Being a Mother is a tough job, isn’t it? It’s beyond rewarding, but man, oh man, can it be tough. And then of course there are the people that have to put their two cents in and judge you, am I right?
In the blogging “world”, I’ve been branded.
I’m “that crazy tattooed Mommy”. Hey, I’m cool with that. I like to be hip. I like to be fun and goofy. What I don’t like, however, is the people that push stereotypes according to looks.
I’m tattooed so I MUST let my children run wild. I couldn’t possibly set boundaries. Heck, I’m probably out all night making someone else watch my little girls! I just look so wild, don’t I?
Ha. If you only knew.
I’ve experienced the “being judged” first hand. Yes, I have a bunch of tattoos. Yes, I’ve got crazy hair. You’re entitled to think what you will. But let me tell you something; you have no idea who a person is based on the outside. Remember that saying we all were taught in kindergarten?
“Never judge a book by it’s cover.”
Last summer my mother and I happened to go to McDonalds with Kelsie. My mom was getting all the food while I sat down with Kels. Here I am sitting at the table and a group of three older women were watching Kelsie.
I have been blessed with two good-natured little girls. As Kelsie and I played with her toys and she giggled and smiled, the women kept watching her and WOULD NOT make eye contact with me.
When my mom came back with our food, the women looked at my mother and said, “That is such a happy little girl!“
Without skipping a beat my mom said, “Yup. Her mother takes such excellent care of her.“
The women said nothing back to her. You know what they did? They got up and left.
My mom HAD to be lying of course. How could I, tattooed and funky hair, take care of a child? 
Stereotypes suck.
Sure, I can say it doesn’t bother me, but it stings in some ways. It’s human nature. People get judged by what they wear, how they talk, EVERYTHING. But the next time you get ready to do the, “ohhh my god…look“
Think about this:
My name is Jenna. I am the mother of two beautiful little girls, Kelsie and Aubrey. I attend Iowa State University majoring in Criminology. When I am finished with school, my intentions are to work with child abuse and sexual assault victims. I am committed to all members of my family and will do anything that is necessary to help out a friend in need. I have volunteered in several Presidential Campaigns, as well as Special Olympics,l ocal animal shelters, and many other great charities.
I have a heart of gold.
Bet you didn’t think that the last time you saw someone walking down the street with a “million tattoos” eh?
-Jenna from For The Love of Baby!
@ Miranda:
Why NOT?
It’s a personal decision-just like whether to pierce your ears or dye your hair or wear blue or pink today. I could be wrong, but I gather than you have chosen not to get inked. That’s cool-that’s your personal decision. Would it frustrate you if based on that one choice you made for reasons that are no one’s business but your own, people assumed you were just not a fun person to be with, or that you were too uptight to be a good mother? That would be silly, right? I think so, and I think the opposite is true too.
@ Miranda:
I’m not saying that I have never judged a person. It’s human nature that alot of time people do not recognize they are doing.
There’s nothing about getting a tattoo to “prove a point” That would have to be a pretty big point to prove for the rest of my life with something permanently on my body.
My tattoos all have meaning to me. They all represent a part of my life. My largest tattoo is a memorial tattoo to a very special friend in my life. She lost her life in an accident THREE days after her 18th birthday. She was an inspiration to anyone that met her. She is my “guardian angel” and I have her with me everywhere I go.
I have a tattoo for Kelsie. I intend to add to it for Aubrey or create a new design just for her.
I do not regret my tattoos because they tell a story of who I am and what I hope to become.
I get the fact that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Just because someone looks safe and nice doesn’t mean they are.
My question is why? Why did you get tattoos? I just think there are alot better ways to be creative or use artistic skills. We aren’t all the same, thank God, coming from someone who would would never get a tattoo, just curious as to why. Is it just the fact that you wanted to prove you can get a tattoo and be a nice person? Is that the whole point so that you can prove a point? Wasn’t there some part of you that knew you would get judged for being tattooed?
Everyone is judged for something, and judges others whether we admit it or not.
My daughter is 19 & has maybe 5 tatooes already & a few piercings & she wants to be a youth minister. I’m sure she will be getting all kinds of looks, but her looks (and me knowing what kind of person she is) has made me stop judging others by the way they look. God loves us all.
I’m a heavily tattooed Mom too, and I just wanted to say I can totally relate!