Matrescence, the Mental Load, and the Path to Identity Transformation
What if the overwhelm, the rage, and the exhaustion of motherhood weren’t signs of failure — but signals of transformation?
In this post, we explore matrescence: the developmental shift that occurs when a woman becomes a mother, reshaping her identity on every level — emotional, psychological, spiritual, and social. Much like adolescence, matrescence invites deep, sometimes disorienting questions: Who was I? Who am I now? Who do I want to be?
We’ll also examine how the mental load — the invisible weight of care — becomes a catalyst for awakening, often leading to what’s misunderstood as dysfunction but is, in fact, a call to liberation.
Grounded in feminist thought, identity theory, and therapeutic practice, this post introduces the CARE and HOLD Model, a framework that supports mothers through the unraveling and re-becoming of self — and offers insight for professionals who walk alongside them.
Why ‘If He Can Do It at Work, He Can Do It at Home’ Misses the Point About Caregiving and Gender Roles
This blog unpacks why “If he can do it at work, he can do it at home” oversimplifies caregiving. It’s not about skills—it’s about gender, identity, and value.
Introducing the CARE and HOLD Models: A New Framework for Transforming the Mental Load
Tired of surface-level solutions to the mental load? The CARE and HOLD Models offer a transformative, research-informed framework for redefining caregiving in modern relationships. Grounded in matrescence, gender socialization, and feminist theory, this model goes beyond task delegation — helping couples and professionals co-create a new, shared definition of care.
The "Good Father" Myth: How Socialized Roles Still Shape Modern Parenthood
This blog explores the evolving “Good Father” myth and its impact on modern parenting partnerships. It reframes the conversation beyond the mental load to focus on socialized roles, emotional labor, and systemic inequality—offering practical, blame-free language for couples and professionals ready to unlearn inherited scripts and build true co-leadership in family life.
Re-Villaging and Maternal Mental Health
Discover why maternal mental health must go beyond coping strategies. This blog introduces “re-villaging” as a relational, cultural, and therapeutic framework for professionals supporting mothers. Rooted in feminist theory and matrescence research, it explores how disconnection is not personal failure - but structural design - and why collective care is essential for lasting change.
Matrescence as an Awakening: The Call for Transformation
Becoming a mother is a profound transformation that challenges our beliefs, roles, and the systems we’re part of. This awakening forces us to question everything – from parenting choices to our privilege and the oppressive systems we contribute to.
Matrescence isn’t just about motherhood; it’s about unbecoming who society told us to be. The next step? Choosing a new, uncomfortable, yet empowering path. This is the Matricentric Way – a call for real change in how we mother, live, and engage with the world. It’s time to turn knowledge into action.
Maternal Activism: Balancing the Fight and the Flow in Supporting Mothers
Learn how professionals can balance activism and creativity in supporting mothers. This blog explores the importance of both fighting against oppressive systems and re-imagining a more supportive, empowering world for motherhood.
Supporting Mothers Through Matrescence and Patriarchal Motherhood: A Call to Action for Professionals
Supporting mothers goes beyond traditional models of care—it requires understanding matrescence and resisting patriarchal motherhood. This blog explores how professionals can empower mothers by acknowledging the systems that limit their potential, fostering personal and collective liberation in the process.
Loneliness in Motherhood
Loneliness is a growing public health concern and an epidemic affecting many mothers today. However, it’s not just mothers who are impacted—it’s also professionals who are brilliant entrepreneurs, in private practice, or working to support mothers in more countercultural ways. Here’s what you can start doing about it.
Is it Postpartum Depression or the Patriarchy?
What is postpartum depression and how does it differ from the impact of Mothering within a Patriarchal society? It’s essential to learn the nuanced differences and then work to facilitate healing both clinically and as a culture.