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.
Doing these posts every week has me repeatedly thinking about tattoos. So much so that I am planning my next one even though I can’t get it while on Roaccutane. Nevertheless I’m so excited about it I’m even dreaming about it.
On that note, if I had to ask you what you thought of when I said, “something broken that is now whole” or “being restored to better than new” what image do you picture? Pop it into the comments section below, I would love to know your thoughts.
Today we get to meet the lovely Wardi. I love how open and free she was in answering all the questions in this interview, I feel like I know her even though we’ve never met! Without further mumblings from me, let’s get inspired.
Your age: 27
Your Occupation: Communications Officer at Mamelani Projects, but also a full-time mama/lover and stalker.
Tell us a bit more about yourself, what do you enjoy doing? Where do I begin? I’m an avid reader of classics and fantasy fiction, I am reading the Wheel of Time right now and it is blowing my mind! But my favourite book is War and Peace by Tolstoy it took me 3 months to work through and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I love tattoos and getting tattooed, I am very interested in body modification and testing the limits of my mind and body. Right now I am craving to stretch my lobes a little bigger to 12mm, it’s such a slow process.
My best days are those spent outdoors with my family. My favourite meal of the day is breakfast so usually on Sundays we love hitting up Kalkbay and catching the train, getting brekkie and then going for a long mission. I am also very much addicted to movies and series, my favourite all time movie is; Latte ratte komme in and my favourite series is Game of Thrones. I also love spending time with my family and friends whether it be at a braai or going out and shaking our bumbums. I love going to drum and bass parties and jumping around in my boots. I love my Doc Martines they are an extension of me.
A Mom’s favourite thing to do is talk about their children – tell us about your family: I have the most incredible family, I am so obsessed with all of them. Luke my partner has been my driving force, best-friend, lover and confidant for 6 years. He is the loveliest person I have ever met and the best part of me.
We have two prodigies; Leela (3) and Radhi (2). They are exceptional and amaze me daily. Leela is such a little lady and loves all things pink and purple, her favourite movies are Matilda and Paranorman. Leela is a gifted child and a shining light to all of the people with whom she comes into contact with, she has a freakishly accurate memory, like Luke. What I love most about Leela is her wicked sense of humour and how she embraces all of the fun things in life, she is such a free spirit and is an inspiration to me.
Radhi is a mamma’s boy! He is such an empathetic and affectionate person, he loves his sister and always finds comfort in her company. Radhi loves to run and is very proud of the speeds he can run at, I am certain one day he will excel in sports and academically. He is such a genius. Radhi has a zest for life and has such a male energy its really invigorating and seems so much fun. He is such a Casanova and LOVES women, he has these really dreamy eyes and is no doubt going to be a lady-killer when he grows up.
If you work, tell us a bit more about your working environment – are you regularly in contact with new “clients/public”. I work at Mamelani Projects, an NGO which focuses on health and youth development. I get to meet lots of people from so many different walks of life. My work environment is awesome! My colleagues are all very supportive and inspirational people. Some of them were kinda shocked to discover that I am tattooed but they are all really open minded and cool about it.
Tell us a bit about your tattoos, what they are, why you have them, where they are located:
I got my first tattoo when I was 22 years old. It’s a chrysanthenum on my left shoulder and it symbolizes purity, innocence and virtue. I had it done at Sins of Style. I had always wanted to get a tattoo and loved the sensual design of the flower.
My second tattoo I got when I was 26, it is a graphic design from a French cartoon called Le Crue De Vampyr. Its placement is on my right thigh. I have always loved all things horror especially vampires. I love vampire folklore and tales of the old kind so this tattoo celebrates my love for the undead.
My third tattoo I got recently, I am now 27, it’s a poison apple on my right shoulder. It symbolizes so many things to me, death, regeneration, immortality and mostly how all of us have two sides, a side in which we are the lights of the universe and have the ability to do good and create beauty and also the ability to spread hate, disease, darkness and pain.
Tamar Thorne at the Body Architects did both my last tattoos and I hope I will be lucky enough for her to do all the rest of the art I hope to attain.
How old were you when you got your first tattoo: 22
Which tattoo is your favourite and why? I love the vampire tattoo on my thigh, it’s very original and also very much symbolic of my love for fiends(LOL) It was also my most painful tattoo so far.
Do you plan on getting more? Yes! I would love to cover my entire body in tattoos, seriously.
How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? My family are very cool about it, those who know that is. Luke has tattoos as well so he is very supportive in my body modification journey. My babies love my tattoos and already know what they want their tattoos to be (little do they know they must wait until they are 21!) Most of my close friends are tattooed as well so we are on the same journey, and my friends who are not tattooed, yet, embrace me and my ink.
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 experienced any negativity directly about my tattoos. People are usually very interested and intrigued by them.
Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed? Always ,ALWAY, ALWAYS go to a reputable studio. Do your research, follow tattoo artists on instagram, discover what style celebrates your persona and most of all have fun!
3 Kids, 2 Dogs, 1 Old House 