39: Matrescence, The Missing Word Every Mother Needs to Know
Rediscovering Ourselves Through Matrescence: A Conversation with Kate Seaton
In a powerful episode of the Wand(HER)wild Podcast, host Monica sits down with Kate Seaton, a Marescence guide, mother of two, and founder of The Motherlines. Through reflection and personal stories, the conversation explores matrescence—the profound identity shift women undergo through motherhood. The dialogue shines light on a transformative journey that, though universal, is often overlooked in modern culture. Kate brings wisdom, validation, and heart to a subject that many women feel but haven’t been given the language to articulate.
The Forgotten Word Every Mother Needs to Know
Kate begins by sharing how women often have an emotional reaction when they come across her website. Many find themselves unexpectedly crying, not from sadness, but from being deeply seen. This emotional release often stems from the validation women feel when they encounter the word "matrescence" for the first time.
Derived from the same root as adolescence, matrescence describes the transition into motherhood. Yet, unlike adolescence, this equally seismic shift receives little societal recognition. Kate emphasizes that giving mothers the language to describe their experience can be transformative. Just learning the word can offer validation, a sense of relief, and reduce feelings of isolation. Research even supports that naming matrescence can help prevent postpartum depression.
Kate's Journey to Becoming a Guide
Kate's path to this work was shaped by her own transformative experiences. A seasoned copywriter and brand strategist, she began to feel a disconnect between her career and her inner life after becoming a mother. Despite her professional success, something felt off.
That shift became impossible to ignore. When hired to create branding for a fertility and mindfulness app, Kate was introduced to the term "matrescence." It was a moment of deep personal resonance. She pushed to include the term in the branding, even as others dismissed it as too obscure. Though the term didn’t make the final cut, the concept took root in her heart.
Following the birth of her second daughter, Kate found herself increasingly called toward helping other women navigate the same transition. She now dedicates her work to supporting mothers through matrescence, honoring this evolution as the rite of passage it truly is.
Embracing the Unspoken Changes of Motherhood
Matrescence impacts every area of a woman's life—from career to spirituality, relationships to self-identity. Monica shares how her own values changed dramatically after becoming a mother, describing her early years of motherhood as a world turned upside down.
Kate echoes this, pointing out that many women experience inner tension when they don’t feel the way they were told they should. Some feel ashamed of enjoying motherhood too much, while others feel guilt for not enjoying it more. It’s a complicated experience filled with paradoxes: joy and grief, inspiration and fatigue, passion and confusion.
By naming these experiences, women are able to understand that their feelings are not just valid—they are a natural and expected part of becoming a mother.
Why Feminine Wisdom Matters More Than Ever
Modern motherhood often pushes women toward independence and perfectionism, discouraging them from showing vulnerability. But as Kate reminds us, our vulnerability is a source of intuition and wisdom.
Matrescence invites women back to their feminine roots. It challenges patriarchal norms and asks us to reimagine what it means to be strong. Strength, in this context, is not about doing it all alone. It's about allowing ourselves to be witnessed, supported, and honored. As Kate says, "We heal faster and deeper with each other."
This reclamation of feminine wisdom is one of the foundational elements of Kate's work, and it’s echoed throughout Monica’s approach with Wand(HER)wild as well.
Picture of mother and toddler embracing in mindful connection
The Power of Storytelling and Being Seen
Through The Motherlines, Kate offers something revolutionary in its simplicity: documenting mothers’ stories. With a background in journalism and writing, she brings professional skill and heartfelt reverence to the practice of listening to mothers, recording their voice memos, and weaving them into beautiful written narratives.
Monica, who recently experienced this service herself, shares how meaningful it was to have her story preserved—not just for her own reflection, but as a lasting gift for her children. In a culture where mothers are often behind the camera or behind the scenes, this act of being seen, heard, and celebrated is profoundly healing.
The beauty of this service lies in its accessibility. Kate has designed it to be realistic for busy mothers, allowing them to share their thoughts in bite-sized voice memos while navigating full lives. There’s no pressure to edit or perfect—just raw, honest storytelling.
Making Matrescence Mainstream
Kate and Monica agree: the time has come for matrescence to enter the mainstream conversation. And that shift can start with us.
Kate encourages listeners to be the first to say the word in a group of moms. Ask others if they’ve heard of it. Share resources. Spark conversations. The more we talk about it, the less alone mothers will feel.
And perhaps most importantly, we must continue building communities that uplift, witness, and support one another. Whether it's a mother circle, a digital community, or one-on-one mentorship, connection is key.
Healing Through Community and Reflection
One of the most poignant parts of the episode is when Kate shares that recording voice memos for herself doesn’t offer the same healing power as sharing them with someone else. Healing isn’t just about reflection—it’s about being witnessed.
She describes how the act of being heard, affirmed, and mirrored back by another person brings layers of validation and clarity that solitary journaling cannot. Monica echoes this by pointing to the incredible energy shifts that occur during retreats and women’s circles. There is strength in shared vulnerability.
Redefining the Narrative of Motherhood
Kate’s vision of honoring motherhood through story challenges the superficial narratives so often portrayed in media. Instead of tidy highlight reels or impossible ideals, she invites women to speak the truth of their experience—messy, joyful, difficult, expansive.
This deeper narrative is not only a gift to ourselves but to future generations. It tells our children, especially our daughters, that motherhood is not something to endure silently, but something worthy of reverence and voice.
Monica and Kate agree: the stories of mothers matter. Not just for the legacy they leave, but for the healing they offer in the present moment.
How You Can Start Your Matrescence Journey
To begin your own exploration of matrescence:
Learn the word: Simply knowing what matrescence is can be incredibly healing.
Reflect and journal: Start noticing the changes within yourself and document them.
Seek community: Join or create a mother circle where stories can be shared.
Be witnessed: Consider services like The Mother Lines to capture your journey.
Support other moms: Use the word. Validate their experience. Share what you learn.
As Kate reminds us, "Every mother goes through matrescence. You are not alone."
Connect with Kate Seaton
Instagram: the__motherlines
Website: themotherlines.com
Kate Seaton is a matrescence guide, mother of two, and professional writer. Her work centers on matrescence — the self-transformational journey women experience as they become mothers — and offers ways to process, celebrate and feel supported through motherhood. Kate is a certified Birth Story Listener by the School of Birth Story Medicine, a facilitator of mother’s circles, and a passionate advocate of anti-patriarchal motherhood and womanhood.
You can explore Kate’s offerings at themotherlines.com or follow her on Instagram @the__motherlines . Podcast listeners receive $50 off her services with code WILD.
Whether you’re knee-deep in diapers, navigating school drop-offs, or looking back on your early years of motherhood, there is space for your story. Let yourself be seen.
Pictured is The Motherlines Founder, Kate Seaton, with her two children.
Want more real-talk episodes like this? Listen to The Wand(HER)wild Podcast and connect with our community over on Instagram @wandherwild or through our digital events at wandherwild.com/community and retreats at wanderwildfamilyretreats.com.
