If You Have Something Negative To Say About Dwyane Wade's Daughter Zaya, Guess What? He Thanks You
Dwyane Wade and his wife, Gabrielle Union, are under a lot of pressure to raise their family "right"--whatever that means. They've become the face of unfamiliar territory and have mastered the countless hours of therapy to balance not completely understanding their family's journey, but still fully supporting it at the same damn time.
And in Dwyane Wade's latest interview, he is addressing the critics head on with the "hi hater" flex of the year: by saying, "thank you."
He sat down with the I Am Athlete podcast, featuring Brandon Marshall, Fred Taylor, Channing Crowder, and Ryan Clark, where gems were droppeth. They started with some good ole basketball conversations at first, and inevitably touched on the subject of Wade's family. And the episode, titled "Dwyane Wade: G.O.A.T. of Parenting", was everything we all needed.
"People don't want to hear this shit and don't believe this shit: at three years old, me and my wife looked at each other and said, 'What if?' What if, at the time, the name was Zion, comes home one day and says, 'Dad I'm gay,' or 'Dad, I'm this, I'm that.' What are you going to do, sir?
He admitted, from there, that through watching his son age, he mentally prepared himself to have the conversation fairly early on.
He then revealed Zion opened up to their family about being gay at eight. And by 12, he came out as transgender, ultimately adopting the name Zaya. Since, Zaya has gone on to live out loud, unapologetically, with her family's equally loud support and they genuinely have arrived to a place where they don't give AF what you, or anybody else thinks.
"All the people who got something to say about my kids, I thank you, because you allowing the conversation to keep going forward. Because you know what? We might not have all the answers, but we're growing from each conversation."
What's crazy to me about this, is I just had this conversation with friends this weekend over drinks. The subject of the Wades and Zaya came up because, per usual, the men were more intolerable to understanding, as the women are more nurturing to the fact. Ultimately, we agreed to disagree on the matter, mostly because that's usually how this conversation goes. But it's almost maddening to condemn this, but openly accept what is normalized in the black community.
As a community, we condone people like Boosie—who is one of the Wades most vocal critics—as a dad that raises his children to have sex, smoke, and yell expletives at a very young age. All of which are from a variety of women that he never married, btw (for the religious folks).
Yet, we draw the line at supporting a child—your child—who may step outside the bounds of society's "comfortablility realm."
Like, I don’t understaaaand.
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People fear what they don't understand (or hey, some understand it but still refuse to live in their truth), and it's annoying. Extremely.
How about this: let's allow people raise their families how they want. If you don't understand it, fine. If you don't agree with it, that's fine too, it is a lot to unpack. But through the hate, whether you realize it or not, Zaya is still a child. And she's good. She has what we're all out here looking for. Wealth, being who she is, and parents who will swallow their pride and thank you for being hateful towards her...all because they know that the best way to normalize her truth, is to continue to have the conversation.
And that's what being the G.O.A.T of parenting is all about.
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Featured image by Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
- Gabrielle Union's Evening Routine Includes A Guided Meditation ... ›
- Jodie Patterson On Embracing & Parenting Her Trans Child ... ›
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I Tried The Signature Facial, And It Wasn’t Your Average Facial
My skin has been on the struggle bus lately. Between intense dryness and occasional hormonal breakouts, I don’t know what my skin needs some days. It had been about two months since my last facial when Isabelle McLeod, a licensed esthetician, recommended that I try a signature facial. I have tried several facials that all claimed to be “life-changing.” However, the itinerary for this treatment was more than I ever expected. The facial includes microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, enzyme treatment, extractions, red light therapy, cryotherapy, and a mask. Its mission is to cater to your skin’s needs for the best results moving forward.
I had never seen a facial packed with so many steps and was skeptical about it providing “instant results.” Still, I had booked the appointment in hopes that I would somehow be proven wrong. The beauty world can be full of promises; sometimes, it’s hard to see past glamorized marketing. McLeod welcomed me in her stunning office with open arms. Her energy was graceful and warm. I immediately felt comfortable opening up about my skin struggles as she listened openly. Here are a few of the questions I asked her.
How Often Should You Really Get a Facial?
Affording a facial regularly is a privilege most of us would kill for. I like to look at facials like doctor's or dentist's appointments. Yes, you don’t have to go as often, but you should at least try to shoot for a few times a year. McLeod advocates booking a facial every four to eight weeks, depending on your skin needs. Mcleod says, “If you’re someone who has acne or hyperpigmentation, I typically recommend coming in every four weeks until we can get the skin balanced.”
Regular Facials Don’t Mean Less Care for the Skin.
Even if you get a luxe treatment like the signature facial, we must care for our skin. Having dry skin during the winter months has caused me to be diligent about my skin needs. I expressed this to McLeod as she educated me on the importance of being selective about my skincare products each season. “I am big on using hyaluronic acid; it penetrates the skin well and allows you to achieve the moisture you’re looking for,” says McLeod. She also suggested using the popular skincare product twice a day for those with dryer skin textures. I appreciated this since my skin is mostly dry at night and when I wake up.
Signature Facials Are a Good First Step to Balancing Your Skin.
The signature facial intrigues me because it is dedicated to targeting your skin's needs. I hoped it would combat my dryness and put my hormonal pimple in place. As my consultation with McLeod went further, I wondered if I would need to get the 90-minute facial every time. McLeod's answer was the relief I needed. “We recommend people do the signature facial the first time they come in because it’s consultative, we build a routine for you, and it creates a foundation for healthy skin,” says McLeod. Before I knew it, it was time for me to get cozy and take my first step to having a better relationship with my skin.
CoffeeAndMilk/Getty Images
The Signature Facial Process.
McLeod tackled my skin needs with microdermabrasion first. I felt cozy under a heated blanket as she purged all the build-up in my pores. As the treatment continued, she provided dermaplaning and a cooling enzyme treatment. Both proceeders put me in a deep sense of relaxation. I was nearly about to fall asleep until McLeod informed me it was time for extractions. At the time, I only had one hormonal pimple that needed to be evicted. McLeod proceeded to tackle my breakout and smaller ones I had around my chin and forehead area. The extractions were painful, but knowing she cleared my pores was satisfying.
Once the extractions were finished, my face was on the sensitive side. McLeod soothed my sensitivity by providing a treatment mask and a hot towel now and then. Something about the hot towel put my skin at rest. I relaxed again as she offered a red light treatment to erase unwelcome bumps. At this moment, the battle of the extractions was worth it, and I was excited about the result.
The Results Are Better Than You Think.
I have had my fair share of facials, and not all have been worth the time or the money. The signature facial is worth every penny! When I got up for McLeod’s facial setup, my skin was glowing with intense moisturization. I had some redness from the extraction process. My hormonal pimple had subsided as a result, which was more than enough to satisfy me. As I continued my day, my skin radiated as if I were reborn again. Finally, I found a talented esthetician who could target my hormonal acne and dryness.
My skin did become sensitive, just like McLeod had warned me, as the day turned into night. But hey! What’s beauty without a bit of pain? I made sure to be gentle with my skin by washing it with a calming face cleanser. I also avoided putting any harsh serums (not that it needed any). Opting for a simple hydrating moisturizer was enough to hold my skin for the night. If you want to reboot your skin, I highly recommend the signature facial.
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Featured image by CoffeeAndMilk/Getty Images