Mid Life Melanin MaMa

What a Year it has been.

The old song playing on repeat in my head is WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES...

10 days into 2020 Zi’Joy was paralyzed with a little know virus that affects the Spinal Column called AFM Acute Flaccid Myelitis only affecting new born babies to teens worldwide. She is 1 in 1,000,000 that is still shaping her journey.

Then Covid hit Then Work from home restrictions. The civil unrest the hospital visits and OT & PT therapy sessions. The Shutting down of my beloved city Chicago then the world. The fight for equality and Black Lives matter the protest. The closing of Theaters.

It was all so heavy.

Then the personal victories

Being able to move her legs then lift them then stand then walk then run. The birthdays that are just a few weeks apart 3 & 46 . The celebrations of milestones Drs never thought possible. Appearing on the Dr. Oz show to Advocate for Children of AFM. The smiling the unity the faith hope and love that is inherent in all 3 year olds. Teaching her mama to see miracles daily and to fight and find courage in the daily journey. Finding my style and becoming a minimalist.

What a YEAR THIS HAS BEEN.

For we need a little Christmas right this very minute...

I wanted these perfect photos for Christmas 2020.

We decorated our tree and filled our stockings.

Every year we take photos in a beautiful location.

2020 as we all know has been very different

Then I thought I want our photos to reflect our real life. The real life of being a Pre Schooler who’s greatest joy is jumping and running ‍♀️. A Midlife Mama who is sometimes at her wits end. In our king size Co-sleeper so this mama can get a few extra . Most of all at the center of it all is Love ❤️ & Laughter

So here we are with our 2020 Christmas Photos . Imperfect but,
Full of Chaos, Love, Laughter, Family & Faith. Thank you for being part of our Family and part of our village.

I kept it simple for the both of us at the top. Maroon top for me and gingerbread Christmas leggings and for Zi’Joy a pink top and Unicorn Christmas Leggings and Christmas socks.

Have a win Christmas Family.

Have you put up your Christmas decorations yet?

Forgot to include our table top tree

Have you ever needed to give a motivational speech?

Not to a large group or even a small group. I’m talking about to someone who depends on you for everything. The one who looks at you to make it right. The one you have to be better for because failure and giving up is not an option.

Zi’Joy has come through the fire she has been in her young life more than some will ever have to go through. I’ve met so many children and parents that have just been warriors this year.

I’ve given so much that my cup has been empty. My friend took these photos of Zi’Joy and I and she sent them to me. If a photo was worth a 1,000 words what would each one of these say?

Zi’Joy asked why her legs stop working.

I had run out of words and we had sat there for a long time alone just sitting quietly. The lesson I had to learn was that I cannot fix everything and that it is okay to let her just be sad.

After a bit she said Donna I’m okay. I’m not sad and I told her it was perfectly okay to feel that way and sadness is just how people feel sometimes even grownups. After that she crawled into my arms and I said her favorite word of the moment POOP AND SHE JUST GIGGLED.

These 2 photos described 2020 for me as it comes to a close.

As always thank you for following our journey and giving me room to share.