Carnations, cards, and 50+ emails about special deals from brands you forgot you were subscribed to—it can only mean one thing. It’s Mother’s Day! Though showing care for a loved one should not be limited to one exclusive day of the year, it nonetheless is a widely recognized holiday in countries around the world in which we honor our forebears through quality time, sentimental gifts and perhaps even a new work of ink.

The story goes that the holiday arose in the 1900s, conceived by a woman named Anna Jarvis. Her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis had frequently organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health. Following her mother’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis held a memorial service at a church in West Virginia, and within five years, nearly every state began recognizing the holiday as well. The day became dedicated to paying tribute to mothers for the sacrifices made for their children. Tragically, though, Anna Jarvis didn’t fancy the over-commercialization of the holiday that eventually ensued, and spent the last years of her life trying to abolish what she’d created. Yikes—she wouldn’t have liked those emails either.

Mother’s Day encompasses mothers of all kinds that have played a nurturing role in one’s life, whether that be aunts, grandmas, and yes, cat and dog moms are included, too. There are ample ways to celebrate the occasion—perhaps a trip to a beloved lunch spot or writing a heartfelt letter. But how about an homage to mom that lasts more than just one day of the year?

It’s a running joke in the tattoo world that getting a tattoo dedicated to your mom guarantees she’ll have to like it, no matter how against tattoos she is. So if you’re considering a first tattoo, we implore you to get the ball rolling with a wholesome ‘Mom’ tattoo. We’ve all seen variations of the heart and crossbow to no end, but the ones we’ve compiled in the gallery below take a less common approach to the common idea. This Mother’s Day, go a different route than getting the usual bouquet and show her that your devotion lasts a lifetime. Sure, she might be mad at first, but she’ll quickly understand that even the most rebellious kids hold a soft spot for mom.