May 1st, 2015—Thom’s 18th birthday!
Ever since she could remember, Thom had dreamed of getting a tattoo.
Every time she mentioned it, Vered would have a mini meltdown, insisting, “God didn’t give you this body to just desecrate it!”
Thom, on the other hand, was firm in her teenage conviction, “It’s my body, and I want to use it as a canvas!”
As her 18th birthday drew near, Thom made it clear that she was ready to make her mark – literally.
So, what would Dad do?
I decided to support my daughter’s dream, not just with words, but by paying for her first tattoo and accompanying her to the tattoo parlor.
There, I held her hand through the pain, turning the process into a special bonding moment.
It was a memorable start to Thom’s artistic journey, and a significant milestone in our father-daughter relationship.
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Let’s correct a bit Yoni’s memory…
This photo captures Thom’s second tattoo!
Her first one was at 16. As Yoni wrote – I wasn’t exactly cheering her on.
“If God wanted you to draw on yourself,” I’d say, “She would’ve made you out of paper!”
Thom, ever the sassy teenager, would counter with a knowing smile and a song lyric, “It’s my body, and I’ll do what I want with it!” As a firm believer in girl power, I couldn’t deny her that.
So, her first tattoo was a bold “Don’t dream it, be it!” on her collarbone, marking the beginning of her artistic journey on her own skin. Since she needed an adult there, Yoni (the ever-supportive dad) stepped in and played wingman.
Fast-forward to her 18th birthday and the picture you see here captures her second tattoo adventure. This time, she chose a design that paid tribute to both of us—a sweet gesture, right?
It’s a beautiful Rose (Vered in Hebrew) on her ankle, surrounded by four soaring seagulls. The seagulls? A nod to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a nod to Yoni (whose full name is Yehonathan). It was the start of her growing collection of “ink paintings,” as she calls them.
Now, me? Still not the biggest fan of tattoos. But hey, it’s her body, her choice, and who am I to argue with a little artistic expression and a whole lot of love for her parents (seagulls and all!)