Welcome back to another installment in our new series – I’m A Mom With Tattoos. In case you have missed the last couple, don’t forget to check them out here.
Jislaaik it bru, it’s like cold and stuff! But seriously, I have lost feeling in all my toes, it’s touch and go as to whether any are left.
Get ready to have another eye fest with Gina’s tattoos, my personal absolute favourite being her gorgeous tree of life with stunning water colour. I adore this more than you know. Anyway, not only is Gina well “decorated”, she is one of the really awesome Moms that I have met through Twitter. Having been on Roaccutane herself, she is a wonderful support and great question answerer with anything that I am having issues with – THANK YOU GINA!
If your taps haven’t frozen over like our in the Cape, go and boil the kettle for something to warm those cold bones and eyes as you get to reading more.
Your age: I will be 35 in 3 months’ time!
A Mom’s favourite thing to do is talk about their children – tell us about your family: I have two kids, Aaron is 6 and Faith is 3 going on 13. I also have three dachshunds and a hamster.
If you work, tell us a bit more about your working environment – are you regularly in contact with new “clients/public”. I work in a security consulting firm. The people I work with are mostly guys and are mostly a lot younger than me. It’s also almost a prerequisite that you have a tattoo to work here. In fact when I accepted the job offer they told me straight out that I didn’t need to hide my tattoos. I do see a lot of ‘outside’ people but so far no one has said anything at all about my tats.
Tell us a bit about your tattoos, what they are, why you have them, where they are located:
My first one was a small ‘G’ in a sun design that I designed myself. This one is on the right side of my lower back.
It took me 10 years to get my next tattoo. I added onto the first one by adding more sun flairs and including some vines and flowers going up the right side of my back.
My 3rd tat is on the left side of my back and runs from my shoulder and almost down to my hip. I got this tattoo in memory of my dad who I lost 14 years ago and my brother who I lost 3 years ago. It says ‘Honesty… Integrity… Respect!’ Words that our father taught us to live by and that my brother made his life’s motto.
My 4th tattoo is the words ‘Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.’ It is a quote by Hellen Keller and is wrapped around my right wrist. I had this one done last year at the Tattoo-A-Thon
My 5th tattoo is a Tree of Life with my Aaron and Faith’s name on each side. I did this one at the 2014 Tattoo-a-thon. It’s my first tattoo with colour!
How old were you when you got your first tattoo: I was 21. My dad insisted that I wait until I was legal to get my tattoo. My two best friends bought it for my 21st birthday!
Which tattoo is your favourite and why? They are all my favourites but the one with the most meaning is the one for my dad and brother. I feel like they are with me no matter what.
Do you plan on getting more? Absolutely. I’m already designing my next one, a continuation of the vines and flowers up my back and over my shoulder and into a half sleeve.
How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? My mom hates them. I mean HATES them! My grandfather still thinks they are painted on and will wash off. Everyone else seems to like them. My husband is not particularly a tattoo fan but he says it is my body and I must do what makes me happy. I think he secretly likes them a lot.
What is the general reaction that “the Public” have towards your tattoos? Have you run into any negativity or adversity because of them? I have never had a negative reaction to them. Kids seem to be fascinated and adults have asked about them but always in a positive light.
Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed? Think long and hard about what you want to get. Make sure that it has meaning for you and make sure it is original. Don’t go to the cheapest artist out there, you are paying for years of practice and expertise, cheap tattoos look cheap!
3 Kids, 2 Dogs, 1 Old House 
Hi Cindy,
Just recently found your blog and I must say from a person who really dislikes tattoos I find your “mom with tattoos” series very fascinating. I am from the generation where tattoos were taboo and it is well ingrained in me. It really highlights the generation gap and the difference between life now and life 25 or 30 years ago. Through your series people like myself and Gina’s mom can become more open to woman with tattoos as it shows a different kind of woman to the woman of our generation who had tattoos. In other words it is no longer the skanky girls who have tattoos, but it is now art.
HI Dianne, thank you for visiting and thank you for your comment! This exactly why I started the series in the first place and it’s so wonderful to read your feedback!
I do not like tattoos, ask Cindy, but out of all yours i think the vine is very pretty. 🙂
Wooohoooo! Thanks Cindy!
Thanks Dawn 🙂