Matrescence is a word created in the 70s as a way to describe the transition to motherhood and the associated physical, hormonal and psychological changes that occur during the early days after childbirth.

What does this have to do with sunsets? I’ll explain:

People celebrate the sun

People tend to remark on the beautiful sunny weather. There is a celebration of the days when the sun shines bright. People also celebrate pregnancy and expectant parents get a lot of praise and attention.

People plan around sunsets

Photographers are always chasing that perfect golden hour lighting. People schedule dates, dinners, photo shoots and even proposals and weddings around what time the sun sets. This reminds me of the way people treat the event of birth. There is a lot of preparation into planning for birth, but not so much for the months that follow.

Most of the #sunsetappreciation posts are of the sky after the sun has set

The true beauty of sunsets, when they sky colors truly shine, happens immediately after the sun has already set! It’s after the big even that the real beauty shows.

How wonderful would it be if we all treated the period of time after childbirth like the time after the sun sets. Let’s celebrate the golden weeks like we do the fiery colors of the evening sky! If only we would celebrate and support the beauty of navigating new motherhood, can you imagine how new moms would shine?