Ink

Braxton came to me several months ago and told me that he knew what he wanted for his 17th birthday. He told me that he wanted a tattoo. I asked him why. I expected to hear, "Because they're cool." "Because my friends want them." "Because, Mom."

Instead I got: "Mom. I want to have a lion with P's name in morse code. The lion represents to me everyday that I have depression and that it is hard... really hard. But I am stronger." Oh. I didn't tell him yes right away... in fact I didn't say yes for several months. He, on his own, went to multiple tattoo shops and asked several questions of the artists. He has been working six days a week to save up. He has prepared himself for this. He took me about one month ago to meet the tattoo artist that he selected. His name is Kolin and he is amazing.

On Saturday, Braxton went and got the ink. It was six hours in on the table, in the hardest spot of the body. Kolin was super impressed that for his first tattoo, he was able to sit and tolerate it for that long. Jackson and I showed up for the last hour and by then, his body was shaky.

It turned out really, quite amazing. P's name, in symbol, is beautiful.