Last week, Shaylee decided to share a vulnerable snapshot of what her last 12 months have looked like as she approached her son’s first birthday. She described the first six months as a “complete fever dream”—a time of crying in the shower, hearing phantom screams, and trying to navigate the overwhelming shift of identity.
As it turns out, there is a name for this disorientation: matrescence.
This week, Shaylee and Rob sat down with motherhood life and leadership coach Louise East to understand why this word—though decades old—is only just starting to reach the mainstream.
Louise explains that matrescence is the physical, psychological, and emotional identity shift women undergo when they become a mother. Much like adolescence, it is messy, hormonal, and at times, feels out of control.
“Feeling lost is part of the experience,” Louise shared. “It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. You are stepping away from the person you were and moving into a new version of you.”
In this heart-to-heart, they dive into:
- Why it’s so much more than “just a mood”: The neurological changes in the brain and the social, economic, and physical shifts that leave no part of a woman’s life unturned.
- The “Perfect Mother” myth: Why social conditioning and unrealistic expectations keep women silent and struggling with guilt.
- Asking for help early: Why we shouldn’t wait until we hit a “tipping point” or burnout before reaching out.
Whether you are feeling the economic shift of leaving a career or the humbling realisation that you need more support than you thought, this conversation is a reminder that what you are feeling is normal. It’s time to talk about it more, without the judgment and without the guilt.
Watch the conversation with Louise East below:
Catch Shaylee & Rob weekdays 3–6pm on 89.9 The Light.
