07/24/2025
Can we talk about something that nobody prepared me for? The way becoming a mother completely changes who you are.
Not just "oh I feel a little bit different" but like the "my brain is literally rewiring itself and I don't recognize the person in the mirror" feeling.
When my daughter was about 4 months old, I remember staring at myself and thinking "Who IS this person?" I loved being a mom, I was so grateful for my baby, but I was also grieving parts of my old life and feeling completely lost about how all these pieces fit together now.
Turns out, this experience is SO common and it has a name: matrescence (the developmental process of becoming a mother).
My friend Mandy of We Make Meaning (who's an expert on this stuff) explains it perfectly: you're not losing yourself, you're evolving. Just like adolescence, this is a major life transition that takes TIME. We're talking months or even years, not the 6 weeks everyone seems to expect.
Your brain is doing incredible things - growing areas for empathy, shifting priorities, learning to make decisions with this new little person in mind. No wonder it feels overwhelming!
If you're in this space right now - feeling scattered, forgetful, or like you don't know who you are anymore - please know you're not broken. You're becoming a mother, and that's one of the most profound transformations a human can go through.
Read the full blog here: emily-tavag.themamacoach.com/becoming-a-mother
I want to hear from you:
💕 What part of your "old self" do you sometimes miss?
💕 Did anyone prepare you for how much motherhood would change YOU (not just your schedule)?