Paperclips & Periods Podcast 3.20.2026: Understanding Maternal Ambivalence

Episode 7: Understanding Maternal Ambivalence – Paperclips & Periods Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Emily K. Cabrera and Katie Krych discuss maternal ambivalence—loving your children while also missing who you were before becoming a parent.

They explain that these feelings are normal and do not mean you are a bad parent. Instead, they reflect the major identity shift that comes with motherhood, along with exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and the mental load.

The hosts also help distinguish between common experiences and postpartum depression, offering guidance on when to seek professional support. They acknowledge the impact of pregnancy loss and the need for care during grief and hormonal changes.

A key focus is challenging unrealistic expectations of perfection. They encourage self-compassion, reframing thoughts, and accepting that you can love your children and still miss parts of yourself.

They share simple strategies like reconnecting with yourself, creating small moments of rest, and asking for help when needed.

The episode closes with a box breathing exercise and a reminder: you can hold both love and longing at the same time.

Paperclips & Periods airs on Dreamvisions 7 Radio Network and supports the mission of Dual Minds Integrative Psychiatry, promoting maternal mental health and whole-person care.

Learn more: 🌐 www.dualmindspsychiatry.com 🌐 https://dreamvisions7radio.com 📧 paperclipsandperiods@gmail.com