How Long Does Matrescence Last?
A Lifespan, Developmental Perspective
Matrescence never ends.
First and foremost - this blog is NOT clinical advice nor is it intended to minimize PMADS or maternal mental health. In fact, it is to strengthen this conversation, expand it and bring more attention to it, from all disciplines and providers who work with Mothers.
Matrescence as a Lifelong Process
There’s a lot of conversation around this question: How long does matrescence last? While some esteemed colleagues, scholars, and activists may provide differing timelines, I argue (informed by my clinical practice, consultation and the work of Dr. Aurelie Athan and others) that matrescence is a continuous, lifelong process that begins with the entry into motherhood - I would argue, the moment she hears the call of “Mother”.
Some definitions often frame matrescence as lasting two to three years postpartum…a period characterized by significant emotional, cognitive, and relational upheaval. This early phase is indeed acute, intensely transformative, and highly visible. During this period, a mother grapples with fundamental questions of identity: Who was I? Who am I? Who am I becoming?
Matrescence and Adolescence: A Useful Comparison
Matrescence has frequently been likened to adolescence (Athan): both are periods of profound identity transformation, disorientation, and vulnerability. However, there is a critical distinction. Adolescence culminates in adulthood, producing a relatively stable identity. In contrast, matrescence does not culminate; a mother’s identity remains in flux across her lifespan, adapting in response to the developmental trajectories of her children and evolving sociocultural contexts.
Developmental Peaks and Valleys
Throughout her life, a mother encounters periodic phases of acute matrescence…developmental pushes that correspond with her child’s milestones. The start of school, adolescence, leaving home, or becoming a grandparent herself may all prompt intense reflection, reorientation, and identity renegotiation. These episodes often involve heightened emotional and cognitive demands but are bounded by periods of stability, integration, and clarity, reflecting adaptive growth rather than regression. Similarly to adult development, with an early, middle and late phase of adulthood, matrescence may evolve similarly (Athan).
Reframing these experiences through a lifespan, developmental lens (Athan) enables a broader understanding of normative maternal identity development and mitigates pathologizing behaviors or emotions that emerge during transitional phases.
Matrescence as a Spiraling Evolution
Rather than a linear trajectory, matrescence resembles a spiral: mothers revisit familiar questions in new contexts, integrating previous experiences with emerging challenges. Each iteration builds self-knowledge, resilience, and relational competence. This conceptualization aligns with Constructive Developmental Theory (Kegan, 1982) and Relational-Cultural Theory, which emphasize that identity is both evolving and relational, shaped by interpersonal, temporal, and sociocultural dynamics.
Conclusion: The Ongoing Process of Becoming
How long does matrescence last? The answer: as long as a mother continues to evolve. Matrescence is not a phase to complete but a lifelong developmental process in which mothers continually negotiate their sense of self, integrating personal growth with the relational and developmental demands of caregiving. Recognizing matrescence as a continuum honors the resilience, adaptation, and evolving competence that define maternal identity across the lifespan.
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Learn More and Get Involved
Professionally: The Matricentric Way is leading this paradigm shift - it truly is expanding the conversation on maternal mental health. If you are a professional that supports Mothers, I invite you to enroll in The Matricentric Way, either LIVE or self-paced. Join this movement today so that we can transform not only the lives of the individual Mothers we support, but the greater collective of Mothers.
Personally: The Becoming Mama course is available self-paced for any Mother within her first 7 or so years postpartum, interested in learning more about her matrescence AND the impact of Patriarchal Motherhood on her experience of being a Mother. (NOTE: this is NOT a substitute for clinical therapy NOR is it recommended to treat maternal mental health challenges. Consult your therapist for any mental health concerns.)
