Perimenopause is the body’s natural transition to menopause, marked by fluctuating hormones and causing a plethora of unwanted side effects. In other words, the hormonal sneak attack before menopause actually arrives. I’ll admit I hadn’t heard much about perimenopause until I found myself in it. I honestly didn’t think it would be something I would have to worry about until my 50s. After doing some research and talking to my doctor however, I realized I was in the beginning stages.
What I didn’t realize or consider was how perimenopause symptoms would impact my parenting. Parenting while my estrogen is fluctuating, my moods are swinging, and my brain is buffering every five minutes, has been challenging.
The disrespectful brain fog.
As a mom, I am required to remember lots of things. From crucial health information to what day the first grade has to wear red for Santa Clause Day at school. However, I forget: where I put my keys, the reason I walked into the room, how old I am, WHO I am. At this point, if I don’t write it down or put it on a calendar, it won’t get done.
The fatigue.
One of my worse fears has been a teacher frantically knocking on my car window to tell me to move up in the pickup line at school…because I have fallen asleep. Well, now it has happened more than once. That 20-minute nap before my son comes racing out of school is now the dose of recharge I depend on before heading home to wonder what we will eat for dinner.
The mood swings.
My hormones have been hijacked causing an intense, unpredictable, and occasionally hilarious version of myself. My teenager has become my hormonal roommate these days. We both are offended by everything, hungry all the time, and both think the other is being dramatic.
The hot flashes/night sweats.
It’s 3am and my body is drenched, my sheets are drenched, and either my husband or my six-year-old who slid in the room in the middle of the night have the nerve to want…to cuddle. Are you kidding me? I’ve also become the old lady in the office who asks, “Is anybody else hot?”
The unexpected upside:
I have more clarity on what really matters: I speak up more; I prioritize myself more often, and model boundaries for my children and those around me. I’m learning to live with these new changes and am learning to manage my health better. Perimenopause will be with me for a while, so I have to learn how to work with her instead of against.
