John Clarke got his "mum" tattoo -- his first and only -- on his shoulder <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-967264">at age 50</a>. He revealed it to his mother at her 70th birthday party, despite knowing that she hated tattoos. "Now, many thousands of miles away from home, every time I see the tattoo in the mirror, I can smile about that evening and my mum's shocked expression," he said.
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John Clarke got his "mum" tattoo -- his first and only -- on his shoulder at age 50. He revealed it to his mother at her 70th birthday party, despite knowing that she hated tattoos. "Now, many thousands of miles away from home, every time I see the tattoo in the mirror, I can smile about that evening and my mum's shocked expression," he said.
GW Byers went for a less traditional but increasingly common design: a wrist tattoo in her <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966181">mother's handwriting</a>. Her mom passed away in 2008, and five years later, Byers had a tattoo artist copy the signature and heart her mom had written on her college graduation card. "She had gorgeous penmanship," said Byers.
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GW Byers went for a less traditional but increasingly common design: a wrist tattoo in her mother's handwriting. Her mom passed away in 2008, and five years later, Byers had a tattoo artist copy the signature and heart her mom had written on her college graduation card. "She had gorgeous penmanship," said Byers.
Samantha Pender also chose to tattoo her mother's writing. It's on her thigh, surrounded with Mickey Mouse hands forming a heart because her mom was a <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966572">huge Disney fan</a>. She "would get teary-eyed watching a commercial for Walt Disney World," said Pender. Her dad, brother, and sister-in-law all have similar Disney-themed tattoos in memory of her mom -- although Pender says her mom would probably "roll her eyes" if she knew. "She never understood the point" of tattoos, Pender said.
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Samantha Pender also chose to tattoo her mother's writing. It's on her thigh, surrounded with Mickey Mouse hands forming a heart because her mom was a huge Disney fan. She "would get teary-eyed watching a commercial for Walt Disney World," said Pender. Her dad, brother, and sister-in-law all have similar Disney-themed tattoos in memory of her mom -- although Pender says her mom would probably "roll her eyes" if she knew. "She never understood the point" of tattoos, Pender said.
Mary Johnston and her brother have <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-968765">matching tattoos</a> in their mother's handwriting. The "Mom" signature and heart were taken from a birthday card. "We both had the tattoo placed on our left shoulder blade because Mom always had our backs," said Johnston. She later added the two daises, "one for mom and one for me. We each carried them in our bridal bouquets."
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Mary Johnston and her brother have matching tattoos in their mother's handwriting. The "Mom" signature and heart were taken from a birthday card. "We both had the tattoo placed on our left shoulder blade because Mom always had our backs," said Johnston. She later added the two daises, "one for mom and one for me. We each carried them in our bridal bouquets."
Judy Jordan asked her mother to write out the words <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966180">"strength," "courage" and "wisdom"</a> so that she could have them tattooed on her arm in her mom's handwriting. The words come from the title of an India.Arie song. "Since my mom had to raise my brother and myself on her own, I felt that these words described her perfectly," said Jordan. "I can see it constantly and when I get bogged down thinking how hard being a single parent is, I see my tattoo and realize that I am my mother's daughter, so I'm bound to have some of her strength, courage, and wisdom."
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Judy Jordan asked her mother to write out the words "strength," "courage" and "wisdom" so that she could have them tattooed on her arm in her mom's handwriting. The words come from the title of an India.Arie song. "Since my mom had to raise my brother and myself on her own, I felt that these words described her perfectly," said Jordan. "I can see it constantly and when I get bogged down thinking how hard being a single parent is, I see my tattoo and realize that I am my mother's daughter, so I'm bound to have some of her strength, courage, and wisdom."
Courtesy Judy Jordan
Kyle Divine <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-967247">honors both his moms</a> with a tattoo he got on his arm on Mother's Day in 2006. "My moms were the best role models I had while I was growing up, regardless of sexual orientation," he said. "I got the tattoo to show them and the world that I am proud to have them as my parents." It also has a more subtle meaning: "Without actually saying it, the tattoo says that I am a supporter of gay rights." Divine says both his moms love the ink.
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Kyle Divine honors both his moms with a tattoo he got on his arm on Mother's Day in 2006. "My moms were the best role models I had while I was growing up, regardless of sexual orientation," he said. "I got the tattoo to show them and the world that I am proud to have them as my parents." It also has a more subtle meaning: "Without actually saying it, the tattoo says that I am a supporter of gay rights." Divine says both his moms love the ink.
