ADULT GAP YEAR SERIES: Matrescence Unpacked with Ashley Beatty

Michelle spoke with Ashley Beatty, a matrescence educator and motherhood coach, about the profound and often unacknowledged transformation women go through when they become mothers. The conversation explored a practical framework — the Matrescence Matrix — to help mothers understand their changes and make decisions that truly reflect who they are now, not who they were before.

About Ashley

• Trained Matrescence Educator

• Motherhood and Self-Development Coach

• 20 years in education

• Mom of two (ages 7 and 12)

• Works with women navigating the transitions of motherhood across all areas of life

What is Matrescence?

• The transition to and through motherhood — similar to adolescence

• Not a one-time event — it is iterative and cyclical, recurring with each new stage of a child's development

• Universal to all mothers, but unique in how it is experiencedby each individual

• Largely undiscussed and unsupported, despite being a massive identity and life shift

The Matrescence Matrix

Developed by Nikki McCahon; visualized as a pie chart with 8 domains

Domain	What It Covers
Physical	Body changes through pregnancy, birth, and recovery
Psychological	Identity shifts, sense of self, emotional changes
Social	How "mom" is perceived and valued in your social circles
Cultural	Broader societal views and expectations of motherhood
Relationships	Changes to partnerships, friendships, and family dynamics
Career	Shifting priorities, career interruptions, work-life alignment
Spiritual	Legacy, values, religion, purpose
Economic	Financial impact of maternity leave, career pauses, childcare costs

SOM_Matrescence_Matrix_Domains_v1_05.22 (3).pdf

Download PDF • 424KB

How to Use the Matrix

1. Map your changes — on the pie chart, mark how much you've shifted in each domain (outer edge = most change, center = least)

2. Identify what feels "prickly" — those areas likely signal a misalignment with your current values

3. Explore your values — acknowledge that values shift through motherhood and that's okay

4. Make decisions from that place — rather than defaulting to pre-motherhood expectations or external pressure

Key Themes

• Duality is valid — "I want to grow my business AND be present with my kids" — both can be true

• Matrescence is cyclical — hard seasons are followed by growth; decisions made now don't have to be permanent

• Shame and guilt often stem from unacknowledged changes rubbing up against outdated expectations

• You can't "have it all" in every season — the matrix helps prioritize what matters right now

Resources & Links

• 🌐 Website: https://www.ashleybeatty.ca

• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-beatty-24095239/

• 📸 Instagram: @ashleybcoach

• 🤰Matrescence Expert: https://www.nikkimccahon.com/

• 🤰Fishtank of Motherhood: https://drsophiebrock.com/thefishtankofmotherhood

  1. 
     

     Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

• Join “Gapper Connect” on Discord to connect with students thinking about a gap year, current Gappers, and alum all in one place! https://www.cangap.ca/gapperconnect

• Find more resources at the Can Gap website https://www.cangap.ca/

• Follow on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/cangapassociation/

• Follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ucangap

• Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/ucangap

• Follow on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBit8gLXEOxaBggoGmykjQ