There are a million ways to be a mother, and every week it seems that there’s a new word to define different types of moms. There are of course, the old-school monikers like helicopter parent and tiger moms. But there are also a crop of new ones, including crunchy, silky, and a combination of the two: scrunchy mom.
Today, we’ve got a term you might not have heard yet. Cheugy. Pronounced chew-gee, it refers to the type of mother who’s just a bit out of touch, but think she's totally modern. Think, Regina George's mom in Mean Girls.
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A cheugy mom is a little off-trend.
A cheugy mom holds on to old trends. She might use tried and tired phrases like “girl boss” and “lean in.” She could be the type of woman who settled down and had children early so she might have been out of the loop on things for a while. But the word doesn’t just apply to moms. Cheugy can be used to describe outdated words or fashion choices, like low-shaft booties or duster sweaters and jackets. Basically, cheugy, means something that is just a bit past trendy.
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A 24-year-old brought the phrase to the mainstream.
Copywriter Hallie Cain, 24, brought the word to the mainstream in a TikTok where she explained that things like graphic tees, Herbal Essence shampoo, inspirational or loving phrases as home decor, and even corny Instagram captions are cheugy.
You may have already seen yourself in the description above. But in case you’re still on the fence about whether you’re cheugy or not. Here are a couple of additional signs you're a cheugy mom.
You’re having trouble giving up your ballet flats.
When my favorite leather ballet flats finally succumbed to these treacherous New York streets, I spent months searching for a replacement. All to no avail. I couldn’t find a suitable pair because they’re no longer in fashion. If you still have yours and wear them regularly or you're looking for a new pair, you might be a little cheugy.
You’re still trying to pull off a peplum top.
The peplum top had a great run. But sadly, that time has passed. There are other ways to camouflage problem areas that don’t call for flapping fabric around your midsection. If you still have some of those tops in your closet and still love them, feel free to wear them. But know it’s cheugy.
You still wear your Vera Bradley bags.
We know. We know … they're practical. The Vera Bradley bags had all of us millennial ladies in a chokehold. They were a hot ticket item for the better part of a decade, but that decade is long gone. These days, the bright overly floral patterns reflect days gone by and totally date you.
You might want to hold on to them in the event that they come back in to style. After all, 00s trends are making a major comeback this year. Or, if you still love them, we suggest you wear them proudly anyway. Not everybody has to care about being on trend in this way.
It's important to remember to be you, even if that makes you a cheugy mom.
While cheugy might not represent the hippest and latest trends, part of being a unique individual is doing what you enjoy no matter what anyone else has to say about it. And sometimes that individuality will mean being off-trend.
Remember, with age comes confidence, and as long as you’re confident in your choices, you’re just fine.
