I think I’ll start by explaining what inspired me to start a blog...I recently got my 6^th and largest tattoo on my shoulder…It was a big step for me because my other tattoos are all easily hidden and a lot of people who know me, didn’t even know I had them until they asked. I have received, as you can imagine, many negative reactions because of my tattoos… from verbal disapproval to women doing double takes in the store, they all seem to jump to conclusions about me right of the bat. (For some reason its always from other women..hmm) I don’t exactly have a bad ass image or anything but I do have a strange piercing (my smiley) paired with tattoos…. I’m in no way saying everyone is judging me but I’m simply addressing those who do… at the risk of sounding bigheaded, I am a wonderful mother! The day after I got my tattoo, I decided to create a place that moms with ink who are also fans of creativity/uniqueness, can visit and network to share their experience…I think facebook and myspace are great but limit you to what you can do as far as creativity goes… I am always blown away at how bitchy moms are on other forums when they disagree with you about breastfeeding or discipline etc… I want to create a friendly atmosphere that is 100% free of judgment from other parents!

Lets start from the beginning! at the ripe young age of (barely) twenty, I have found my purpose in life- my daughter…I rushed through school and saved every dime I made at the pizza place so that I could be prepared to start a family… I moved out at 17 to be closer to my fiancé and was married by 18! We were living in a 400 square foot apartment. going to school full time and working when I found out I was pregnant! Despite knowing that we were in for an especially challenging time with no money, health insurance or overall plan, I was absolutely delighted! We took it one day at a time and so far, everything has worked out beautifully… I have learned that family is the single most important thing in the world…It is why we are here, to love each other, share our daily experiences with one another and help each other through the hard times! I quit my job to start a daycare because when my six-week leave was up, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my daughter with anyone else! Fast-forward 11 months and 2 weeks…Life is good, despite being young and poor, so far we have managed to give our daughter what we think are the most wonderful experiences a child of her age could know… she is so loved and spends her days exploring the world around her… she gets to be at home with mommy and still experience the benefits of being in a social environment (she is learning how to share and loves to communicate through baby talk with the other kids in the daycare!) I exclusively breastfeed her and we are strong believers in co-sleeping as well… my husband is lucky enough to have a job that allows him to be at home most of the day with us and we share meals, walks to the park and “baby duty” allowing him to build an awesome bond with Charlie as well…My point is, I am doing the best I can, with the resources and knowledge that I have, to be a good mom. Tattoos and piercings or not.

At the risk of sounding cliché we have no idea what kind of person someone is based on their appearance…I happen to admire tattooed mommies, it makes me smile, I can’t really pinpoint why, except to say that they are thinking for themselves, not fitting into a special category and when it comes to parenting, that is often what defines an awesome mom! So all mommies, whether you have a full sleeve, a tiny little ankle tattoo or are just a blank slate that admires them from afar, welcome to my blog! I look forward to your comments, personal experiences and stories, whether they are tattoo related or mommy related (or both!) Thanks for reading!