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Photographer 📸: Donna Permell

Hey family, I am on the aircraft jet bridge boarding my flight back to California. I would like to speak on the bond between mothers and daughters. This bond can be indescribable. I spent some valuable time with my mother this past week. As a writer, I have to get these words on paper, before my thoughts flee like a flowing river. Let's get into the blog!

Now, I am able to see through my mother’s eyes. I do believe my mother when she says "I did the best I could with raising my children”. How I found this to be true, is traveling a road no one else could travel but me. To get to where I could see my mother's point of view, I had to live and experience life a bit. Being able to understand why my mother made some of the decisions she made was very difficult in my 20's. Were her actions right? No, but life can have such a tight grip on your neck and the next thing you know you are making decisions that's not the best for yourself, let alone a family.

The tears I have for my mother. The gratitude I have for my mother. The love I have for my mother. If you knew this mother and daughter story, some would say I couldn’t forgive my mother for the pain she inflicted. But, I had to forgive for myself and it allowed me to travel the path of healing within, and that allows you to break the cycle of generational dysfunction.

I have seen both sides: the daughter that has forgiven her mother and the daughter that cannot find the path to forgiveness. The daughter who has not forgiven the mother is painful to watch. Remember forgiveness is for you, not the person who inflicted the pain. I am grateful I was able to forgive my mother for her past mistakes. All daughters will not be able to get to the moment of forgiveness of the mother's mistakes. Why? Because, she cannot get past the pain that was inflicted by the mother. The pain runs deep and she can’t see her way through the other side of what joy could look like for the mother and daughter. There is beauty in the discovery of forgiveness.

Everyone's journey will not be the same, but I encourage you to choose the path of forgiving the mother. This will allow you to heal the scars inflicted by the mother and allow you to see all sides of the relationship. Try to put yourself in your mother's shoes, sit in her generation as a black woman; can you feel your mother past traumas? So much emotion, right? Now, are you able to allow grace for the mother? Do you have to put yourself in your mother's shoes? No, but it does allow you to start your healing journey, which will allow you to do things better for the next generation.

Soon, I will be writing the mother and daughter episode for my tv drama series "Hidden In The Shadows". I am choosing to write this episode with grace. I would like to mention, just because pain was inflicted upon me by my mother does not mean I will not go hard in the paint for my mother. Forgiveness is a powerful tool to have in your life's tool bag. There is a big possibility that I have gotten scratches and bruises on my body from my mother; but I was able to travel through the trauma woods to heal those wounds. Also, I have a prayer to prevent me from traveling the road my mother traveled. Maybe, I will share this prayer with y'all in a later blog. If you are able, try not to dwell on the past, because that prevents you from forgiving the mother and having an amazing future for yourself. Think of it in this way: My mother taught me how to do it better for the family I will create. Remember, some pain runs deep in our bloodline, but you be the one to write the new chapter that brings joy and peace to the family tree 🌳.

  - Filmmaker LaToya 🎞

If you feel the need to share this post with someone, please do! #filmmakerlatoyagang 

Side bar: I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A BOOK PASSAGE MY GODMOTHER SHARED WITH ME IN 2023. -MUCH LOVE FAMILY ❤️.

Next Blog: My tug of war with going through a new transition. The new energy and new layer of protection I felt once I landed in Atlanta, Georgia; which allowed me to let go of my biggest concerns about moving back to Atlanta. Also, the moment I throw up my hands and said "GOD You Got It". Baby 😫, GOD will find a way for you to get out of your own way. Let's talk about it in the next blog.

Thank you again for your support! Peace ✌🏾 #filmmakerlatoyagang  

Connect with me on social media @filmmakerlatoya (all platforms).