For me being a mom means doing something I never thought I would do with Charlie but then it makes me wonder if Suzzane would have done anything like he does which is why they are two completely different children.
Suzzane was a girl and as you know and she had her ears pierced for a girl but not for a guy. But after fighting for years with Charlie over getting his ears pierced I gave in and let him do it.
Then he decided he wanted a tattoo LORD help us. I also came to terms with that and I’ve decided as long as we can agree on the style of tattoo and where its going it’s okay but its easier to look past a tattoo then lose my son.
Then it came to piecing his nose and before I could say anything David said no, it isn’t happening. But again I decided to pick my battle and let Charlie pierce his nose because again its easier than arguing.
This is why 2 days in a row you would have found me sitting in a tattoo and piercing shop while my son gets a needle put through his nose. And sometimes it means discovering that something you were nervous about can turn into a really special mother-and-son memory.
That is exactly what happened when Charlie decided he wanted his nose pierced. Which started with a trip to Rufe Snow. David and I had been out running errands when I decided to check on the piercing for Charlie.
He had been talking about getting his nose pierced for over a week, and I wanted to find a place where I could ask questions, look around, and decide whether I felt comfortable with him going there.
That’s how we ended up at Ink Life DFW Tattoos & Body Piercing on Rufe Snow which is located in North Richland Hills. And this is where our story connects back to that little shopping center that I now believe God led us to which was full of God winks.
We weren’t looking for an entire shopping-center adventure. We were looking for something for Charlie. But one discovery led to another, and suddenly we had found a tattoo shop, a barbershop, a beauty supply store, Hangry Joe’s, CarStop, and more.
We shared that whole adventure in another post because I really believe there was a reason we were led there. And this is one more story that came out of researching things my son wanted while picking my battles over choices Charlie has been making that I may or may not agree with.Meeting Zozy Posy
When we walked into Ink Life DFW, we met Zozy Posy. And let me tell you, she is one of the sweetest people. I loved her name and after learning how she got this name it brought me even closer to her.
Before anything happened, she took the time to talk to us. She answered my questions. She explained what we needed to know. And she helped me calm down. That mattered. I was nervous.
Charlie was dealing with needles and things can happen with needles that I was PRAYING wouldn’t happen to Charlie. And for anyone who knows us, you already know that neither one of us is particularly excited about needles.
As we talked, we discovered that Zozy Posey deals with some of the same things Charlie does, including OCD and ADHD. She even talked about how driving can make her antsy. That made me laugh a little because Charlie and I understand that feeling, too.
Sometimes it only takes one conversation for you to stop seeing somebody as “the person who works here” and start seeing them as a person who understands something about your family.
That’s how I felt about Zozy Posey. She wasn’t rushing us. She was talking to us. And that made a difference because she wasn’t talking down to us or trying to brush past my feelings she understood what I was concerned about which gave me peace of mind.
I’ll be honest with you. When I hear the words tattoo shop, you may picture something very different from what we experienced. Ink Life DFW was actually very calming. One of the first things that caught my attention was the beautiful fish tank.
There was a fish in the tank I wanted to bring home with me. Zosey Posey told me the fish’s name and how sweet she was. Now, I want a fish tank of my own. I could have sat there and watched the fish while Charlie got his nose done.
For me there’s something about watching fish swim that makes it easier to stop thinking about whatever you’re nervous about. The atmosphere helped. The people helped. And Zozy Posey helped.
The next day when Charlie was called back, I felt much more comfortable because we was able to get Zozy Posey who took Charlie an d I back and she went through everything with him before she did anything.
She explained the aftercare. She explained that he wouldn’t be changing the piercing right away and that he needed to leave the original jewelry in while it healed for at least 4 months but closer to 6 months.
She explained how to keep the area clean and what to do if he had a problem. She even made sure he knew that if he needed anything while he was there, they had drinks and snacks available.
That made me feel like she cared about more than simply getting the piercing done. She wanted him to understand what he was doing. And that’s important. All the while I’m standing the doorway and she invited me into the room.
I said no, I was fine inside the doorway so I could leave if I wanted to. But then I decided I was going to stay with Charlie the entire time. Was I nervous? Absolutely. I had a pretty good feeling I might faint or Charlie might.
Charlie doesn’t like needles either, and neither do I. But I stayed. I watched Zozy clean his nose. I watched her prepare everything. And then it was time. She did the piercing. I wanted to be able to hold his hand or touch him but I didn’t try.
I stayed calm and stood at the end of the bed so I did progress from the doorway which surprised both Charlie and David. David sat in the lobby because he didn’t want to be in the way and he knew I wanted to be with Charlie and that Charlie would want me even though he loves his dad.
And you know what? Charlie did really, really well. He grimaced a little. Of course he did. But he didn’t faint. He didn’t panic. He didn’t freak out. He handled it like the brave young man I know he is. And I was so proud of him.
This may be the part that surprised me the most. I actually walked over and looked. I even watched her put the piercing in. Now, don’t get carried away. I’m still not going to say I enjoy needles. But I stayed. And I watched.
For somebody who has always had an issue with needles, that felt like a little victory of my own.
Maybe I just wanted to be brave for Charlie. Maybe I didn’t want him to be braver than his mom. Either way, I did it and to me that means more than anything because even though I’ve been having panic attacks and anxiety over things this time I didn’t.
