My dad passed away a few months ago. I was really close to him and I miss him a lot.
My Dad had quite a few tattoos but one of them I remember dearly. It was this pinup style tattoo of a lady in a hawaiian skirt and coconut bra on his calf. I always liked that tattoo, even though it was pretty badly done.
Most of the color vanished over the years and I remember our dad letting us color in the tattoo with markers when he wanted to take a nap and keep us busy.
My mom always disapproved and I never understood why (until now).
One day, about two weeks after he passed away I was walking around the city and came by a tattoo shop. One thing led to another and I walked out of that shop with the same tattoo my dad had – the lady with the coconut bra. The artist did a great job at recreating the tattoo and I was very happy. Until I got home and wanted to show my mom.
My aunt was there (my dads sister) and started laughing like crazy. My mom looked quite shocked. Not the reaction I was expecting at all. I didn’t understand what’s happening until my aunt told me “Well, now you’ve got your mom on you forever. In a skimpy outfit. Great choice!”
Well long story short: My dad got this tattoo about a year after they started dating. She wore this outfit to a party, took a photo and he got it tattooed a few weeks after. Great, fucking great. I was a bit confused because my mom has always had blonde hair – the tattoo lady’s got black hair. But apparently she had a short phase of dying her hair black for a few months.
My mom always hated that tattoo, they almost broke up because of it back then. She made him swear that he’s never gonna tell anyone the story behind that tattoo. Hence why I don’t know anything about it – and I never asked.
I thought this was just a random tattoo he got on one of his many vacations. Well – now I have a tattoo of my mom in a coconut bra. Great.
My mom told me she doesn’t mind and that it’s kinda funny now. But I’m really thinking of getting it removed. At least its on my ribcage so I can hide it for the time being. I really don’t want to show the world my mom in a bikini.
TL;DR: My dad passed away and I went and got a tattoo he had. Turns out the lady on the tattoo is my mom in a bikini.
Comments
Ah You have to post a pic now
I’d say keep it. It’s a reminder of your dad 1st and foremost. If anything, it showed his love for your mom. You could think of it as a symbol of your parents love if you wish. No one has to know it’s your mom. If anyone asks, just say that it’s a recreation of a tattoo your late dad had in his honor. You loved it before, enough to put it on your body permanently, don’t let this new info ruin it’s memory for you.
This is just great.
Thanks for sharing.
If you want to change it or a cover up, there are a lot of tattoo subs that would love your story and might be able to help you.
Edit: Sorry for your loss.
Aww this is actually kinda sweet. Now you have a tattoo that honors your dad and your mum in one.
Also, if it is pin-up style (so not realistic) and a long time has passed, no one is likely to spot the similarities between your tattoo and your mom. I wouldn’t worry about it.
Your aunt choose a great time to break that silence. 😄
If you don’t see your mom in the tattoo but think of your dad, leave it at that.
His inspiration for the tattoo was never going to be yours to begin with, whether it was a random girl or not.
Is this your first tattoo? How big is it? How long did it take?
Just get more tattoos 🤷♂️ you liked it your entire life but you suddenly don’t like it because it’s your mom? Over a bikini? 😂🤦♂️ bikinis aren’t sexual or inappropriate, kind of being a prude there. Clearly it doesn’t look that much like her for you to not notice your entire life. Your dad’s tattoo is your mom, your tattoo is a tribute to dad. I have a few tattoos I’m not fond of, I have so many that I entirely love tho I really don’t care about the few I don’t like 😂
I’m so sorry about your dad passing. I mean, it’s not like you really have your mum on you, but a recreation of a poorly done representation of your mum, and you have an embarrassing story for someone to roast you with at various stages of your life. You can also own it and embarrass your mother by showing it to random people with her how much you love her and then say, “ wasn’t she sexy?” Honestly, though, you didn’t eff up, you just didn’t realize what a tattoo represented for your dad. This tattoo represents a connection to your dad, and, thus, not the same thing as his, so it’s not your mum but that connection to your dad. If it really bothers you that much, could you not have it altered? Save up for removal? I
This makes for an awesome story lol
What in the Oedipus!
“At least it’s on my ribcage” LOLOL
This is actually really sweet! A tattoo that really meant something to your Dad, and a reminder of how much he loved your mum. I hope you decide to keep it.
I double-dog dare you to get “Mom” tattooed next to it.
That’s funny. Your dad’s may have represented your mom, but yours doesn’t have to. Keep it as a memento of your dad.
You could have another artist dress her in something more covering if you wanted 😂
Wow, just wandered into a tattoo shop that happened to have enough of a window available for you to go in, describe the tattoo, get them to design the stencil, and do the inking, huh? Crazy coincidence!
Well thats a new spin on the “MOM” tattoo
It’s just a woman’s figure. There’s no way a tattoo is actually of your mom. Yeah, there was a photo used, but the tattoo itself isn’t your mom. Maybe just add a shirt to the tattoo.
Keep it. If you didn’t recognize your own mom, neither will anyone else.
Gotta agree with mom, it is really funny. It’s a nice story to tell and maybe it’ll help the grieving process both by seeing part of your dad, and by having a little lighthearted giggle over the
Situation