Mood Swings and Being Called Out by My Kid

So last week, my younger son, “Red,” who is still in a brick-and-mortar school, joined that “hang out at home during the day” party with a snazzy cold that resulted in a nasty ear infection. This means another week out of school for him. As he was home sick, he did his weekly therapy session via telehealth. And what did he do? He called me into the session and then called me out for being a little crabby lately. Ouch. Of course, I knew I was moody, but hearing it from my kid? It hit differently. I listened, acknowledged he was right, and then, in my finest parenting moment, I laid out all the facts about perimenopause and hormones. Yep, I gave my son and his therapist a crash course in this stage of life. So yes, I was called out for being a moody bitch by my kid in front of his therapist—check.

In the spirit of honesty, I had to take a break from adulting that day. Sometimes, you just have to let yourself off the hook.

But here’s the kicker: understanding that my mood swings are partly hormonal doesn’t let me off the hook. It’s on me to manage how I respond to stress. During perimenopause, fluctuating hormone levels can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and irritability. It’s crucial to find ways to regulate your stress and emotions—things like mindfulness and deep breathing can make a world of difference. I’m learning to create space for self-care, even on my crabbiest days.

When You Swore You’d Never Homeschool

Before my older son, “D,” started struggling with middle school, I was one of those people with plenty of assumptions about homeschooling. I didn’t care enough to dig into what it was really like because, honestly, I never thought it would be for me. I was NEVER going to homeschool, especially after spending the COVID years in Los Angeles, where life and in-person school completely shut down. But life has a funny way of flipping the script. Now here I am, eating my words and figuring out how to balance D’s education at home with my own work and life.

What I learned through my research before making this decision is that homeschooling is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It offers a chance to tailor learning, especially for kids who may need a break from the traditional school system. But let me tell you, it also requires strong boundaries to avoid burnout—for both the child and the parent. Luckily, I’m not alone in this journey; my husband, Jon, is wonderfully present and filling in for me when work takes priority. He’s kind of amazing!

The Reality of Perimenopausal Symptoms

So let’s talk about periods. While I haven’t hit irregular cycles yet (and my periods are actually more regular than they’ve ever been at age 47), that doesn’t mean I’m off the hook. Perimenopause brings a slew of symptoms beyond just changes to your cycle. I’m experiencing increased PMS and anxiety, which I’ve never dealt with before. It’s crazy to suddenly worry about things that aren’t even an issue. Get a grip, brain! And then there are days when I wake up in a pool of sweat if I haven’t been taking care of myself.

While it might seem like all eyes are on your cycle during this stage of life, perimenopause affects the whole body. Hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings can really take a toll. I’ve found that focusing on exercise, balanced nutrition, and hydration plays a big role in keeping my hormones—and my sanity—in check. Last week was a little rough in those areas, and I paid for it dearly.

Sibling FOMO: Red Wants In in Homeschooling

Now that D is homeschooled, guess who’s starting to feel some serious FOMO? Yep, Red. He’s been begging to homeschool, but he has to stick it out for the semester for now. Today, after being out all last week, I practically had to drag him into the school building. We’ll see how long this lasts, but I might have two homeschoolers on my hands soon enough.

So Follow Along…

If Week One was about adjusting, Week Two is about calling myself out and juggling the chaos that is parenting, homeschooling, and perimenopause. It’s a wild ride! I’ll be sharing more about what I’m learning and what works (and what doesn’t) in the weeks to come. Whether it’s managing anxiety, mood swings, or navigating homeschooling, we’re in this together!