There Goes the Motherhood
by Elizabeth Sage, CG
I have a good head for hats. While for most people, that probably isn’t something to brag about, what I mean is that I can wear all sorts of different hats. From the obvious ones—wife, mother, daughter, sister—to those I’m honored to wear: friend, counselor, co-host, founder, and even student and beginner. I switch between them (sometimes stacking them) with ease. And while each hat lends a little something to my style, it’s the grace with which I wear them that makes it look effortless.
Never before has there been a time when so many hats can be worn! The limitless personal stylings available to this generation are inspiring—but they can also leave us overwhelmed with choices and hats that don’t quite fit.
As the world shifts rapidly, we’re all being pushed into new styles (and reusing old ones). Raising the next generation of milliners and hatters can feel overwhelming—or empowering—depending on our perspective.
Many women I know navigate these transitions gracefully, showing up as leaders, learners, novices, and imperfect humans. In one space, they wear the hats of subject matter experts or award winners; in another, they wear the hats of vulnerable, mistake-making humans. As women, we face many directions simultaneously, stacking hats in a delicate balance of futility and humility (depending on your hairstyle, it might require some ingenuity).
Sometimes, a hat is plopped onto our head without warning, and we don’t get to see if it stays on through snow and rain or matches the jacket we picked. What might change if we could choose only the hats that flatter us, letting more of our true, natural beauty shine through?
In a world that often demands we be everything to everyone—laying our closet bare and balancing every hat we own atop our head—I want to remind mothers, and all of us, that it’s okay (dare I say chic) to wear a single, stunning headpiece and let others be impressed by the woman beneath it.
The energy of this lifetime has long skewed masculine. For years, many of my hats leaned into that energy. But as I’ve entered my more mature years, embracing my divine feminine power has given me the strength to lead and counsel while letting the inherent flexibility and vulnerability of the feminine spirit guide the next generation.
While the right hat can hide a multitude of sins (see also: sunglasses, turtlenecks, and a bold lip), the most important thing to remember as we navigate this wild journey of parenthood—and life—is that your worth lies within. When you begin to see the value of who you are rather than the hats you wear, the view from under the brim starts to look different.
Wigs for the Cure
For women struggling to find the right hat to wear while undergoing chemotherapy, Wigs for the Cure provides free wigs and hair styling to those battling hair loss in East Central Minnesota.
For help and guidance or to donate a wig to support this group, please visit: wigsforthecure.com.
