For a joke, I decided to put a Very Hungry Caterpillar tattoo on my arm and tell my students it was real (just for a minute, then I came clean).

Me (in front of a class of students): I probably shouldn’t be telling you this. But, uh, I got a tattoo.

Class: Whoa!! (I didn’t expect the big reaction that met this announcement.)

Me: I don’t recommend you get a tattoo, but I got one. I think it makes me look pretty tough. (Dramatic pause) Want to see it?

Class: Yes!!

Me (rolling up sleeve): Here it is.

Class: (laughter/confusion as students weren’t sure if it was real, turning to all laughter when I told them is was temporary)

It was fun, but the tattoo ended up lasting way longer than I expected – three weeks or so. And it’s been a warm fall here in Michigan, so I’ve been wearing short-sleeved shirts. The tattoo has been kinda hard to miss.

So here’s the problem/great thing about it – most people thought it was real.

“Did you get a Hungry Caterpillar tat?”

“Wow. You got a tattoo” (This person was not a fan)

“Is that a Very Hungry Caterpillar tattoo on your arm?”

(After explaining it was temporary) “If that was real, we were about to have a moment.” I felt kinda bad robbing this person of that moment.

The longer it stayed on, the more I liked it. So, I’ve decided something. If I ever do get a tattoo, it’s going to be The Very Hungry Caterpillar on my forearm. Maybe I could convince Eric Carle to do the ink himself.