Perfectionism Is Keeping You Stuck

If you keep waiting until you feel completely ready, have the perfect plan, or know exactly how things will turn out, you may never begin.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I’m talking about how perfectionism can quietly turn into procrastination, especially when you’re trying to make meaningful changes for yourself or your family.

We’ll explore why you don’t need to have everything figured out before you take the first step, how being honest about your own imperfections can strengthen your relationship with your child, and why real change begins by showing up as you are.

In this episode:

• How perfectionism can keep you from getting started

• Why procrastination is sometimes a form of self-protection

• What happens when you wait for the perfect time or perfect plan

• Why your child doesn’t need you to have everything figured out

• How being real can create deeper connection with your family

• Why imperfect action is still meaningful progress

Chapters:

00:00 Embracing Imperfection: The Journey Begins

00:26 Introduction to Family in Focus

02:37 How Perfectionism Leads to Procrastination

05:41 The Power of Being Real in Parenting

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Want more support for raising children with confidence instead of fear or shame?

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About Dr. Wendy Schofer

Dr. Wendy Schofer is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience helping families build healthier relationships with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Through Family in Focus, she shares evidence-based, compassionate parenting strategies that help families thrive.

While Dr. Wendy Schofer is a physician, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

This episode explores parenting perfectionism, procrastination, fear of failure, authentic parenting, imperfect action, family connection, and how parents can begin making meaningful changes before they feel completely ready.

If you’ve been told to “let your child listen to their body,” you may be wondering what that actually looks like when they refuse dinner but happily ask for snacks five minutes later.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I’m breaking down five things parents need to know about intuitive eating and kids, including why an approach designed for adults may not translate directly to a child who is still learning to recognize hunger, fullness, and satisfaction.

We’ll talk about the difference between structure and control, why predictable meal and snack rhythms can help children understand their body’s signals, and how to support your child without becoming a short-order cook.

In this episode:

• Why intuitive eating for adults and children isn’t necessarily the same thing

• How children learn to recognize hunger, fullness, and other body signals

• Why predictable meal and snack rhythms can support body awareness

• How the short-order cook cycle can unintentionally reinforce picky eating

• Why structure around food doesn’t have to mean control

• A simple experiment to try with your family this week

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Want more support for raising children with confidence instead of fear or shame?

Join The Exhale, my free newsletter:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working with me:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com

Schedule a consultation:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along:

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

Dr. Wendy Schofer is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience helping families build healthier relationships with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Through Family in Focus, she shares evidence-based, compassionate parenting strategies that help families thrive.

While Dr. Wendy Schofer is a physician, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

This episode explores intuitive eating for kids, responsive feeding, picky eating, hunger and fullness cues, family meal routines, and how parents can provide healthy structure around food without using restriction, pressure, or control.

What happens when comments about a child’s body stay with them long after childhood? And how can you protect your child from carrying the same shame, fear, and judgment many of us grew up with?

In this special episode of Family in Focus, I’m joined by Lisa Fipps, award-winning author of the middle-grade novel Starfish. Lisa shares how her experiences with weight-based bullying inspired the book and why its message continues to resonate with children and adults.

We talk about weight stigma, body shame, bullying, and the words children can carry for a lifetime. Most importantly, Lisa challenges us to look inward before reacting to concerns about a child’s weight or body.

In this episode:

• How Lisa’s experiences with weight-based bullying inspired Starfish

• Why comments about a child’s body can stay with them for decades

• How weight stigma can show up at home, school, and in healthcare

• Why struggles with food and eating disorders can be hidden in plain sight

• How your own experiences with weight and bullying can shape your parenting

• The question to ask yourself before trying to change your child’s weight or eating habits

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Want more support for raising children with confidence instead of fear or shame?

Join The Exhale, my free newsletter:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working with me:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com

Schedule a consultation:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

Website: https://authorlisafipps.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlisafipps/

Dr. Wendy Schofer is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience helping families build healthier relationships with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Through Family in Focus, she shares evidence-based, compassionate parenting strategies that help families thrive.

While Dr. Wendy Schofer is a physician, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

Should we talk about other people’s bodies? What do you say when your child notices a celebrity’s body has changed? And is teaching kids to never talk about bodies always the right approach?

In this episode of Family in Focus, I explore the complicated conversations happening around bodies, weight, and health. Using public conversations about Lizzo and Ariana Grande as examples, we look at the difference between making assumptions about someone’s health based on their body size and simply noticing when a body has changed.

There is no single body size, weight, or shape that tells us whether someone is healthy. But noticing patterns and changes can open the door to curiosity, compassion, and important conversations with our kids.

In this episode:

• Why talking about other people’s bodies is not always a simple yes or no
• What public conversations about Lizzo and Ariana Grande can teach us about how we talk about bodies
• The difference between weight stigma and noticing changes
• Why body size alone cannot tell us whether someone is healthy
• How today’s weight loss culture complicates conversations about bodies
• How to use curiosity and “tell me more” when your child brings these conversations home

Chapters
00:00 The Body Talk Dilemma
02:10 Lizzo, Ariana Grande, and Celebrity Body Conversations
05:27 Why Patterns in Body Changes Matter
08:21 How to Talk With Your Kids About Bodies
10:40 Leading Change Without Shame or Judgment

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Want more support for raising children with confidence instead of fear or shame?

Join The Exhale, my free newsletter:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working with me:
https://www.wendyschofermd.com

Schedule a consultation:
https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

About Dr. Wendy Schofer

Dr. Wendy Schofer is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience helping families build healthier relationships with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Through Family in Focus, she shares evidence-based, compassionate parenting strategies that help families thrive.

