Yet, I was in constant motion.
Gliding from room to room, my movements limited, but deliberate, as I slowly paced the floors of my home over and over again, spending more days in that house or in its orbit than ever before.
If you had seen me that first year from the eye of a bird high above, my life may have appeared frozen.
In truth, everything was different.
Each day a delicate dance or reorienting my priorities, balancing my new responsibilities with existing commitments; reshaping my life’s work up until this point.
If you flew a bit closer, perched among the trees, perhaps my mindset may have been recognizable.
But I was shape shifting, in ways unseen by the naked eye.
I was healing. My organs, ribs and womb were rearranging after birth. My hormones were pulsating to an unfamiliar alchemy of oxytocin, estrogen and prolactin. My brain began making room for a new universe of thoughts and instincts. My breasts swelled with a nourishing milky substance.
My body may have been my own once again, but my life - it would never be my only responsibility again.
Yes, from the outside looking in, you might have missed these things.
But I felt it all.
This was the MOTHER YEAR.
If you perched upon my windowsill now, peering in with curiosity, you may think my body looked the same it always had.
My heart expanded, and stretched, as I shed my maiden skin, my soul stretched to embrace what was needed of me now. In reality, that year, that precious first year was the deepest transformation, as I moved through the sacred process of becoming a mother.
MY HEART
the book
Here's how it began: In pregnancy, I envisioned spending my maternity leave writing and recording a daily meditation each day for mothers, which was something I noticed was lacking. Clearly, I had no idea what was truly coming. The birth portal opened, and I welcomed my son into this world. My first year of motherhood was a profound transformation, reshaping me in ways I never could have anticipated. Much like a baby chick, who may feel as though its world is collapsing just before it hatches, I too felt the sky falling in on so many parts of my former self.
Little did I know, I wasn’t losing myself—
I was outgrowing the old me.
The Mother Year is a compilation of daily reflections for your first year of matrescense
Crafted with heart-felt intention, The Mother Year isn’t just a book—it’s a daily companion. It offers themes and messages designed to resonate with where you are, providing a moment of solace and self-care – a “divinity dip”, if you will. Divided into four "seasons," the book mirrors the cyclical journey of motherhood and personal growth. Autumn begins with welcoming your baby and shedding the maiden self. Winter brings introspection and transformation. Spring sees the planting of new dreams, nurturing your evolving life. By Summer, those seeds bloom, and you fully embrace your role as Mother.
These notes, meant only as personal reflections, quickly became a testament to the depth of that year, a time when so much is forgotten as the days blur together.
When I listened back, I was deeply moved by the recurring themes of worry, doubt, and wonder. I wished I could go back and comfort that earlier version of myself. Those voice notes and my reflections on them serve as the foundation for The Mother Year, a book born from these raw, unfiltered moments.
In this intense and beautiful period, I recorded daily voice notes—capturing the raw highs and lows of my journey.
Throughout the book, I’ve included daily prayers, inspired by the spiritual grounding that has been a constant in my life and became a lifeline during this time. My hope is that The Mother Year offers the sense of having someone walking beside you on this journey. It serves as a gentle reminder that you are seen, you are supported, and you are never alone in this shared experience of motherhood. I see myself as a bridge between two worlds, and motherhood has helped me become a pillar of equilibrium in a polarized world. My hope is to provide nourishment to your mind, body and soul through this sacred transformation.
You got this, mama.
This new chapter mirrors the cyclical dance of nature, each season carrying its own essence and themes. It begins with Autumn, where you gather the harvest of your labor, welcoming your baby into the world while releasing the remnants of your former maiden self. Winter follows, a time of profound introspection and metamorphosis; this is where the deep inner work occurs and requires time and space for healing and recovery to full recalibrate for the season ahead.
As Spring arrives, the soil of your soul softens, and new dreams and intentions are gently sown—nurturing both yourself and your child. In this season, you cultivate the tender shoots of your evolving life, laying the groundwork for the blossoming to come. By Summer, those seeds begin to unfurl, and you step more fully into your role as Mother, embracing the fullness of your new identity.
The Mother Year unfolds in four seasons
A testament to the truth that the journey of postpartum extends far beyond the fourth trimester—it is, in fact, a lifelong voyage.
Autumn:
The Mother’s Birth
“We are all broken, that is how the light gets in.”
The First Quarter: Releasing, Unraveling, Welcoming
WINTER:
shedding the maiden self
“Enjoy the space between where you are and where you are going.”
The Second Quarter: Death - Recovery – Recalibration
SPRING:
SEEDS OF THE MOTHER
“How lovely is the silence of growing things.”
The Third Quarter: Growth - Experimentation - Renovation
SUMMER:
the mother's bloom
“May the flowers remind us why the rain was so necessary.”
The Final Quarter: Awakening - Expansion - Integration
Love Notes
"The Mother Year feels like having a trusted friend walking beside you through motherhood. Chelsey’s words are raw, real, and comforting, making you feel understood in the highs and lows. This book was a lifeline for me in my first year as a mom."
— HEATHER
Love Notes
"This book is like a warm hug. Chelsey beautifully captures the journey of matrescence, and the seasonal structure mirrors the natural shifts in motherhood. The Mother Year helped me find peace in the chaos and joy in the small moments."
— OLIVIA
Love Notes
"If you're a new mom, The Mother Year is a must. Each day, Chelsey’s words bring comfort and strength, reminding you that you're not alone in this journey. The daily reflections are a gift of love and wisdom for any mother."
— CAMMY
Love Notes
"The Mother Year is a treasure for new mothers. Every entry feels like a little burst of hope, helping me navigate the tough days and celebrate the joyful ones. Chelsey’s honest reflections made my first year feel less overwhelming and more magical."
— MONICA
Love Notes
"Chelsey Scaffidi’s The Mother Year is a beautiful companion for the journey of motherhood. Her authentic voice and seasonal approach made me reflect deeply on my own growth as a mother. This book is pure comfort and inspiration."
— JANE
WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD • WISDOM FOR tHE HEART OF MOTHERHOOD •
Burnout forced her to pause and turn inward, where she began to explore somatic practices like meditation, yoga, and breathwork. These tools became the foundation of her healing, gradually mending her mental and emotional landscape. In 2019, after becoming certified in these practices, Chelsey co-founded a meditation studio in Los Angeles—a sanctuary for deepening her connection to this inner work. For a time, it seemed she had finally found her rhythm.
Chelsey’s journey has always been one of forward motion, driven by ambition and purpose.
ABOUT
After years of pushing through the relentless demands of law school and a career in a high-pressure law firm, she reached a crossroads.
The experience was unlike anything she had ever known. Motherhood wasn’t just a new role—it was a complete unraveling and reweaving of her entire being. The emotional, physical, and spiritual initiation of becoming a mother – called matrescence - transformed every aspect of her life. She realized that the tools she had gathered before motherhood were just the beginning, and as she embraced this new journey, Chelsey uncovered the beauty, challenges, and immense growth that came with surrendering to its sacred seasons.
Then the world changed. covid arrived, and with it came a new chapter of transformation: Motherhood.
Through her daily devotional The Mother Year, she offers guidance to mothers navigating the raw, tender terrain of that precious first year. Chelsey’s mission is to light the way for others, creating a ripple of healing that touches hearts, fosters self-connection, and invites the divine guidance of God into the journey of motherhood.
