In this episode, we explore a powerful truth many modern mothers question but rarely say out loud: we are not meant to mother the way our mothers did.
Our mothers raised us in a completely different world — socially, economically, and culturally. Many of the “rules” they lived by made sense then, but when modern mothers try to apply those same expectations while navigating careers, entrepreneurship, constant digital connection, and unprecedented mental load, something starts to break.
This episode isn’t about criticising the generation before us. It’s about understanding context, releasing outdated rules, and consciously choosing a new way forward that actually supports modern motherhood.
I share personal reflections from my own experience navigating differing expectations with my mother, and why so many career-driven mums today are feeling the quiet tension between love for their mothers and the sense that their blueprint no longer fits.
We also dive into the concept of matrescence — the often-missing framework that explains the profound identity shift that happens when women become mothers — and why understanding it changes everything.
If you’ve ever felt stretched between motherhood, ambition, and the invisible expectations you inherited, this conversation will help you make sense of it.
In this episode we discuss:
Why modern mothers are parenting in a completely different context than previous generations
The invisible rules many of us inherited about what a “good mother” looks like
Why endurance, silence, and self-sacrifice are no longer sustainable strategies
The impact of mental load, digital culture, and changing work expectations
How matrescence explains the identity shift many mothers experience
The difference between rebelling against the past and choosing with discernment
How to consciously update the “rulebook” of motherhood
This episode is an invitation to stop measuring yourself against outdated standards and start asking a more powerful question:
What does motherhood — and work — need to look like for me, in this season of life?
Because the goal isn’t to prove we can handle it all.
The goal is to build lives that are sustainable, honest, and aligned — for us, and for the generation watching us.
If this episode resonated with you…
I work 1:1 with career-driven mothers navigating matrescence alongside leadership, careers, and entrepreneurship. Together we unpack the overwhelm, clarify what’s actually happening beneath the surface, and design a way forward that supports both your ambition and your life.
You can book a coaching session via this website or email me at kirsten@coachingcorporatereturners.com
Welcome to your Boss Mom Era.
Want access to free resource - Mompreneurs starter guide to building a flexible resource, email: kirsten@bossmom-coaching.com with subject "Starter Guide"
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Big thanks to the wonderful Kate Mannix, for production and editing!
