Learn with tara

Insights, stories, and resources for mothers on their journey through matrescence and beyond.

What Dads Need to Know About 'Mommy Brain', Pt 1

What Dads Need to Know About 'Mommy Brain', Pt 1

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
July 1, 2025
FatherhoodDadsMotherhoodPregnancyPostpartumPartnershipMatrescence

Becoming a mother isn't just a new role — it's a fundamental neurobiological transformation comparable to puberty in its scope and impact. Here's what partners need to understand about these changes.

Hey Sis, Maybe Don't Join that Online Mom Group

Hey Sis, Maybe Don't Join that Online Mom Group

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
June 29, 2025
Social MediaMotherhoodParentingMom GroupsMental HealthMisinformation

Online mom groups have become fertile ground for information overload, worst-case-scenario thinking, and pseudoscience — creating unnecessary anxiety while potentially influencing critical parenting decisions.

How to Know When Baby Blues is Really Depression

How to Know When Baby Blues is Really Depression

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
June 24, 2025
Postpartum DepressionBaby BluesMatrescenceMaternal Mental HealthMental Health

While matrescence is challenging for most women, depression represents a clinical condition that goes beyond the normal adjustment process. Learn the key differences and when to seek support.

Is It Matrescence or Depression? What Every New Mother Should Know

Is It Matrescence or Depression? What Every New Mother Should Know

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
June 17, 2025
MatrescencePostpartum DepressionMaternal Mental HealthMotherhoodWellness

Understanding the difference between normal matrescence and postpartum depression isn't just an academic distinction — it has profound implications for how we support new mothers.

Less Mom Guilt, More Mom Ambivalence

Less Mom Guilt, More Mom Ambivalence

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
May 19, 2025
Maternal Mental HealthPostpartumWellnessMotherhoodMotherhood Journey

Research confirms that maternal ambivalence is not only normal but addressing it may actually be essential to maternal wellbeing. Learn why embracing the 'both/and' of motherhood can lead to a more authentic, sustainable motherhood experience.

Puberty for Moms: The Neuroscience of Mommy Brain

Puberty for Moms: The Neuroscience of Mommy Brain

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
May 9, 2025
MatrescenceNeuroscienceMotherhoodPostpartumMental Health

When we dismiss a new mother's cognitive changes as temporary 'baby brain' or 'mommy brain,' we trivialize one of the most significant neurobiological transformations in human experience. Recent research reveals that the maternal brain undergoes structural and functional changes comparable in magnitude to those occurring during puberty.

Finding Joy in Everyday Moments and Why it Matters for Your Baby

Finding Joy in Everyday Moments and Why it Matters for Your Baby

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
April 8, 2025
MindfulnessPostpartumMatrescenceMental HealthMaternal HealthEarly Relational Health

The advice to 'enjoy every moment' of early motherhood can feel invalidating when you're struggling. Learn how finding moments of joy amidst the challenges is crucial for both your well-being and your baby's development.

Matrescence: The Hidden Developmental Stage Every Mother Experiences

Matrescence: The Hidden Developmental Stage Every Mother Experiences

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
March 24, 2025
MatrescenceMotherhoodWellnessPersonal Story

Discover the science behind matrescence - a profound developmental transition similar to adolescence that every mother experiences.

The Science of Sleep Deprivation in New Parents: What You Need to Know

The Science of Sleep Deprivation in New Parents: What You Need to Know

Katrina Roundfield, PhD
March 23, 2025
SleepPostpartumMatrescenceMotherhoodMental Health

Sleep deprivation is a universal challenge for new parents, with 70% of mothers reporting severe sleep issues in the first year postpartum. Learn how it affects your mental health and what you can do about it.

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