One mother is ignoring societal norms and has chosen to repeatedly adorn her 6-month-old child in tattoos, stating that having your body inked is just part of her family's "lifestyle."
The tattoos the mother uses on her child are, of course, temporary, but nonetheless, she's received a countless amount of backlash.
From Scidok:
Shameka Morris, a fashion designer mom from the USA, has raised eyebrows by sharing pictures of her baby covered in tattoos on Instagram. The intriguing aspect? These tattoos are only temporary, yet they haven’t escaped criticism from the Insta community.
Starting the tattooing process when her son was just six months old, Morris proudly displayed his head-to-toe inked look, igniting a viral sensation that triggered both strong criticism and backlash online.
Despite revealing that the tattoos were temporary, public opinion remained divided. Unfazed by the judgment, Morris boldly expressed, “For the people that judge me, I don’t care because this is a lifestyle that we enjoy.”
However, the internet’s disapproval persisted. She shared the emotional toll the criticism took on her, stating, “The reaction has been terrible. It hurts my feelings because I know I am not a bad mother.”
The controversy surrounding tattooed babies isn’t entirely surprising, given the traditional associations with permanent body art. Concerns were raised about the safety of the temporary ink or chemicals for the baby’s delicate skin, despite the reassurance that they would fade over time.
Morris revealed the origins of the concept, recalling a photoshoot she did with her brothers at a tattoo parlor when she was eight months pregnant. Since then, she faced mockery on social media, with negative comments predicting the baby would be born with countless tattoos, tarnishing his skin.
While the tattoos were indeed temporary, and their designs intended for artistic expression, the unconventional choice remains divisive, questioning the boundaries of parenting and personal style.
Tattoos are a personal choice and decision that should be left to consenting adults. Putting them on a child who cannot understand or consent to such a thing is strange and definitely crossing a line. Temporary or not, it's still sending the wrong message.
In my opinion, let kids be kids and let them decide for themselves when they're old enough. Some things can wait until they're adults and can make informed choices about their own bodies.
