Photo Credit Alexander Grey
he first hat I wore was
that of the
stay-at-home mom.
This was a drastic change from being A Working Woman, and it was initially uncomfortable. That hat felt like a new baseball cap. It was stiff and awkward, but after some wear, I broke it in (or did it break me?). The Mommy hat requires patience and flexibility, and at first, I wasn’t sure if it fit or if I
liked it enough to wear it all the time. Soon enough, it seemed I’d never want to wear anything else, and each day I put it on, I felt grateful (tired, often, but always appreciative).
When my kids started elementary school, I tried on the Volunteer Hat. This big, floppy hat is covered in finger paint, glue, and glitter. It’s comfortable, fun, and up for anything. I remember this time as glorious and exhausting in equal parts. I grew confident in my role as a mom, and this felt like the next step in the evolution. I loved this time – and it led me to seek out leadership roles and organizational challenges. Of course, there were boo-boos to kiss and more than a few challenges to navigate with friends and school, but I kept reminding myself that the stakes were low in elementary school. As a bonus, I found a new network of friends, and we joyfully wore our Mommy hats together on playgrounds and field trips.
We were in the middle of all the school things, and life was busy but manageable when the tumultuous Pandemic hit. I’d just started trying on the Working Woman’s hat again, and it felt pretty good. I sadly replaced it with what felt like a construction helmet, as I was now in the role of Protector in Chief. Back when there was so much we didn’t know about COVID, I wiped down everyone and everything, relying on my diligence to keep us all safe. If there’s a hat for those of us who survived a year of remote learning, it’s undoubtedly a hard hat.
Since then, I’ve returned to life as a working mom, but it feels different this time. My role at the incredible company where I work is challenging and exciting. It allows me to wear the hat of a marketing strategist, creative director, designer, social media manager, writer, and even podcast producer. How lucky I am to have found a place where I can grow and learn and feel part of a team of multi-hat-wearing all-stars.
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