Emily Kirouac wanted the perfect image for her mom tattoo. After much thought, "I chose a lighthouse" on her calf for two reasons: "One, because as long as I can remember, she has collected lighthouses. Two, because my mama is the biggest inspiration in my life," she said. "She is the <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966147">light of my life</a>." Kirouac says her mom isn't a big fan of tattoos, but when she saw it, "she had a tear in her eye and said it was beautiful. That meant everything to me."
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Emily Kirouac wanted the perfect image for her mom tattoo. After much thought, "I chose a lighthouse" on her calf for two reasons: "One, because as long as I can remember, she has collected lighthouses. Two, because my mama is the biggest inspiration in my life," she said. "She is the light of my life." Kirouac says her mom isn't a big fan of tattoos, but when she saw it, "she had a tear in her eye and said it was beautiful. That meant everything to me."
Courtesy Emily Kirouac
Emily's husband Robert Kirouac also has a mom tattoo on his arm. His mom said that if he was going to get a tattoo, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-967021">he had to get a "mom" one</a>. Additionally, it had to look like singer Adam Levine's mom tattoo, because "she watches him on 'The Voice' and she thinks he's hot," said Kirouac. This was the result -- compare it with Levine's in the next frame. "I proudly wear my mom tat because it is exactly what she wanted, and I love to keep my mom happy," said Kirouac.
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Emily's husband Robert Kirouac also has a mom tattoo on his arm. His mom said that if he was going to get a tattoo, he had to get a "mom" one. Additionally, it had to look like singer Adam Levine's mom tattoo, because "she watches him on 'The Voice' and she thinks he's hot," said Kirouac. This was the result -- compare it with Levine's in the next frame. "I proudly wear my mom tat because it is exactly what she wanted, and I love to keep my mom happy," said Kirouac.
Levine's mom tattoo near his elbow.
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Levine's mom tattoo near his elbow.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Rachael Sauceda's ink tribute to her mom is probably the most unconventional of the bunch. Her mother grew up on a pig farm, and Sauceda used to have a shirt with this design as a kid. It's now tattooed on her upper arm. She and both her brothers have <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-968610">matching pig tattoos</a> in honor of their mom. "She cringes every time we show up with another tattoo," says Sauceda, who has 14, "but she has confessed that she does like this one."
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Rachael Sauceda's ink tribute to her mom is probably the most unconventional of the bunch. Her mother grew up on a pig farm, and Sauceda used to have a shirt with this design as a kid. It's now tattooed on her upper arm. She and both her brothers have matching pig tattoos in honor of their mom. "She cringes every time we show up with another tattoo," says Sauceda, who has 14, "but she has confessed that she does like this one."
Brad Allison paid tribute to his parents by <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966653">inking their portraits</a> on his forearm. He chose a wedding photograph of his mother and his father's senior picture, and the tattoo artist combined them to create the final design. When Allison got his first tattoo -- he has seven -- his mom "had a fit." But when he got this one, his third, he says she cried. The tattoo is especially precious to Allison because his father died five years ago, and "it looks as if my mother is watching over him."
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Brad Allison paid tribute to his parents by inking their portraits on his forearm. He chose a wedding photograph of his mother and his father's senior picture, and the tattoo artist combined them to create the final design. When Allison got his first tattoo -- he has seven -- his mom "had a fit." But when he got this one, his third, he says she cried. The tattoo is especially precious to Allison because his father died five years ago, and "it looks as if my mother is watching over him."
Courtesy Brad Allison
Amanda Clifton and her mom have matching tattoos on their feet of a <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966755">mother and daughter</a> forming a heart. They had talked about the idea for a while, and finally decided to make it a reality during a mother/daughter vacation in Florida. "My mom is my BFF," said Clifton. "When you have so much love for a person, it's hard not to show some love with ink." She says she gets lots of compliments on the tattoo and that people frequently remark they "want to do the same thing with their own moms."
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Amanda Clifton and her mom have matching tattoos on their feet of a mother and daughter forming a heart. They had talked about the idea for a while, and finally decided to make it a reality during a mother/daughter vacation in Florida. "My mom is my BFF," said Clifton. "When you have so much love for a person, it's hard not to show some love with ink." She says she gets lots of compliments on the tattoo and that people frequently remark they "want to do the same thing with their own moms."
