Issue #94: naming. MATRESCENCE.
the process of becoming a mother and why we all need to be talking about it, women in the field, cold + flu herbs, reasons we all need a good cry, and TOMORROW NIGHT!
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This week, this one word has been quietly making waves: matrescence. When Peanut placed an advertisement in The New York Times pointing out that the word still doesn’t officially exist in many dictionaries, it sparked something important. Because the truth is, we cannot fully support women through motherhood if we don’t even have language for the transformation they are experiencing. Matrescence describes the physical, emotional, hormonal, and psychological shift that happens as a woman becomes a mother. Much like adolescence, it is a profound developmental transition—yet so many women move through it without a name for what they’re feeling.
This is the work I care deeply about. In my practice, I see how demanding motherhood can be, especially when so many women enter it already depleted—physically, emotionally, and mentally. The transition into motherhood asks us to renegotiate everything: our identity, our relationships, our bodies, our ambitions, and the stories we carry from our own childhoods. Many women feel caught between who they were and who they are becoming. When that tension goes unnamed, it can feel isolating, even shameful. But when we begin to talk about matrescence, something shifts. Women realize they are not failing—they are transforming.
And the truth is, motherhood is just one of many powerful thresholds in a woman’s life. Puberty, fertility journeys, motherhood, and menopause are all chapters in the lifelong process of becoming. These transitions reshape us, yet they are often the very places where support and conversation are missing. That is part of why Interwovxn exists—to create space for these moments, to bring language to them, and to remind women that they were never meant to navigate these transformations alone.
xo,
Theresa
tomorrow NIGHT!
an evening in CELEBRATION of WOMEN
We could not have predicted how beautifully this night would come together and are so excited to celebrate! If you are on the fence, come! We would love to see you! Here is a look at the lineup:
6:00 PM – Doors Open : Grab a beverage, enjoy the grazing table by Dom Sera Grazing Co., connect, and get settled.
6:20 PM – Welcome : Amber, Theresa, and Rebecca will open the evening and share why creating spaces like this matters to us.
6:25 PM – Community Spotlight: Local organizations sharing their work:
• Milwaukee Period Parties – Addressing period poverty and expanding access to menstrual products. • PEARLS – Mentorship and leadership programming for youth identifying as girls in 5th-12th grade. • Community Advocates – Supporting Milwaukee through housing, mental health, and advocacy work. • Moms Mental Health Initiative – Raising awareness and support for maternal mental health. • ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) – Providing free emotional support after a breast cancer diagnosis. • A Little Something A Lot of Love – Offering support and care packages to families going through pregnancy loss.
6:45 PM – Robyn Vining: Wisconsin State Representative and advocate for women, families, and community wellbeing, sharing reflections on women’s health and advocacy.
7:00 PM – Ellie Jackson: Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter whose soulful, folk-inspired music blends storytelling and powerful vocals.
7:30 PM – KC : Closing reflections and creative expression centered on empowerment and community.
7:45–10:00 PM – DJ Dripsweat: 🎶 Music and celebration on the dance floor to close out the night.
Huge thank you to our sponsors: Bay View Printing Co. and Midlife Midwife MKE.
Save time at the door and grab your tickets ahead of time!
PS — This event is for EVERYONE!
While our Revel + Release Dance Parties are created especially for women and femme-identifying folks, our International Women’s Day celebration is open to all who want to celebrate, honor, and uplift women. Bring your partner. Bring your friends. Make it a date night.
let’s continue the discussion…
Embracing Matrescence:
A One-Hour Gathering on Motherhood
COMING IN APRIL… join the waitlist.
Join us for a heartfelt hour of connection and reflection with Theresa as we explore matrescence—the profound, ever-evolving journey of becoming (and being) a mother. Through open conversation, shared stories, and moments of grounding, we’ll honor the emotional, physical, and identity shifts that come with motherhood.
Whether you’re in the early days of new parenthood or navigating its many seasons, this gathering offers a welcoming space to feel seen, supported, and inspired. Come as you are—bring your coffee/tea, your questions and unique experience, your tired heart, and your open mind. This is a reminder that you are not alone in this transformation. Babies are welcome.
You can also schedule 1:1 motherhood sessions with Theresa both in-person and virtually! Learn more here!
TASTE: Women in the Field. Women in the Field MKE is a collective of women-owned food and beverage businesses across Southeastern Wisconsin dedicated to building community and elevating women in the hospitality industry. Through collaborative dinners, pop-ups, and gatherings, the organization creates opportunities for women entrepreneurs to connect, share resources, and showcase their work. Next Wednesday, March 11th, they’ll host their annual Women’s Month celebration, More Than March!, a lively dinner and dance party that brings together many of Milwaukee’s women-led restaurants, makers, and artists for an evening of food, music, and community. It’s another wonderful chance to dance, celebrate, and support Milwaukee women and business owners.
