Down here in the South, it's safe to assume someone is conservative. It's just one of those things that goes hand in hand with being Southern. However, as you know from reading about me, not everyone is conservative down here. But, there are varying degrees of conservative that are rather tricky to guage what is okay to talk about and what isn't.
One of those things for me is my tattoo.
What had happened was ... when I was turning 18, I decided I wanted to be all badass and get a tattoo as soon as possible upon turning 18. At the time, I was in lust with this tattoo-covered, Johnny Depp looking, server at Friday's. So, duh!, I talked tattoos with him. You might be surprised at his words of advice, but he told me to wait until I turned 19 (because in Jefferson County you had to be 19 to get a tattoo) and go to a decent place.
What I got from that was people who are very serious about their tattoos and desire to become licensed tattoo artists are sticklers for the rules, when it comes to tattoos. (Everything else is another story.)
So, I waited a few months until I got down to Auburn and went with my roommate (before she started freaking me out) to get a tattoo. She got a piercing, I got inked. Three little black hearts, on the back of my hip.
First, let me say it is not that big of a deal. It took all of 30 seconds to complete. I was ecstatic about it for a few months. And then it began to fade from memory.
Now, remember, y'all, just because something fades from memory doesn't mean it fades from existence.
So, years ago, when I began babysitting again, and I was asked why I drew hearts on my back, I didn't know what the child was talking about at first. And I really didn't know what to say, so I told them the truth: it was a tattoo. Luckily, all the parents were okay with it.
Now, imagine my confusion, when years later, I am visiting some of the same children again and they ask why my tattoo hasn't come off yet.
Oh, the joys of today that can be washed off in the shower tomorrow.
We explained that my tattoo is of the permanent persuasion, as opposed to the kind that children get all the time these days. And I told my little story about being safe at the tattoo parlor - you know, make sure they're licensed and reputable and you're legal.
It's not that I'm ashamed of it. I thought long and hard about that tattoo and it was a really big deal to me at the time, so there's no regrets on my part. I just thought it would be well hidden when I don't want it seen and easily accessible (i.e. all I do is lift my shirt a little in the back to show it) when someone wants to see it. Little did I know that sometimes, when you're babysitting, your shirt rides up a little. Like when two little ones are sitting in your lap and you're reading them a story with their big sister sitting behind you and you have to reach around the kids to hold the book and turn the pages. And being the obervant child she should be, has to ask:
"What's on your back?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you draw hearts on your back?"
"I don't know."
I was found out again Thursday night.
And, y'all, I just really didn't know what to say. I don't want the reputation as the tattoo-d babysitter. It's not scary, big, sacriligious, or any other bad word you can think of. It's small. And it's hearts. And it's usually covered up.
When I got home, though, I began to ponder my stance on tattoos. I'm artsy, they're artsy, so it is fitting that I have at least one. The thing is, I've been pondering another. On my foot.
I decided that one must wait.
While tattoos were really popular in the 90's, piercings also gained in popularity. It seems likely that more of my peers had piercings than tattoos. The thing about piercings, though, is you can take out the jewelry, and, usually, the hole will grow back in.
Which brings me to ...
How will my children feel about me having a tattoo? Will other parents be wary of letting their children play with my children?
And lastly, will I let my children get a tattoo?
And the answer is: when they are 16 or 17, if they want a tattoo, and it's legal with my permission, I will take them to get one. As long as it is done safely, legally, and tastefully, they may get one. And if they want more than one, they have to wait at least a couple of years. I think it's important to ponder a tattoo for a LONG time so you don't end up covered in ink by the time you're 20 and then get into the so-called real world, looking for a teaching job, and get turned down because you look like a bad influence.
