Does It Look Like A Vagina To You?

We'd overcome some very hard times together, she and I.

My daughter ran away at 16. "It's not you momma." she tried to assure me. "It's me. I wanna know more, see things, be free." I begged her to stay in school - graduate - become something. "I will momma, I will become me." So she left. To another state with a particular "boytoy" that I did not approve of. He was 21, out of prison, but on parole. He had just blown his parole, and my daughter had a car. Interesting timing for finding herself, I thought. It took 5 months before she faced the reality that she needed to come home. She had put herself in harms way and found the courage to tell me she was defeated, and she needed me. The police had found out about boytoys blown parole and she found herself alone early on, with a group of not so nice people. (Hmmm now just how in the world did they find that out I wonder? ) Her car was broke down. She had no money, and didn't want to "earn" any the way her new friends were "earning" thier money. I thank God often for her homecoming.

Time jumping.

Jump 2-1/2 years forward, and my daughter is married and pregnant. She decides she wants that diploma and goes to school everyday. I didn't push or prod. I just made the statement one day that she and hubby could live with me if she finished High School. I helped her when I was asked, and to my credit, never nagged her. I supported her, quietly. Well that child of mine walked across the stage that evening in June and took that diploma, held it over her head and screamed out, "I DID IT!" Her cheering section could have been heard in the next town for the noise we made for her. Her husband and son waited at the edge of the stage for her. There has never been a day in her life that she made me more proud to be her mother as she did that day, at that moment. I was the only one who knew what it took for her to get to that moment. I knew where she had been, and what she had lived through to be holding that diploma.

If you could have anything you wanted, what would you choose?

So I offered her a gift of accomplishment. She could have whatever it was that she alone desired. Not for the baby, not for her husband, not for her family, but something she alone desired. She took a week to decide that she wanted a tattoo. Not one but two. She came to me and said, "Momma, we have been through hell and back together, and I want something to commemorate that we are back - together - and we are good - together."

"Through hell and back" - the design.

I told her design them, make them tasteful and not to large. Remember I told her I am a teacher. Tasteful. And she did. Mine is a heart with wings and a halo. Her's is a heart with flames. She calls the two of them as a set "Through Hell And Back" I wear my permanent reminder of the love we share on my left hand. I will carry it there through eternity - proudly.

The meat of the question I posed.

So I have had this tattoo for over 2 school seasons. This year before I get children in my classroom, a parent calls my Education Supervisor. Tells her that she doesn't want her child in my class because I have this "inappropriate" tattoo on my hand. ED Super asks parent what it about this tattoo that is so inappropriate.

Parent responds with - "It's a female vagina!" (Duh! Is there any other kind?)

I drove to parents home to show her my tattoo up close and personal.

So the question I pose to you, to everyone out in this blogisphere, is quite simple -

Does it look like a vagina to you?

love me later ~ tj