Butterfly Tattoos

The summer after my daughter was born we took a family girls trip to Victoria, British Columbia. It was my mom, both of my sisters, my niece, my daughter and I. Growing up we had the opportunity to go to Canada often with our parents. Our mom loved Victoria so my sisters and I thought it would be fun to take her there with all her favorite people - us. It started out with a big hiccup when we got to the border and I didn't have my daughter's birth certificate. Oops. We were able to work it out, thankfully, because the sisters were not very happy with me at the prospect of having to turn back. Lol! We did all the touristy things including high tea at the Empress Hotel, Market Square, tours, museums, shopping and of course, Butchart Gardens. Oh and I have to tell you about the umbrella stroller! I guess that's part of being a tourist, they're easy to pack for a trip. Not easy to use! Why are the handles so short? There's no way to use it without being hunched over! I'm sure our backs are still damaged from it! I was not a stroller parent, my daughter was always in my arms so I bought this awful contraption specifically for this trip and I think we just left it there when we headed home. Worst invention ever and I would guess they don't make these anymore! Anyways, the best part of our visit was the Butterfly Gardens. The butterflies were very active and they kept landing on our mom. Probably because she was always so calm, still and patient. I swear she could have stood still for hours just hanging out with the butterflies. It was such a cool experience that became very significant to all of us girls when just a few short weeks later our mom unexpectedly passed away. When the shock of this tremendous loss wore off, or lessened I should say, we made a pact that we would all get butterfly tattoos to remember our mom by forever. Now just seeing butterflies in nature makes us think of her and feel her presence so it seemed fitting. And here's how that all went down...

For starters, my daughter and niece were obviously too young to get tattoos so there was no time limit on when (or if) this would happen for them. And there were no rules about what the butterfly should look like because putting art on your body is extremely personal. My oldest sister and I were Johnny on the spot! We both already had tattoos and an excuse to go get another tattoo together was very exciting to us. We made an event of it. Tattoos, swanky dinner, sworn to secrecy from dad. Done. And then we waited. And waited. Years passed without any more butterfly tattoos happening until finally my niece was old enough and she got the most perfectly delicate butterfly tattoo. Hers was very artistic and represented our mom beautifully. More waiting and wondering until my other sister decided to get her tattoo on a girls trip to Charleston! My niece and I actually got tattoos on that trip as well, for moral support of course! Bring on all the tattoos!! ;-) As my daughter's 18th birthday started approaching we met with a tattoo artist by our house. We both really liked him, she talked to him about her ideas, showed him some inspirational butterfly pictures and the appointment was made! The pact would finally be complete! We also made dinner reservations with my family for the same night as the tattoo appointment to celebrate her birthday. My sister called and gave her a tattoo pep talk, assuring her it was easy and didn't hurt as much as she had anticipated so she knew my daughter could do it! The day arrived, my daughter and I headed to the tattoo parlor and she got her first tattoo session done. We made an appointment for the next session before going about our day. We arrived at the restaurant for dinner, my sister was so excited to hear about the tattoo experience and tightly wrapped her arms around her as my daughter cringed in discomfort. You see, her tattoo was a little more sizable than my sister's. That easy non painful tattoo my sister got and used for her pep talk was fairly small in comparison to this tattoo and my daughter was a little uncomfortable. Once my sister saw the tattoo (just the beginning of it!) she felt so bad about the intense birthday hug that unknowingly squeezed the tender area on my daughter's back where she had gotten her tattoo. Now it's a funny story that we tell often and we are all insanely impressed with the amazing work of art on her body in memory of her nana. Check out the picture of her beautiful tattoo below! She represented well! I'm a proud mama!

So that's my story of butterfly tattoos. And why butterflies are so important to me and my family. I encounter a ton of people with butterfly tattoos for all different reasons, stories, memories, significance. It's really interesting to hear about the meaning behind the art work on peoples bodies. I proudly tell my tattoo story of the Victoria butterflies and my mom. She will forever be a beautiful distinguished butterfly. Happy Birthday, mom. You are loved and terribly missed. I hope all of us girls continue to make you proud. Love, your favorites - us.