Do you remember going through adolescence? You might recall it being a pretty big deal.

Hormonal changes, relationship shifts and learning how to adjust to a changing body. Sound familiar?

“Matrescence”, a term coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael, is the maiden-to-mother equivalent. It’s an important rite of passage that is often forgotten in our baby-centric society. You birth a baby, but you also birth a brand new version of yourself - a mother.

Each time, it’s different, as any mother of multiple children will tell you. Pregnancies, births, personality traits - each aspect of our mothering journeys can have profound effects in all areas of our lives.

Matrescence is a developmental process. It changes the physical structure of our brains, just as adolescence does. In recent years, more research is focusing on the experiences of women, and importantly, how motherhood transforms us.

If you feel like motherhood has changed you so much, that’s because it’s supposed to. We’ve just forgotten how to provide the structure and support mothers need to transition smoothly through these changes.

Nikki McCahon’s Seasons of Matrescence® is a mother-centric framework, providing a holistic and strengths-based approach to the stages of Motherhood. Just as the Earth goes through seasons, motherhood also has seasons. Some seasons are warm and social, and others precipitate more reflection and deep nourishment.