I think it is so vital to read what Lucy explains about how the society we live in doesn’t support the mothers that it wants us to become and that we aren’t failing, we are being failed.
I have never before felt so validated by a book. 🙌🏻❤️
I so agree - you've put it so well Kylie - we aren't failing, we are being failed. And once we realise this, it completely shifts your mindset doesn't it. Same, I honestly think that reading this book helped heal parts of me that were still stuck in self-blame of why I found motherhood so hard (and continue to!). We find it hard because it is hard.
I agree! This book is wonderful and so needed in the world. I’m grateful I learned and studied Matrescence alongside my first baby and was very aware of it for my second, and I think it drastically supported my journey just understanding so many of the ways that we are not supported in early motherhood and the vast rite of passage that each baby takes us through. I hope more and more people get to receive this knowledge to perhaps soften the expectations and journey of birthing yourself as a mother as well as our little ones. Xxx
It's so good isn't it, so needed for mums. That's so interesting to hear how knowing about matrescence has helped you as a mum - yes knowing how we aren't supported makes us realise that, OK this is why I'm finding it hard, because I'm basically mothering alone most of the time. That's such a good way to describe it too, a vast rite of passage that each baby takes us through, because it's different with every child isn't it. Me too, I hope that more and more mums read this book and it brings them peace and compassion. xxx
Great post, Jenna! Discovering there was an actual word for the profound and very real changes we go through in pregnancy and early motherhood - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, existential - was a lightbulb moment. I've never felt so seen! Matrescence isn't talked about nearly enough. Even as a doctor, I can tell you this isn't something we are taught in medical school or training. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible resource and for helping to empower more women through knowledge and validation 💛
Thank you Ruhie - absolutely, I'm so glad the term matrescence now exists, so we can understand ourselves better, and that those around us (and maybe one day society too) can support us better. I agree that it isn't talked about enough, and that is so interesting that it's not part of your training as a doctor too. Yes that's it, it's about having that knowledge and validation and then the impact of that on our day to day and individual experiences. I hope that in time, the term matrescence becomes more mainstream.
I haven’t read this, but I have only heard good things. I am adding it to my reading list. Wow, our brains change as much in matresence as in adolescence...that makes so much sense.
Hope you enjoy it Emma, let me know what you think if you do read it. Yes, it's crazy to read that isn't it and it explains why we feel so different too.
Ah wonderful Jenna, it’s great to hear your insights. I have the book next to me on my desk but have been a little intimidated by its size…! Thank you for reminding me to make it a priority. I feel grateful to have heard the term ‘matrescence’ early on in my mothering journey via the Motherkind podcast and further research I did. I have loved hearing Lucy talk and write about the book —she did a great podcast episode with Emma Gannon which is worth listening to if you havent heard it yet. I will get to the book itself asap, it feels so important and validating as I still often think to myself “why is this so hard/life-altering/wild?!” xx
It's chunky isn't it! Let me know what you think if you read it. Oh I love the Motherkind podcast too, and so glad that you knew about matrescence early on in your mothering journey too. I'll have to listen to that episode, thanks for the recommendation. It's so easy to doubt ourselves and feel like we are doing motherhood all wrong isn't it. And sitting with that feeling grinds you down and you start to believe it's true. When in reality, we are doing an incredible job as mums, despite the lack of support we have from society. xx
Yes Jenna! This book - and the entire matrescence movement - gave me the lightbulb (validating) moment I craved as a mother. I only wish I’d found it earlier on in my journey too!! I was so wrapped up in the fantasised portrayal of birth and motherhood that I often questioned why I’d failed so badly and didn’t feel like I was a “natural”.
I love this Ashleigh and I'm so glad that you got that validation too from matrescence and the book. Yes, it's so liberating once we can step away from that perfect mother myth and just mother our own way, it releases us from trying to meet those impossible expectations.
I was thinking that you'd really like it Zoe, let me know what you think of it if you read it. You are welcome, what you do for mums in your community is incredible, a blueprint for how mums can be supported, wish we had a Women's Health Hub near me xx
Adding to my TBR pile immediately! ✔️ After intense PPD with my second child, when I least expected it, I would love to dive into this more. I had a PPD book my grandma-in-law gave me that right away gave me an answer to why this might be happening (issues with my father) and immediately triggered me, so I closed it in 2022 and haven't looked back. This book seems better already to dissect the changes of motherhood as opposed to my book which zeroed in on PPD and how to heal.
Hope you enjoy it Heather! I get that about a book being triggering, no wonder you didn't want to read it anymore. Yes, the author is brutally honest which is so needed I think. Just finding out more about matrescence and how much our brains change was fascinating to read. And then you realise that, ah OK, that's why I'm finding motherhood hard. I'm sorry you had such a rough time with PPD too.
Yes Jenna I LOVED this book too! I just think it is utterly vital and agree that all mums should read it. I related to pretty much everything Lucy Jones' shared and it helped challenge that belief that there is something wrong with me for not finding motherhood easier.
It's such a helpful book for all mums no matter what stage they are at. Yes, I felt myself nodding along to so much of the book. I'm so glad that the book helped you challenge that belief too, isn't it incredible what an impact a book can have on you.
Such an important book.
I think it is so vital to read what Lucy explains about how the society we live in doesn’t support the mothers that it wants us to become and that we aren’t failing, we are being failed.
