What Matrescence Really Means with Dr Aurelie Athan

Becoming a mother isn't just a personal change but a profound identity transformation on par with adolescence. In this episode of Parents Who Think, Danusia Malina-Derben is joined by Dr. Aurélie Athan, clinical psychologist and scholar of reproductive identity, whose groundbreaking work on matrescence reframes motherhood as a major developmental passage. Together, they unpack how motherhood alters our physiology, status, relationships, economics, spirituality, and sense of self, and why recognising these shifts matters more than ever in today's fractured support landscape. This is a conversation that reshapes how we think about mothers, not as a monolith, but as individuals on distinct and complex reproductive journeys. From delayed childbearing to chosen childlessness, from postpartum crisis to existential reawakening, Aurélie and Danusia delve into the real universals of becoming, and being, a mother. It's not about ticking boxes. It's about honouring the full, evolving story. Discover more from us: • Join the Parents Who Think community on Substack •

You can listen to What Matrescence Really Means with Dr Aurelie Athan online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

What Matrescence Really Means with Dr Aurelie Athan is an episode from School for Mothers Podcast by Danusia Malina-Derben.

This episode is 14:57 long.

This episode was published on Aug 9, 2025.

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