SEE: Good Girl, Bad Mom, As we open up the discussion of the experiences of motherhood, we find ourselves returning again and again to the moments that are messy, unexpected, and profoundly transformative—the ones that rarely make it into the highlight reel. These are the stories of exhaustion and laughter, of self-doubt and fierce love, of trying to figure it all out while carrying the weight of expectations from every direction. It’s in that spirit that we were so excited to recently connect with Dr. Danielle Dowling, whose work feels like a companion to these lived realities. Her book, Good Girl, Bad Mom, captures all of this with honesty, humor, and heart, exploring the contradictions, pressures, and small victories that come with raising children—reminding us that none of us are alone in navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
BOOK GIVEAWAY!
We’re excited to share that we have two copies of the book, Good Girl, Bad Mom, to give away! To enter, simply leave a comment below sharing one thing motherhood has taught you—about yourself, your expectations, or the way you move through the world. We’ll randomly select two winners from the comments and reach out directly to send you a copy. 💛
SMELL: Herbs. Wow, are there bugs going around! Sounds like most schools have a large number of students out with various colds and flus right now. I wanted to share a few of the herbal formulas we keep on hand at home and find effective for either prevention or helping little bodies—and adults—move through common ailments more quickly. While the taste might take some getting used to, the warm, earthy scent of these herbs is a hallmark of their traditional use in supporting the body to fight colds, flu, and other seasonal ailments naturally. For boosting our immune system when everyone around us is sick, Jade Windscreen is great. For early-stage colds or flu, we often turn to Dispel Invasion from Kan Herbs or Yin Qiao to support the immune system. For kids, CQ Jr from Blue Poppy Pediatric Line is gentle but effective. Bi Yan Pian can help with sinus congestion, while Chest Relief from Kan Gentle Warriors eases tightness and coughs. And for tummy troubles, we rely on Peaceful Earth to soothe stomach upset (we don’t travel without this one;).
We are curious… would you have interest in us creating a cold/flu season kit that contains these formulas along with a guide of how to use them?
IMPORTANT: Speaking of things to support your immune system, if you are not taking vitamin D you might consider doing so. I have chatted with multiple patients this week about low energy and recurrent illnesses this winter. Most of us in the Midwest are vitamin D deficient this time of year from lack of sun exposure and your multivitamin may not contain enough to put you into optimal range. For adults, start supplementing with 2000IU and consider having your levels tested as you may need even more. (PS- In addition to immune health and inflammation, Vitamin D also plays a key role in women’s health, supporting fertility, regular menstrual cycles, and hormonal balance. Adequate levels may also help with conditions like fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, and the transition through menopause by supporting immune, bone, and metabolic health.)
Questions?
HEAR: Shai Space. We recently had Shai Space pop up in our feed and instantly fell down the rabbit hole. Based in Peckham, London, this small independent studio and venue brings people together through music, creativity, and intentional listening—hosting intimate sessions where people gather on the floor, share tea, and slow down enough to truly hear the music. Their series Grounded captures the essence of those gatherings, with soulful, introspective sets spanning jazz, soul, ambient, and broken beat—designed for deep listening whether you’re alone with headphones or sharing the moment with others. You can watch the full recorded sessions on YouTube whenever you need a little reset. One of those discoveries that makes you want to light a candle, sit on the floor, and just listen.
TOUCH: 5 Reasons a Good Cry Makes Sense Before Spring According to TCM. As we move through early March, the body is already awakening to Spring—a season of growth, upward movement, and expansion. We came across a recent post from Root + Bones that highlights how, in TCM, Spring is tied to the Liver, the organ that governs the smooth flow of Qi, emotional expression, and opens to the eyes. Tears are one of its fluids, and allowing ourselves to cry can be a profound way to release what we’ve been carrying. After months of Winter’s containment—of responsibilities, expectations, grief, and the everyday weight of life, whether from motherhood, work, or the world unfolding around us—a good cry can help move stuck energy, ease tension in the ribs or jaw, calm irritability, and restore clarity to body and mind. Just as Spring encourages buds to break open, releasing tears can help us shed the internal stagnation we’ve stored over the colder months, making space for renewal, growth, and a lighter way of being.
BONUS TOUCH: We love this Chinese grandmother nervous system reset routine.
What is appealing to your senses right now? What are you reading? watching? cooking? wearing? loving? obsessed with? We would love to share some of your picks in future newsletters!
and we leave you with…
Ode to Eve.
have a great WEEKEND!
