Did you know that menopause is a single day? Menopause is marked on the 365th day after a woman’s last menstrual period. Leading up to that day is a phase called perimenopause, and the rest of life lived after that day is postmenopausal. Menopause is a natural transition in every woman’s journey. Sometimes it is induced medically because of surgery, cancer treatments or medicines used to treat health conditions. 

We are beginning to be more open as a society about sharing and seeking support in community. So when I learned, just last summer, that menopause was a birthday of sorts, the idea to throw a party when my time came got planted. In our culture we are open about celebrating birthdays, yet I’ve never heard of a menopause birthday party. This felt like a socially acceptable and playful way to bring recognition to a rite of passage. My spiritual self also wanted to weave in reverent ritual. 

A lesson I learned in seminary was to mark milestones and meaningful moments with intentional ritual, so they do not blend into the background of everyday life and get lost in mundane rhythms. Moments such as menopause feel like a life threshold, just like the time of getting a first menstrual period.

As a woman who is a mom of daughters coming of age in a culture where crossing these thresholds aren’t well recognized, I wanted to call out these passages as special. As someone who has come to realize how important ritual is and who feels empowered that it can be enacted beyond church walls, I wanted to create sacred space to gather with women in this way. 

I got to do just that earlier this month. July 3rd was my menopause birthday! Tracking menstrual cycles allowed me to know when my one-year-without-a-period arrived. I marked the occasion by sending up a sky lantern with prayer and then slept outside in a red tent. On July 4th, I woke up to new freedom and a delightful pond-side breakfast party with women I love.

It was a (wo)menopause party celebrated with many of my (wo)mennonite friends! I invited them to each bring a contribution for making fruit salad together: red fruit if they still were menstruating and for those who were not, they had freedom to bring any color fruit. There were so many fantastic red fruits! We had watermelon, cherries, red grapes, lychee, apples, plum, strawberries, raspberries, goji berry and rhubarb. I added kiwi. One postmenopausal friend brought blueberries in the form of a delicious blueberry chia pudding, which I’ve written up for you below. 

The recipe for my menopause birthday blended my love of food into creating a celebration unique for my threshold crossing. Doing this in community created a beautiful container for the diverse mix of different fruits we each brought to the table, and our mingling together provided nourishment to support our wellbeing. I think all in attendance would agree that it was sacred time spent together. This was the first menopause birthday party for everyone present. Based on the feedback of how meaningful it was, I’m confident it won’t be the last!

RECIPE

Blueberry Chia Pudding

This delicious, nutritious, easy-to-make-ahead, refrigerated refreshment appeared on the table at my menopause birthday party. As a dietitian, this treat delighted me because the ingredients are supportive to hormonal health: the protein and calcium from the dairy are good for bone health, omega-3-rich chia seeds provide essential omega-3 fats and good-for-the-gut fiber, and antioxidant-rich berries are a powerhouse to help reduce inflammation.

Makes 2 servings 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk (any type, dairy or nondairy)
  • Note: For a creamier consistency and probiotic boost, use ½ cup milk, plus ½ cup Greek yogurt.
• ½ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen, plus more for garnish
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup chia seeds
• Optional: pinch of lemon zest or cinnamon  
• Optional toppings: fresh blueberries, granola, sliced banana, chopped nuts, dollop of yogurt

Instructions:

1. Put milk/yogurt, blueberries, syrup and vanilla (and the optional zest or cinnamon if using) in a blender or food processor. Blend.
2. Add chia seeds to a container (I like to make individual servings using two jam jars, in which case I divide the chia seeds, putting 2 tablespoons into each jar).
3. Pour blueberry milk over the top of the seeds. Stir well to incorporate the seeds evenly.
4. Wait five minutes. Stir again (to break up any clumps once chia seeds begin to swell).
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least three hours. Making this recipe ahead works great since you can store in the fridge for up to five days.
6. Enjoy as is or top with other ingredients.