Lucyisms

A little backstory necessary here to paint the whole picture, so to speak. Lucy has an older brother. He NEVER wrote in his books, drew on himself, or colored with pencil/crayons/markers on walls (or the cat, but that’s another post). So, I would smugly listen to other parents talk about such infractions committed by their little angels and think, “Wow, dodged that bullet.”

And then I had Lucy.

Lucy started coloring on the walls in her room at an early age (like when she could hold a writing element). Her favorite spot was below the window in her room — doodles in pencil. When I discovered it, I told her not to do it again (as I quickly snapped a picture when she wasn’t looking and then cleaned it up). Imagine my surprise when a few days later I found a Sharpie masterpiece on the opposite wall under her light switch. When I asked about this and why she did it after I had specifically told her not to, she replied,”But mommy, you told me not to draw with pencil on that wall over there anymore. And I didn’t. I used Sharpie on this wall.” Note to self — be more general and sweeping when admonishing miss Luliboo.

Eventually Lucy moved onto body art with Sharpie (usually in as many colors as possible). So today, when I noticed the peace sign, heart, and OMG on the bottom of her right foot, I was not the least bit surprised. In fact, it seemed rather tame. Uh huh.

Mom: Nice drawing on your foot.

Lucy: Oh, there’s more. (She holds up her left foot to reveal “Lucy was here” and more illustrations.

Mom: You are going to come home some day fully tatted out, aren’t you?

Lucy: Probably not. Sharpie is much better, and I can change things out when I get tired of them. You know, leave my options open. Some days I feel like a big thing on my leg, and some days I just need a little peace sign on my hand. And it would be too weird if the colors didn’t match what I was wearing. (Lucy bounces upstairs to no doubt continue the artwork by coloring it in.)

Mom: (HUGE internal sigh of relief — jinxed myself for sure)

About 10 minutes pass, Lucy comes back downstairs, plops down next to me.

Lucy: Mom, you know how I asked to get my ears pierced for my 10th birthday?

Mom: Uh huh (deep breath, wait for it…)

Lucy: Well, maybe I do want a tattoo.

Mom: Oh really? And what do you have in  mind?

Lucy: Well, something small, definitely girly, not manly. Maybe a little dove.

Mom: And where would you put this little girly dove?

Lucy: Good question. Probably need to figure that out first.

Mom: Excellent plan. Better hold off for now.

Lucy: Yeah. Need to decide what color too. (She starts to walk back upstairs, stops, turns around…) Mom, can you get glitter in a tattoo?

At least she hasn’t asked if she can bedazzle the tattoo. Yet.