Joanne Asbury wanted a tattoo to remember and celebrate her mom after she died in 2001. She decided on an <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966275">image of a daisy</a>, since that was her mom's favorite flower. "I put her tattoo on my ankle, so she is with me every step I take," said Asbury.
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Joanne Asbury wanted a tattoo to remember and celebrate her mom after she died in 2001. She decided on an image of a daisy, since that was her mom's favorite flower. "I put her tattoo on my ankle, so she is with me every step I take," said Asbury.
Jill Shingledecker's mom is an <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-968486">equestrian</a>, so she decided to honor that part of her life. "She has been showing and riding horses since she was a little girl, so I got a horse with her initials below," said Shingledecker. It's on her right arm "because she is my strength -- I'm right-handed." She also has a tattoo tribute to her dad on her left arm, "close to my heart [because] he was killed in Vietnam when I was a baby."
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Jill Shingledecker's mom is an equestrian, so she decided to honor that part of her life. "She has been showing and riding horses since she was a little girl, so I got a horse with her initials below," said Shingledecker. It's on her right arm "because she is my strength -- I'm right-handed." She also has a tattoo tribute to her dad on her left arm, "close to my heart [because] he was killed in Vietnam when I was a baby."
Kathy Lake also chose an <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-968196">animal motif</a> on her calf to honor her mother's memory. Her mom liked rabbits, and Lake made her rabbit purple to also represent her mom's favorite color. "She had diabetes and had a lot of complications from it, so when I got the tattoo, it may have hurt me for a few minutes, but I toughed it out because I thought about all the pain she dealt with throughout her life and she never complained," said Lake.
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Kathy Lake also chose an animal motif on her calf to honor her mother's memory. Her mom liked rabbits, and Lake made her rabbit purple to also represent her mom's favorite color. "She had diabetes and had a lot of complications from it, so when I got the tattoo, it may have hurt me for a few minutes, but I toughed it out because I thought about all the pain she dealt with throughout her life and she never complained," said Lake.
Courtesy Kathy Lake
Maranda Green's mother passed away from complications of <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-966677">polycystic kidney disease</a> when she was just 14. At 19, Green was diagnosed with the same condition. The meaning of her sunflower tattoo is twofold: It's in memory of her mom, and it's a symbol of her own resolve in fighting the disease. Why a sunflower? "My mom always loved those big, seemingly flowing fields of sunflowers," said Green. The tattoo is, of course, on her lower back -- over the kidneys.
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Maranda Green's mother passed away from complications of polycystic kidney disease when she was just 14. At 19, Green was diagnosed with the same condition. The meaning of her sunflower tattoo is twofold: It's in memory of her mom, and it's a symbol of her own resolve in fighting the disease. Why a sunflower? "My mom always loved those big, seemingly flowing fields of sunflowers," said Green. The tattoo is, of course, on her lower back -- over the kidneys.
Edith Sanchez describes her <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-970608">mother as her rock</a>. "She always put me first." So, when it came to honoring mom, she decided to go for a less traditional tattoo. She contacted <a href="http://www.katvond.net/_html/bio.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">famed tattoo artist Kat Van D </a>and requested a session. To her surprise, she received a response and was able to get a portrait tattoo of her mother. "I think it was fate, I hear all these stories about years on waiting list...in a month I got in," she said.
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Edith Sanchez describes her mother as her rock. "She always put me first." So, when it came to honoring mom, she decided to go for a less traditional tattoo. She contacted famed tattoo artist Kat Van D and requested a session. To her surprise, she received a response and was able to get a portrait tattoo of her mother. "I think it was fate, I hear all these stories about years on waiting list...in a month I got in," she said.
Courtesy Edith Sanchez
After Lori Krstich's mother was diagnosed with leukemia seven years ago, Krstich wanted to show her mom she was <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-970705">always in her heart</a>. "I love memorial tattoos, but thought that an even better idea was to show her how much I love her while she's here," she said. She got a tattoo with the words "mom" on her ankle. Her mom loves the design, and is still living strong now that her cancer is in remission.
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After Lori Krstich's mother was diagnosed with leukemia seven years ago, Krstich wanted to show her mom she was always in her heart. "I love memorial tattoos, but thought that an even better idea was to show her how much I love her while she's here," she said. She got a tattoo with the words "mom" on her ankle. Her mom loves the design, and is still living strong now that her cancer is in remission.
Courtsey Lori Krstich