There is nothing more amusing to me than the feel of tiny little fingers tracing the outline of my tattoo so softly while I’m at work. The kindergartners especially will just come right up, barely touching with their fingertip, and trace my shark tattoo on my arm.
I’ve made it known to the kids that I don’t mind contact, especially if they are upset and need a hug or a hand squeeze. Mostly it’s the kindergartners who will do that, since I’ve been “Miss Deborah” to them from day one, I’m their support crew. (Ah, how that changes when they hit first grade, they don’t need me anymore, and it’s adorable how clearly they make their independence known....before sneaking the occasional hug. XD) So the kids know to respect boundaries and space, just as they know that I have almost no personal bubble when it comes to the pipsqueaks. I get it, we’re social creatures for the most part, small children especially.
But that little whisper-light touch, on my arm, tracing my tattoo? They think it’s so pretty, and they’re mesmerized by the fact that my art is permanently on my body, and the bright colors of my mako shark.
I freakin’ love it.
And one of the autistic kids uses it as a way to calm down- he’ll just walk over and stare at my arm, not touching me but tracing the air over it with his fingertip.
Unintended side effect of getting my tattoo, the kids seem to be using it as a way to de-stress when they have sensory overload from the work program. XD
But it is so darn cute!
