
adorned with ink.

Once considered countercultural, tattooing at first glance seems
contrary to the seemingly mainstream path of breeding. But now - a
couple of generations into the evolution of the women's movement, as
mommies come in all shapes and sizes - the two meet in colorful,
boisterous juxtaposition and on all kinds of moms, from rock star moms
to soccer moms to corporate moms.

Women are becoming mothers at all different stages of life and career,
with all kinds of life experience behind them as they take to their
strollers, slings and mommy-mobiles. And because the 1990s brought a
trend of tattoos to the masses, from the simple ankle marking to the
ever-popular lower back tattoo to some particularly extensive work
painstakingly designed and paid for over time, more and more well-inked
women are showing up in birthing centers, Mommy & Me classes, and
playgrounds.

James, a former Miss America semifinalist as Miss Alabama, says she
took to the tattoo needle when her stint as beauty queen was over as a
means of reclaiming her body.
/from and see more @ http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15524522.htm

Cool article and, yeah, who am I to argue with Miss Alabama's last
name*? ;o)

*Although her name was Kalyn Chapman when she won the 1993 Miss
Alabama.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

[Dileca]

I got my first tat when my daughter was about 8, she is now 21 and I have a full back. It is interesting to see peoples reactions when they see it:)

Dileca wrote:

> I got my first tat when my daughter was about 8, she is now
> 21 and I have a full back. It is interesting to see peoples
> reactions when they see it:)

I love reactions, but I also enjoy "bonding" with people. Was at a
local convenience store and saw a woman waiting in line with a Tigger
tattoo on her forearm. I pulled up my left pant leg to the knee and
showed her my Hobbes <http://www.geocities.com/curt_james/calvin.html>.
Told her that I've often heard comments like, "Oh, I love Tigger!" from
people who obviously don't recognize the tiger from Calvin and Hobbes.
She laughed. (No better sound on earth than laughter.)

> Dileca

> The good things of life were meant to be enjoyed;)

True.

> Dileca's Profile: http://www.tattoofans.com/forums/member.php?userid=5
> View this thread: Mommy has a tattoo...

Cool.

Welcome to RAB via Tattoo Fans Forum, Dileca.

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

[Dileca]

Hey thanks Curt.
Yep I love to see peoples reactions, we own a motel, conference centre and backpacker lodge and it's really interesting to see people after I've checked them in and later in the day I'll be havn a swim and they are like wow that is some interesting art on ya back.
Love talkn to the backpackers about their tattoo's, see heaps of international guests and some amazing work!
We went to Fiji last month for a well earned break and I got stopped all the time by people wanting to have a look, one of the staff at the bar said to me is that real or is it painted on!:)

Dileca wrote:
[...]

> <snip> I love to see peoples reactions, we own a motel,
> conference centre and backpacker lodge

I saw that in your profile. Registered while I was there, btw.

> and it's really interesting to see people after I've checked
> them in and later in the day I'll be havn a swim and they
> are like wow that is some interesting art on ya back.

:o)

> Love talkn to the backpackers about their tattoo's, see
> heaps of international guests and some amazing work!

You're in New Zealand? Seems as if I've been reading about a lot of
movies being filmed there. Your neck of the woods is not on short
supply for beeeeeautiful scenery.

> We went to Fiji last month for a well earned break and
> I got stopped all the time by people wanting to have a
> look, one of the staff at the bar said to me is that real
> or is it painted on!:)

hahaHAH! That is the best. "Is that real?" I actually have a poll on my
IAM page <http://iam.bmezine.com/?curt> titled "IS THAT PERMANENT?"
Possible replies offered:

Yes.
No.
Maaaaaaaaaybe.
No! I ironed it on this morning!
Sharpie marker. You like?
Well, the guy who did it SAID it would wash off.
(lick hand, rub on tattoo) OMIGOD! It, it, it IS PERMANENT!
No. It's a wash off. I got it in a box of cereal.
Yes, it is. Why do you ask? (It might even lead to an interesting
discussion.)
Is your FACE permanent?
Excuse me. I have to go now.
The capital of Vermont is Montpelier.

Currently, the top choice is "(lick hand, rub on tattoo) OMIGOD! It,
it, it IS PERMANENT!" with 34 percent of the total votes (70 as of
"now") followed distantly by "Is your FACE permanent?" with 18 percent
of the total.

> Dileca
>
> The good things of life were meant to be enjoyed;)

> Dileca's Profile: http://www.tattoofans.com/forums/member.php?userid=5
> View this thread: Mommy has a tattoo...

--
Curt
http://curtjames.com/

[Dileca]

Welcome aboard:)
We are a 3 hour drive from the top of the North Island, the scenery, beaches are just soooooo beautiful:)
Our property is surrounded by 70 acres of woodlands, all of the animals on my back tattoo you can find in our bush except for the dragon:): fantails, tui, weta and the kiwi (although you'd have ta look pretty hard for the Kiwi but they are there)