Matriarch: A Memoir

Knowles recalls the period after her divorce. She was living along Central Park. She spent time alone, telling herself she just needed three days to get over her sadness. However, this sadness was different, and she couldn’t summon her usual resilience. Finally, Knowles got up the courage to call Mathew and tell him the divorce was finalized. They cried together.

In the weeks following, Knowles worked with her therapist to overcome her grief and move on. She took time off work and spent a lot of time in bed. One day, her therapist tasked her with listing all of the negative things she believed about herself and all of the positive things. The exercise helped Knowles see herself differently.

In January, Knowles, Solange, and Kelly joined together to be with Beyoncé before she had her first baby, Blue Ivy. They were especially worried about Beyoncé because she’d had several miscarriages and desperately wanted this baby. Meanwhile, she faced constant ridicule in the press and online; rumors spread that she was faking the pregnancy. Knowles wanted to address the matter publicly, but Beyoncé begged her not to.

Mathew resurfaced when Beyoncé had the baby.