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Motherkind

MOMENT | “I Didn’t Know Who I Was After My Baby” with Michelle Kennedy on Matrescence

Motherkind

Zoe Blaskey

Kids & Family, Parenting

4.8863 Ratings

🗓️ 2 March 2026

⏱️ 11 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Who are you now? And why does motherhood feel like it’s quietly rewritten you? Today’s Motherkind Moment is with the incredible Michelle Kennedy, founder of Peanut, who has just launched the powerful “Make Matrescence Mainstream” campaign. Zoe was proud to be part of this campaign and truly encourages you to look it up, watch it, and sit with it. Because matrescence, the profound identity shift we go through when we become mothers, is still something we don’t talk about nearly enough. In this short but powerful clip, Zoe asks Michelle how her identity changed across her two matrescence experiences. What Michelle shares might surprise you. She speaks honestly about not knowing who she was after her first baby. She knew Michelle the professional. Michelle, the friend. Michelle, the daughter. But she didn’t yet know Michelle the mum. She shares how clarity didn’t arrive overnight; it evolved slowly. How motherhood became the best chapter of her life, but not the only chapter. And how realising she is multifaceted changed everything. They also explore trade-offs. The myth of “doing it all.” Why filling your own glass first isn’t selfish — it’s necessary. And why something as simple as a 20-minute shower can be the most humanising act in early motherhood. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve lost yourself… If you’ve wondered why this transition feels so seismic… If you’ve felt guilty for wanting space, ambition, rest or boundaries… This conversation is for you. However, your matrescence has unfolded, whether it felt joyful, destabilising, lonely, clarifying, or all of the above, you are not alone. In this Moment, you’ll hear: Why it’s completely normal to feel like you “lose yourself” after becoming a mother  How matrescence reshapes your identity over time, not overnight Why motherhood can be the most powerful chapter of your life without being the only chapter. How protecting small, non-negotiable moments for yourself is not selfish — it’s foundational. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: How to Turn Your Hardest Motherhood Struggles Into a Career With Purpose with Michelle Kennedy Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Feeling different since becoming a mother? Get clarity on who you’re becoming now and download your FREE Matrescence Cheat Sheet Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram  Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. Start your children’s reading journey with Usbourne Books For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hi everyone. It is your host Zoe here. Welcome, welcome. It's Monday, which means it is

0:12.7

motherkind moment day, your little shot of inspiration, of support and validation to set you up for the week. Today is with the incredible Michelle

0:24.4

Kennedy, founder of Peanut, who have just launched an incredible campaign to make matrescence

0:32.0

mainstream. I would really encourage you to Google make metrescence mainstream. Look at that

0:37.0

campaign. I was very

0:37.8

proud to be a part of it. So in this little shot of inspiration today, I ask Michelle about her

0:45.0

metrescence. And I think what she has to say might just surprise you. I think it will validate

0:52.2

how you feel. And I really hope that you take from this,

0:57.8

that however your matressence experiences, you are not alone. Here it is. This episode is sponsored

1:08.0

by Osborne Books. I read non-stop to my girls when they were little,

1:12.5

and I have to say now they are 10 and 6, they are both avid readers. I really believe it is never

1:18.0

too early to start reading to your little ones. This Easter, go on a sensory adventure with

1:24.7

that's not my Osborne's Touch and Feel Baby Book bestselling series. Your little

1:30.6

ones will love discovering tactile eggs in this delightful Easter edition to the much loved

1:36.9

that's not my series. From shiny spots and stripes to silky ribbons and finally an irresistibly

1:43.4

fluffy chick there are lots of

1:45.9

different touchy-feeling textures to explore that's not my books are designed to be shared and support

1:51.3

sensory and language development that's not my easter egg is out now head to your nearest bookshop or buy

1:59.4

the book online.

2:14.4

How did your identity change as you've been through your two matrescent's experiences?

2:16.4

Because you said they were trying to figure out who we are.

2:17.5

You strike me as someone who knows quite clearly who you are, that you know your values and how did, is that true? And how did

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