This is my sweet brown child. Well, this is one of them. I have two children but only one has Type 1 Diabetes. Anabel was diagnosed just a little over a year ago. Like all parents who walk this road with a child with T1D, my husband and I have been through the flurry of emotions that come along with initial diagnosis, to finding a new normal and working not to compare life pre-diabetes. One important disclaimer here, I am not an expert on this condition.
Anabel is 9 years old. You see the picture, she’s cute. No, she’s beautiful! She’s also seriously the sweetest child you would ever hope to meet. She navigates her life as someone who is insulin dependent better than most adults would. She’s responsible and thoughtful. Over the past few years we have all learned a lot about T1D. One unexpected experience though, has been what seems like a lack of representation of children of color in this community. Perhaps it’s our geographic location, but throughout the last year we have literally never met another child of color with the condition. (Okay, okay maybe 1). In her school, which is predominantly comprised of people of color she is the only one. In her support group, she’s the only one. Even when we went to family diabetes camp, we were the only ones!
So why start a blog? This experience and its apparent lack of diversity got me thinking about how one builds community within a community. Everyone inherently wants to feel included in something that matters in their lives. I want my daughter to be represented in the community of people managing this condition. I have been an educator for over 10 years and as an educator I am first a learner. In the last year I have learned a great deal (please note I still have so much more to learn) but I feel like there is value in sharing our experience as a family.
A note about inclusion… all are welcomed here! I’m a person of color although I am multi-racial I identify as a black woman. My husband is Dominican. I hope that this can be a place of support and learning for anyone interested. I do intend to share our experience with this disease from the lens of a family of color who deeply cares for a sweet brown child.
Thank you for taking this journey with us!
I had the distinct pleasure of writing a post for Bougiemama.com. This site is special. It’s a place that highlights women of color bloggers and focuses on five key areas: parenting, wellness, style and beauty, and prosperity. I’m all about all of these things! Enjoy…
Over time I’ve realized you’re either an egg person or not. You like these golden white wonders or you don’t. You can scramble, fry, and boil these beauties. Anabel is an egg person. Please note- I am not one of these egg people. I make them in baking, for my sweet one, and for nostalgia in my grandmother’s memory. She too, like Anabel (her namesake) was an egg person. She had an amazing deviled egg recipe that she made on holidays. 