I have never before felt so validated by a book. 🙌🏻❤️
I so agree - you've put it so well Kylie - we aren't failing, we are being failed. And once we realise this, it completely shifts your mindset doesn't it. Same, I honestly think that reading this book helped heal parts of me that were still stuck in self-blame of why I found motherhood so hard (and continue to!). We find it hard because it is hard.
I agree! This book is wonderful and so needed in the world. I’m grateful I learned and studied Matrescence alongside my first baby and was very aware of it for my second, and I think it drastically supported my journey just understanding so many of the ways that we are not supported in early motherhood and the vast rite of passage that each baby takes us through. I hope more and more people get to receive this knowledge to perhaps soften the expectations and journey of birthing yourself as a mother as well as our little ones. Xxx
It's so good isn't it, so needed for mums. That's so interesting to hear how knowing about matrescence has helped you as a mum - yes knowing how we aren't supported makes us realise that, OK this is why I'm finding it hard, because I'm basically mothering alone most of the time. That's such a good way to describe it too, a vast rite of passage that each baby takes us through, because it's different with every child isn't it. Me too, I hope that more and more mums read this book and it brings them peace and compassion. xxx
Another one to add to my stack, this sounds amazing!
Hope you enjoy reading it Fi, let me know what you think ❤️
Great post, Jenna! Discovering there was an actual word for the profound and very real changes we go through in pregnancy and early motherhood - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, existential - was a lightbulb moment. I've never felt so seen! Matrescence isn't talked about nearly enough. Even as a doctor, I can tell you this isn't something we are taught in medical school or training. Thank you so much for sharing this incredible resource and for helping to empower more women through knowledge and validation 💛
Thank you Ruhie - absolutely, I'm so glad the term matrescence now exists, so we can understand ourselves better, and that those around us (and maybe one day society too) can support us better. I agree that it isn't talked about enough, and that is so interesting that it's not part of your training as a doctor too. Yes that's it, it's about having that knowledge and validation and then the impact of that on our day to day and individual experiences. I hope that in time, the term matrescence becomes more mainstream.
I haven’t read this, but I have only heard good things. I am adding it to my reading list. Wow, our brains change as much in matresence as in adolescence...that makes so much sense.
Hope you enjoy it Emma, let me know what you think if you do read it. Yes, it's crazy to read that isn't it and it explains why we feel so different too.
I will! It makes so much sense!
Ah wonderful Jenna, it’s great to hear your insights. I have the book next to me on my desk but have been a little intimidated by its size…! Thank you for reminding me to make it a priority. I feel grateful to have heard the term ‘matrescence’ early on in my mothering journey via the Motherkind podcast and further research I did. I have loved hearing Lucy talk and write about the book —she did a great podcast episode with Emma Gannon which is worth listening to if you havent heard it yet. I will get to the book itself asap, it feels so important and validating as I still often think to myself “why is this so hard/life-altering/wild?!” xx
It's chunky isn't it! Let me know what you think if you read it. Oh I love the Motherkind podcast too, and so glad that you knew about matrescence early on in your mothering journey too. I'll have to listen to that episode, thanks for the recommendation. It's so easy to doubt ourselves and feel like we are doing motherhood all wrong isn't it. And sitting with that feeling grinds you down and you start to believe it's true. When in reality, we are doing an incredible job as mums, despite the lack of support we have from society. xx
Yes Jenna! This book - and the entire matrescence movement - gave me the lightbulb (validating) moment I craved as a mother. I only wish I’d found it earlier on in my journey too!! I was so wrapped up in the fantasised portrayal of birth and motherhood that I often questioned why I’d failed so badly and didn’t feel like I was a “natural”.
I love this Ashleigh and I'm so glad that you got that validation too from matrescence and the book. Yes, it's so liberating once we can step away from that perfect mother myth and just mother our own way, it releases us from trying to meet those impossible expectations.
Oh I still haven’t read it yet! I’m going to have to make it next in line 😍
Thank you for such a lovely mention too ❤️
I was thinking that you'd really like it Zoe, let me know what you think of it if you read it. You are welcome, what you do for mums in your community is incredible, a blueprint for how mums can be supported, wish we had a Women's Health Hub near me xx
I’ll definitely let you know! It’s next to my bed now 😆 so definitely next in line
And maybe one day there will be one? 🤞🏻❤️
Adding to my TBR pile immediately! ✔️ After intense PPD with my second child, when I least expected it, I would love to dive into this more. I had a PPD book my grandma-in-law gave me that right away gave me an answer to why this might be happening (issues with my father) and immediately triggered me, so I closed it in 2022 and haven't looked back. This book seems better already to dissect the changes of motherhood as opposed to my book which zeroed in on PPD and how to heal.
Hope you enjoy it Heather! I get that about a book being triggering, no wonder you didn't want to read it anymore. Yes, the author is brutally honest which is so needed I think. Just finding out more about matrescence and how much our brains change was fascinating to read. And then you realise that, ah OK, that's why I'm finding motherhood hard. I'm sorry you had such a rough time with PPD too.
Yes Jenna I LOVED this book too! I just think it is utterly vital and agree that all mums should read it. I related to pretty much everything Lucy Jones' shared and it helped challenge that belief that there is something wrong with me for not finding motherhood easier.
It's such a helpful book for all mums no matter what stage they are at. Yes, I felt myself nodding along to so much of the book. I'm so glad that the book helped you challenge that belief too, isn't it incredible what an impact a book can have on you.