Certain life stages hit like tidal waves.
And for many parents, one of those is navigating perimenopause while their kids are hitting puberty.
It can feel like two storms are raging in the same house. Bodies are changing, hormones are shifting, emotions are high. And everywhere you look, diet culture is whispering—sometimes shouting—that no one (not the parents, not the teens) is doing it right.
In this week’s episode with Oona Hanson — an educator and parent coach who supports families navigating diet culture and eating disorders — we talk about this exact experience.
We speak about the thin-obsessed world that kids are growing up in—which is only compounded by confusing messages from social media and celebrity culture. How easy it is for both teens and parents to internalize those pressures. How even small attempts to restrict or control food can become slippery slopes toward disordered eating, and why creating a home that feels like a safe haven is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your kids.
We also examine the other side of the equation: the parents, and how midlife brings its own body image gauntlet. How modeling self-compassion while adult bodies change isn’t just good for you—it’s also a roadmap for kids. And when children leave for college, how can you stay connected and supportive without falling back into judgment or control?
Big picture, this episode is about:
The overlap between perimenopause and puberty, and what it means for family dynamics
How diet culture sneaks into every corner of parenting and self-worth
Practical ways to support teens and college students around food and body image
Reparenting ourselves so we can show up with more patience, compassion, and curiosity
If you’ve ever felt the tension of wanting to protect your kids while also trying to protect your own sanity—and your own body—you’ll want to hear this conversation. It’s messy, it’s honest, and it’s a reminder that the most radical thing we can do in a diet-obsessed world is offer safety, love, and compassion.
