In this Motherkind Moment, Zoe Blaskey is joined by broadcaster and journalist Emma Barnett for a deeply honest conversation about early motherhood, identity, and what really happens to us when we become mothers. Emma shares the reframe that changed everything for her: moving from the idea of maternity leave to maternity service. A season where you are always on call, constantly adapting, sacrificing parts of yourself, and often expected to carry on without much language for how profound that experience really is. Together, Zoe and Emma talk about those early months – the walking, the exhaustion, the heatwaves, the survival mode – and the surprising way creativity can sometimes re-emerge in the middle of it all. Not because motherhood is easy, or beautiful, or calm – but because so much else has been stripped back. They explore the tension so many mothers feel: how maternity can be deeply depleting and, at the same time, quietly expansive. How there can be grief for who you were, uncertainty about who you’re becoming, and moments of clarity that feel almost shocking when you’re in the trenches. This is also a conversation about what we’re missing culturally – the lack of space, language and stories for matrescence. Not parenting advice. Not baby manuals. But an honest reflection on the inner shift of becoming a mother. Because motherhood doesn’t just add something to your life. It changes you. In this Moment, they explore: Reframing maternity leave as maternity service Creativity, identity and thinking again in early motherhood The loss, rebirth and in-between space of matrescence If you’ve ever felt changed by motherhood in ways you couldn’t quite explain, this Moment is for you. If you liked this moment, listen to the full episode: Maternity Service, Not Leave: A New Perspective with Emma Barnett Remember to subscribe to Motherkind — it helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. Ready to feel like yourself again? 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. For a £100 sponsored job credit, visit Indeed.com/ Motherkind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices