Menopause Uniforms

By Kate Poux

Driving with my daughter the other day, she noticed a typo on the flyer we created for Put Some Claws in Your Pause. In the sentence that says, “We enter (this time of life) uninformed, uninspired and unsupported,” it ACTUALLY says we enter this time of life uniformed. After the initial shock and embarrassment, I kind of love the idea that we might all get uniforms when we enter menopause. I mean, imagine how boss we could make them, especially if a certain Claws alumni’s daughter designed them for us (Zivia??)? I’m thinking something along the lines of Ghostbusters, but I think we should be able to tailor them to whatever works best for our lifestyles. I’m reading Handmaid’s Tale right now, so it’s important to clarify that  the uniforms would be optional and powerful, and very breathable. And they would have NAME TAGS, which would make every single social situation more relaxing and enjoyable for me. Hell maybe we could make up new names for ourselves in menopause. Maybe if you come to a  Claws in Your Pause retreat, we birth new names for ourselves, have a naming ritual, chant the new names together in the sweat lodge! 

And imagine the support and companionship we might encounter walking around life if we could spot each other in a crowd. It reminds me of when my daughters were in preschool and we participated in the amazing Talking about Touching personal safety lessons for children. We taught our kids safety steps to follow if they ever got separated from their grown-ups in a store or a crowd. Step 2 was find an adult wearing a uniform and tell them you need help finding your grown-up. What if  we could find a Menopauser wearing a uniform to help us relate or calm down or comfort us through whatever crisis might be unfolding around us or share in the hilarious moment we appreciate so much more because of our life experience? What if the uniform represented a promise to look out for each other, a visual reminder that we are not alone? Of course, it would also mean that everyone else would be calling on us for help all the time, even more than they already do, so that might be a drag. Maybe you just wear it a few days a week. But still. 

So, we probably won’t have the uniforms designed by this May in time for Put Some Claws in Your Pause, Version 3, but that means you can get in on the prototype designs! And we have learned a bunch from our first 2 retreats that we can’t wait to share with you. Highlights will include: sharing our strategies and mid-life expertise with each other, powerful writing and yoga meditations, making art, eating lots of chocolate and delicious meals, burning stuff, and beautiful natural surroundings that will inspire and take care of you. The idea is that we take a few days off to take good care of ourselves and each other at this transformational moment in our lives. We would love to celebrate with you, we hope you can join us this May….. and  just kidding about the uniform prototype thing. Sort of.