The choice to get a tattoo can be inspired by a lot of things — and many times, it's in honor of someone we love. For a lot of us, the moms in our lives top that list and so do our own children. Family relationships aren't always perfect, but most of us can't imagine life without our mothers guiding us and loving us through all of the ups and downs, and those of us who are moms know what it's like to have that all encompassing love for our children, no matter what.
Mom-themed tattoos don't just have to feature the word "mom" or even our mom or children's names, though — it's totally possible to get a little creative. And even more importantly, there are plenty of minimalist tattoos out there that fit the theme. A tattoo doesn't have to be gigantic to be powerful, after all.
Whether the new tattoo in question is to honor an important mom or to honor being a mom, these tattoos offer plenty of inspiration for those who want to keep it simple but still meaningful.
Traditional Tat
One of the first designs we think of when we think "mom tattoos" is similar to this one: the word "mom" emblazoned on a banner that's running across a heart. Doing something similar with black and white outlines only can still be simple but recall that traditional style at the same time.
Mom's Handwriting
Handwriting tattoos are becoming more and more popular, and after seeing a gorgeous one like this one, it's easy to understand why! This tattoo is so simple but so meaningful at the same time — an easy, beautiful way to keep our moms with us no matter what we're doing.
A Child's Handwriting
On the other side of the coin, if moms want to honor their children, handwriting tattoos are a wonderful way to do that as well. That's especially true because it allows us to preserve something about our kids while they're still little in a way that will last forever. How sweet is this message?
Three Little Birds
At first glance, this tiny ankle tattoo is just a few birds flocked together, but according to the caption on this Instagram post, the birds actually represent all three of a mother's children. Bonus: They're robins because the mom's name is Robin. So sweet and so delicate!
Flying With Mom
This tattoo actually includes the word "mom" along with a bird, and though it's just line work, it's still beautiful. It would be easy enough to create this and to swap out the bird for any other imagery that's relevant to the mom in question.
Full of Love
This tattoo keeps it as simple as it can get: The word "mom" except the O is a heart instead. The heart makes it cuter than just the text by itself, and it adds a fun element to something that's otherwise pretty conventional. As a bonus, it works both for those who are a mom or those who want to pay tribute to their own.
A Traditional Spin
For those who are big fans of more old school-style tattoos, this one might be the perfect inspiration. It puts a twist on the more traditional "mom" tattoo, changing the shape of the heart and adding a flower. It would be adorable to customize this based on Mom's favorite color!
A Simple Name
For those considering getting their child's name tattooed somewhere on their body, this example might be the perfect inspiration photo to bring to the studio. It's so simple and so delicate — that font couldn't be more perfect. The only downside? That shoulder placement means Mom won't get to look at it herself!
A Tiny Heart
This tattoo might be itty bitty, but it still makes an impact! The word "mom" is present, but this time it features a little something extra. The pop of color on that red heart really adds to the overall look of the tattoo, and it almost makes the word look like a balloon.
A Doodle of Love
Sometimes, getting the message across about motherly love is less about words and more about images like this. In this sweet doodle-style tattoo, a mom is cradling her child. It's so detailed but so simple at the same time (and features our usual hairstyle, the mom bun).
The Very Definition
The meaning of the word "mom" is different for everyone, but this definition sums it up pretty nicely — after all, moms usually are the ones who find whatever has gone missing. Even though this tattoo contains a lot of text, it's so sharp, just like a real dictionary entry.
Nerdy But Cool
Any Pokemon fans out there might especially appreciate this tattoo! This one features Cubone, a Pokemon who lost his mother and feels lonely without her. Below the artwork, the words "J'aime ma maman" mean "I love my mom" in French. It's perfect for those who love their mom and honoring a favorite pop culture icon.
Mom's Heartbeat
The best way to describe this tattoo is simply elegant. Not only does it include a mom's name, Edna, but it also connects into a heart and then a heartbeat — so sweet! No word on whether this is meant to represent Edna's actual heartbeat, but that can be done too!
A Floral Option
Dainty and adorable, this tattoo makes a pretty sweet overall tribute to mom. The word is used as part of the stem on this flower — a tulip. Maybe it happens to be mom's favorite? Either way, we're loving all the details, including the heart at the very bottom of the tattoo.
Mom's Wings
Most of us don't realize what an angel our moms are until we're adults, and sometimes, it's not even until we are parents ourselves. But for those who feel that their mom deserves her own pair of wings (or if she's already earned them), a tattoo like this can represent so much.
Infinite Love
According to the caption from the tattoo studio who posted this ink, "infinite love for her mom is what this client's tattoo represents." We can definitely see that with the infinity symbol being used, intertwined with a rose. A mom's love does go on forever, after all.
Mom's Hugs
Just like this tattoo says, a mom's hugs do last forever — even long after she's gone. We love how plainly and simply this tattoo expresses that meaning, as anyone who sees this will know exactly what the inspiration behind this ink was all about. Straight to the point!
The Most Important Word
Sometimes, the easiest route to express what we want to say comes in a single word. In this case, it's the word "mom" in easy to read text made what matters to this person very plain to see. It might not be flashy, but the simplicity is what draws us to really love this kind of tattoo.
Tough Mom
Here's another spin on that traditional, cartoon-y mom tattoo, but this time smaller and a lot more simple. It doesn't require a lot of details for a tattoo to make an impact: This one is small, keeps colors and line work basic, and it still turned out totally cute.
Born & Raised
Here's a sweet tribute to both parents — though obviously, this tattoo could definitely be altered to just give credit to mom! "Made by mom and dad" is written in such small, perfect letters, and this tattoo is easily hidden by hair if it needs to be. Perfection!
