There Goes the Motherhood
by Elizabeth Sage, CG
There are few things more unifying for mothers than the rallying cry of “being tired.” I’ve often thought of it as just part of the beautifully imperfect package that is motherhood. But there have been moments when I’ve heard my body whisper (which I ignored like every dating red flag and check engine light I’ve ever seen), only for it to finally scream: “WTF?! STOP!”
From our earliest ages, we’ve heard it’s important to “take care of ourselves,” but as I coast into middle age, beyond green juice, yoga, and expensive jowl creams, what does that mean? And how do we even do that consistently at this stage of life, when our nervous systems are fried, we haven’t eaten a balanced meal at a table in years, and the only time we break a sweat is during a perimenopausal night?
What I’ve learned as I’ve incorporated cannabis more holistically (less recreationally) and paid closer attention to how both food and cannabis are grown is this: the medium and method of cultivation matter. There’s a dynamic dance—sometimes a ’90s mosh pit—of dysbiosis and symbiosis between the gut, brain, and immune system. When one’s out of whack, the other two usually chime in—like a teen, a tween, and a toddler all fighting over the last Tobies donut on a trip Up North.
Unbeknownst to most people, your body has an in-house therapist (hooray, no co-pays!). It’s called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), and it’s designed to regulate everything. But that’s a big job. Enter cannabis—like the unpaid laborer she is. She interacts with our ECS and helps soothe it, the way a mother soothes her newborn. That’s a connection many moms feel once the stigma starts to lift. What begins as stress relief expands into better digestion, deeper sleep, and reduced inflammation.
This is the Gut-Brain-Immune Axis in action—and when it’s off, we feel it everywhere—brain fog, mood swings, bloating, and burnout. And we brush it off, blaming lack of sleep (because, of course, we stayed up late to watch the Minnesota Wild game), without asking what’s causing that restlessness in the first place. Is it the symptom—or the problem?
Another thing cannabis has taught me? Regulation isn’t only found in a tincture or a joint. It’s all around us. It’s in the dirt under our feet—literally. Touching grass isn’t just TikTok slang—it’s science. Walking barefoot outside allows for the natural exposure to bacteria that support gut health. Movement helps too. That runner’s high? That’s your ECS helping create internal cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) like anandamide and 2-AG that make you happy. Forest bathing? Those aren’t just good smells; those are terpenes doing their thing—aromatherapy-style!
Society often expects mothers to be everything to everyone. We stock our pantries, portfolios, calendars, and carpool schedules. But what if we took stock of ourselves? Do we have the tools for regulation and resilience? I find mine in plants, nature, community, and sunshine—all working together to help my systems finally work in harmony. (Basically, it’s like giving all your inner-child body systems their iPads and noise-canceling headphones on a cross-country road trip.)
Many of us raised in the hustle-and-grind culture of late-stage capitalism are waking up to a big truth: real wealth isn’t a 401(k) or a designer bag—it’s knowing how your body works and giving it the regulation it’s been begging for. It’s learning to heal—not just for ourselves, but for the generations before us and the ones we’re raising. Without judgment. Without stigma.
Sometimes that shows up as plant medicine.
Sometimes, it’s sunshine and a walk.
Sometimes, it’s both.
