My 'efficient' schedule for balancing motherhood and career failed spectacularly. Research across 3 countries shows why: the expectation-reality gap harms most new mothers.

Sleep deprivation wasn't just hard. it was the catalyst that forced us through Martha Beck's "breaking point" to cut through the Noise and create authentic lives.

"Why sharing sleep struggles matters: it's not just about individual resilience, but fighting for systemic change so ALL families can thrive during hard times."

"Six years of sleep deprivation with three babies taught us that expert advice often doesn't work—and that's not your fault. Here's what we learned instead."

Motherhood often leads to a dip in self-esteem, especially in the first 18 months. It’s a normal part of matrescence—here’s what research says and how we can cope.

In this post, I reflect on how the invitation of motherhood being an opportunity to personal growth, shows up in my life. In this blog, I share how our value of wanting to built an authentic connection with our kids, required a lot of hard work and perspective shifts before this became a reality. I hope that our journey provides a bit more insight into my reality of mothering, and how my 'growth' in motherhood look likes on a day to day basis.

This blog aims to illuminate the potential that mothers can gain through the transformative journey of matrescence, highlighting how the shift from externally driven expectations (conditioned self) to self-guided self unlocks that potential. By drawing on adult development theory and insights from leadership development, we deepdive into WHAT gets unlocked when a woman is willing to go on that personal journey through her motherhood, so that we get a better perspective about what we can work towards, what the benefit is of engaging in this journey.

In this blog post the concept of "Parentship," is introduced by Babette, highlighting the evolution of their relationship with her partner from a traditional partnership to one focused on shared parenting responsibilities. Through their personal journey, she explores key elements of Parentship, including purpose, accountability, relatedness, excellence, negotiation, and trust, which serve as the foundation for a successful parenting partnership. She describes how understanding Matrescence has been crucial in building real Parentship between her and her partner.

Motherhood is a profound form of leadership. Through matrescence, mothers undergo a personal transformation, developing mindsets, beliefs, and skills essential for effective leadership, often faster and deeper than traditional pathways.

Matrescence, the transformative process of becoming a mother, unlocks unique potential for personal growth. This period, albeit intense and difficult, offers opportunities for flourishing, developing leadership skills, and embracing the complexities of motherhood, supported through enhanced neuroplasticity. The article underscores the need for greater societal recognition and support.