Why Matrescence?
I believe matrescence holds the key to preventing much of the heartache and isolation that mothers often face in silence. Time and time again, I’ve witnessed the power of compassionate and brave spaces—places where mothers can speak openly about the profound changes they’re going through. In these spaces, they are validated, freed from guilt, and empowered to step into their own power—embracing motherhood on their terms.
The societal narrative around motherhood has left us disconnected from our instincts and intuition. The medical system, sleep experts, and intergenerational wounds often overshadow what we know to be true. We are sold the lie that we must "have it all," which too often translates into "doing it all"—and then we blame ourselves when we fall short. These structural and systemic inequalities are not our fault.
I want to guide you back to yourself, helping you unlearn the stories you've been told about what it means to be a good mother. My goal is to help you reclaim your power, step into your role with confidence, and embrace the transformative power of matrescence, rather than fighting against the changes.
You are not alone. You are always enough.
So what exactly is Matrescence?
Matrescence is the profound yet unique transformation we undergo as women when we become mothers. The term was first coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s (who also popularized Doula), but the world was not quite ready. Thankfully it has been revived more recently by Dr Aurelie Athan and Dr Alexandra Sacks (if you haven’t seen this TED talk yet, watch it – now!).
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"The exact length of matrescence is individual, recurs with each child, and may arguably last a lifetime! The scope of the changes encompass multiple domains --bio-psycho-social-political-spiritual-- and can be likened to the developmental push of adolescence." Aurelie Athan, P.hD
Matrescence sounds like adolescence for good reason – the hormones, not recognizing your own body, ALL the feels, utter confusion about how to relate to the world, who you are, or even want to be. Oh and all whilst taking care of a new baby, your home, relationship, career, and being told to cherish every minute.
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We need to be thinking and talking about the developmental transition to motherhood with the same significance as adolescence. Imagine a world where we design services, build workplaces, write policy, and support one another, with the understanding and compassion that is given to teenagers navigating these kinds of changes.
My vision is that everyone comes to understand the changes that take place when our name also becomes mama (matrescence). I want women to know they are not alone in experiencing this wild, often uncomfortable, yet extraordinary transformation, and be better supported to thrive in their own unique experience.
Without the understanding and framework of matrescence, we are abandoning mothers
Amy Taylor-Kabbaz
Because this transformation doesn’t happen in our minds alone. It lives in our bodies.
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So much of what we’re taught about motherhood, especially within patriarchal structures, encourages us to bypass what we feel—to push through the discomfort, suppress the guilt, and ignore the signals our bodies are sending us. But true empowerment doesn’t come from thinking our way out of these experiences. It comes from embodiment—from learning to feel, process, and integrate every part of our journey.
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To support this deeper connection, I chose to get certified in Focalizing, a gentle yet powerful trauma informed somatic modality that helps guide you back to your body’s innate wisdom, learn more about it here. Through this approach, I help mothers move beyond the overwhelm and disconnection, fostering clarity, resilience, and a sense of wholeness.
Why Embodiment?
"For a culture that spends so much time in our brains, pregnancy, birth, and mothering are a time of awakening to the presence and potential of our physical selves."
Jessie E Harold