People often imagine that parenthood clicks into place the moment a baby arrives. For many, the emotional changes, the exhaustion and the adjustment to a new sense of self are far more complex than expected.
In this episode, I speak with Accredited Mental Health Social Worker Bronte Taylor about what it really feels like to lose and rebuild parts of yourself after becoming a parent.
We talk about how motherhood can bring joy and pride while also bringing grief, disorientation and a sense of invisibility. Bronte shares her own experience, the concept of matrescence, and why mums often feel guilty when they try to meet their own needs.
We explore:
- What matrescence is and why more people need to know about it
- Why motherhood can shake your sense of identity
- How childhood and family patterns show up in parenting
- Why mums struggle to put themselves first
- How to start setting boundaries without drowning in guilt
- The power of being seen, heard and validated instead of being fixed
Connect with Bronte
- Instagram: @bronte_heartfelttherapy
- Centre Self Collective
- Heartfelt Therapy
Resources mentioned
- If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie
- Dr Sophie Brock’s Motherhood Studies
- Motherkind Book by Zoe Blaskey
- https://www.heartfelttherapy.com.au/
- https://centreself.com.au/
- Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood Book by Lucy Jones
- https://self-compassion.org/
Connected Teens
https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/
Connect with Marie
https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/
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