The actual piercing took only a few minutes. There was a lot more preparation and explaining than there was actual piercing. And then suddenly, Charlie was done. He had his new nose piercing. He had all his instructions. And Mom had survived. Everybody was happy.
One of the things that made this such a special moment for me was that Charlie did it himself. He listened. He answered the questions. He went through the process. He took responsibility for what he had decided to do. He didn’t need me to do it for him.
I was there. But he did it. As a mom, you spend years doing everything for your children. Then slowly, little by little, you watch them start doing things for themselves. Sometimes those moments come with graduation. Sometimes they come with getting a job.
And sometimes they happen in a tattoo shop when your son decides he’s ready for a nose piercing. I’ll take them all. One thing I can suggest is to make notes because yesterday Charlie was asking me when he could switch his earring out because he couldn’t remember/
I had to google what I remembered which I was right about because Charlie didn’t make notes and he didn’t want to go back up to the Tattoo Parlor so know matter how mature our children want to be even though they don’t want to admit it they still need us.
One thing I would recommend is calling ahead before you go. Different artists may be there on different days, and if you have a particular artist you want to work with, you don’t want to drive across town only to discover they’re not there.
Call first. Ask who’s working. Ask about availability. Ask about the price. Ask about the age and identification requirements. And make sure you know what you need to bring. That little phone call can save you a lot of time.
You’ll also want to make sure you bring the required identification inside and not leave it in your car which Charlie did. But the shop needed to see his ID and to take a picture of it. So David had to go back out to the car while Charlie filled out the paperwork.
So don’t assume you can just walk in without documentation. Requirements can vary by age and service, so check with the shop before you go and make sure you have everything they require.
Another thing we learned was that payment method matters. We were told that cash was less expensive, while paying by card involved an additional fee. That is another question worth asking before you go: “What is the total price, and is there a card fee?” Policies and prices can change, so check the current information when you book.
And because this is our family, Charlie isn’t the only one who left with ideas. David talked with Zozy Posey about tattoos he might want. Now, personally, I think David has enough tattoos to last him for the rest of his life.
But sometimes you have to pick your battles. So I’m going to let David decide whether he really needs another one. At least now he knows where he’d want to go if he decides he does.
I’ve actually thought several times about getting a tattoo myself. I would want a tiny little tattoo for Suzanne. Something simple. Something meaningful. Something that would let me carry a little reminder of her with me.
I think it would be beautiful. There’s just one problem. I’m not brave enough to do it. So I may have to get my Suzanne tattooed on David’s body. Because it ain’t happening on mine. Maybe David can be my walking memorial.
He’s already got enough tattoos. What’s one more? And besides, sometimes you just have to pick your battles and this how I choose to pick mine is by David getting another tattoo for me in memory of Suzzane.
As for me getting my nose pierced? No. Absolutely not. I already have my ears double pierced. And I don’t even wear earrings ever. So I think I’ve got enough piercings. Charlie can have his nose piercing. I’ll be happy sitting nearby taking pictures and making sure he is okay.
Would We Go Back? Absolutely. David has already talked to Zozy Posey about the tattoos he would like to have. Which can’t happen until my rich Uncle get’s out of the poor farm because what he wants is more than we could realistically spend.
When she quotes between $500 and $600 because he wants a full arm tattoo which again I don’t agree with. But I’m only his wife and it’s his body and he has to live with what he choses I don’t have it.
Charlie has talked about taking Bradley back to see Ink Life DFW Tattoos & Body Piercing. And if I ever actually get brave enough to get that little Suzanne tattoo, Zozy Posey would be the person I would want to do it.
She took her time with us. She made me comfortable. She explained everything. And most importantly, she treated Charlie with care. That matters to me more than anything else could.
If you’re looking for a tattoo or piercing shop in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area they are located in North Richland Hill. I would definitely recommend checking out Ink Life DFW Tattoos & Body Piercing and deciding whether it’s the right fit for you.
Our experience was a good one. The shop was calming. The fish tank was beautiful. Zozy Posey was kind. And she took the time to make sure we understood the process and the aftercare.
The current business information lists Ink Life DFW at:
5208 Rufe Snow Dr.
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Phone: (817) 605-9067
They also have an official website: And Instagram: @inklifedfw
Because artists’ schedules and shop policies can change, I recommend checking their current information and calling ahead before you go.
What I really love about this story is that the nose piercing wasn’t the only thing we found that day. It was part of a much bigger little adventure. We went looking for a tattoo shop. Then we found the barbershop. Then the beauty supply store. Then Hangry Joe’s. Then CarStop.
And suddenly this little shopping center on Rufe Snow became a place I wanted to learn more about. I truly believe God led us there for a reason. I just don’t know the whole reason yet. But I know these little businesses are now part of the Greatful Moments story. And Charlie’s nose piercing is part of that story, too.
When I think back on that day, I don’t really think about the needle anymore. I think about Charlie. I think about sitting beside him. I think about watching him do something on his own.
I think about how proud I was. I think about Zozy Posey taking the time to calm his mom down. And I think about one more ordinary day that somehow became a memory. Because one day, Charlie won’t need Mom sitting in the room with him. So for now, I’m going to enjoy the days when he still lets me be there.
And if the Lord brought us to that little shopping center so that I could discover new businesses, make new connections, and make another memory with my son? Well… I’m grateful thankful and blessed He did.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates