My Mom: Warming Heads for Nearly a Decade

Hannah Rae
Dec 9, 2025
2 min read

Many, many years ago, my mother gave me a bag of hats that she had knitted. “Take these to school and distribute them to children who look cold,” she told me. So I did.

I took the bag of hats to school, anyway. It resides in one of my classroom’s cupboards.

The hats have come in handy over the years. Back in 2016 or so, my favorite twins looked cold and so I gave them each a hat. I took a picture of them and I texted it to my mom and I know she was very happy to learn that her hats were finding homes.

*Eli and Josh. Josh and Eli. Can you tell which is which?*

Earlier this year, my coworker Summer was off to do some coaching and the temperature plummeted rather unexpectedly and because I knew Summer was on the brink of looking cold, I gave her a hat. I forgot to take a picture that afternoon, but I did recount the story to my mom and she was, once again, happy to learn that her hats were still finding homes.

This afternoon, I had the unfortunate job of bus duty and I actually wore one of the hats my mother knitted. I wear this hat a lot—it is, in fact, my favorite hat—and I was especially thankful to have it atop my head today because the current temperature is positively frigid!

*This is my favorite hat. I wear it every night when I walk the dogs in very cold weather. (Augusta refuses to eat if she doesn't get a walk.)*

Anyway… on my way back into the building, I passed my student Emily who was hatless, without a proper coat, and preparing to WALK home. “Emily!” I exclaimed. “Where is your winter coat?!”

“I didn’t bring one,” Emily informed me. “I have this though.” She motioned to her lightweight jacket, pointing out that it was equipped with a lightweight hood.

“You need a real hat,” I told her. “I have hats in my room. Come with me.”

We trekked down the hall together, entered my classroom, and I unearthed the bag of homemade hats knitted by my mom. “Choose one,” I said. “You’ll be thankful to have it the moment you step outside—especially if you’re walking the whole way home!”