While Dr. Wendy Schofer is a physician, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

This episode explores common parenting questions about talking to kids about bodies, body image, weight stigma, celebrity body conversations involving Ariana Grande and Lizzo, changing bodies, eating disorder awareness, weight loss culture, and how to approach conversations about other people’s bodies with curiosity and compassion.

How do you set healthy boundaries without hurting your relationship with your child? Why do children push back against limits? Do kids actually need boundaries to become more independent?

If you've ever wondered these things, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I explain why healthy boundaries aren't about control. They're about creating the structure and emotional safety children need to become confident, independent, and emotionally resilient. You'll learn why children test limits, why meltdowns don't mean your boundary is wrong, and how your calm response helps your child thrive.

• Why children naturally test boundaries

• How structure helps children feel safe

• The connection between boundaries, emotional regulation, and independence

• Why meltdowns aren't the problem

• How to stay calm while holding loving boundaries

00:00 Understanding Child Independence and Boundaries

02:59 The Importance of Structure in Child Development

05:33 Emotional Regulation and Parental Calmness

07:32 Leading Change Without Harm

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Want more support for raising children with confidence instead of fear or shame?

Join The Exhale, my free newsletter:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working with me:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com

Schedule a consultation:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

Dr. Wendy Schofer is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 20 years of experience helping families build healthier relationships with food, body image, and emotional well-being. Through Family in Focus, she shares evidence-based, compassionate parenting strategies that help families thrive.

While Dr. Wendy Schofer is a physician, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

This episode answers common parenting questions about healthy boundaries, child development, emotional regulation, positive parenting, independence, resilience, and how structure helps children feel safe and thrive.

If your child has ever said, "I hate my body," "I wish I looked different," or criticized their appearance, you may have wondered what you're supposed to say in that moment.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I share why the most helpful response isn't reassurance, advice, or trying to change your child's mind. Instead, we explore how curiosity, presence, and connection create the emotional safety children need to develop a healthier relationship with their body over time.

In this episode:

• What to do when your child says they don't like their body

• Why trying to "fix" body image can unintentionally shut down connection

• The power of saying, "Tell me more."

• How curiosity and presence help children feel safe enough to share

• Why slowing down is one of the most important parenting tools you have

Timestamps:

00:00 What to Say When Your Child Doesn't Like Their Body

04:15 The Power of "Tell Me More"

06:20 Leading Change Without Harm

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

If you are listening and realizing your child is sneaking food, hiding wrappers, or eating in secret, there is a next step for you.

No More Candy Wrappers Under the Bed is a workshop designed to help you understand why this is happening and how to shift it without shame, control, or power struggles.

You can learn more and sign up here:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/no-more-candy-wrappers

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table: https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you've ever wondered whether being kinder to yourself could actually make you a better parent, this conversation is for you.

In this special guest episode of Family in Focus, I'm joined by my dear friend Dr. Faryal D. Michaud, DO, palliative care physician, coach, and founder of Physicians Living Intentionally. Together, we explore why the relationship you have with yourself shapes the relationship you build with your child, and how self-compassion, curiosity, and intentional parenting create stronger family connections.

We also share a simple communication framework, Wish, Worry, Wonder, that can help you navigate difficult conversations with your child while staying connected instead of slipping into conflict.

In this episode:

• Why self-compassion is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child

• How your own self-talk influences the way your children learn to treat themselves

• The difference between accepting and welcoming difficult moments

• Why curiosity creates stronger parent-child relationships than judgment

• How the Wish, Worry, Wonder framework can transform challenging conversations

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

Website: www.drfaryal.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drfaryalmichaud

Podcast: https://writeyourlastchapter.libsyn.com/

If you are listening and realizing your child is sneaking food, hiding wrappers, or eating in secret, there is a next step for you.

No More Candy Wrappers Under the Bed is a workshop designed to help you understand why this is happening and how to shift it without shame, control, or power struggles.

You can learn more and sign up here:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/no-more-candy-wrappers

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table: https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.

If you've seen headlines about glucose monitors now being available for children as young as two, you may be wondering if they're something your family needs.

In this episode of Family in Focus, I unpack what the FDA's recent decision actually means, why more health data isn't always better, and how constant monitoring can unintentionally affect a child's relationship with food, their body, and the people who care for them.

In this episode:

• What FDA clearance does and doesn't mean

• Why glucose monitors may not benefit healthy children

• How health monitoring can increase food and body anxiety

• The link between orthorexia and the pursuit of perfect health

• Why connection matters more than numbers

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Continuous Glucose Monitors for Kids

02:32 Concerns About Over-the-Counter Health Tools

04:58 The Impact of Monitoring on Children's Relationships with Food

06:48 The Risks of Orthorexia and Health Anxiety

08:49 The Importance of Family Relationships in Health

11:06 Conclusion and Call to Action

11:54 What's Next

Watch the full video episode on YouTube.

New episodes air every Wednesday.

If you are listening and realizing your child is sneaking food, hiding wrappers, or eating in secret, there is a next step for you.

No More Candy Wrappers Under the Bed is a workshop designed to help you understand why this is happening and how to shift it without shame, control, or power struggles.

You can learn more and sign up here:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com/no-more-candy-wrappers

Join The Exhale, my newsletter for parents who want less stress around food, body image, and weight concerns and more confidence at the dinner table: https://www.wendyschofermd.com/the-exhale

Learn more about working together:

https://www.wendyschofermd.com

To schedule a consult:

https://wendyschofermdscheduling.as.me/consult

Follow along and continue the conversation:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyschofermd/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyschofermd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyschofermd/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-schofer-md/

While I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. This podcast is for education, not medical advice.