Episodes

If you have ever caught yourself saying something about food or your child's body that sounded just like something you heard growing up, this episode is for you. When you're worried about your child's eating habits or weight, it's easy to believe the answer is more control, better nutrition advice, or the perfect plan. But many of the messages we carry about food, bodies, and health were never intentionally taught. They were absorbed through culture, family, and years of lived experience. In thi...

If worries about your child's weight or eating habits have started taking up more and more space in your mind, this episode is for you. When we're worried, it's easy to focus so hard on what needs to change that we lose sight of everything that's already going well. In this episode of Family in Focus, I share a simple mindset shift that can help you step out of fear, see the whole child again, and build change from a place of connection instead of pressure. In this episode: • Why weight concerns...

If you've just been told that your child needs to lose weight and you're feeling worried, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I walk you through the first three steps you can take after hearing concerns about your child's weight. Because what you do next matters. You may be carrying fear, guilt, shame, or an urgent desire to fix the problem as quickly as possible. But rushing into food rules, restriction, or weight-focused strategi...

If you feel stuck between trying to “fix” your child’s eating habits and wanting to give up altogether, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I unpack the stress, pressure, and overwhelm many parents experience when trying to help their children build healthier relationships with food and their bodies. Because food battles are often not just about food. Many parents find themselves swinging between trying to control eating habits, portions, movement, or weight outcomes and...

If you are worried about emotional eating in kids and wondering how to help your child without shame, pressure, or food battles, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I unpack emotional eating in children, stress eating, and the unmet needs that often sit beneath eating behaviors. Because emotional eating is not simply about food, discipline, or “bad habits.” Many times, it is a coping strategy connected to stress, overwhelm, boredom, frustration, or other emotional experi...

If you have ever tried to make healthier changes at home and been met with resistance, tears, or a flat-out “I hate this,” this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus , I walk through what is actually happening when your child pushes back on food changes and why it does not mean you are doing anything wrong. Because the resistance you are seeing is not defiance. It is development. And when you understand what is underneath it, everything about how you respond starts to shift. I b...

If you have ever watched your child say something painful about their body and had no idea what to say back, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I walk through what it actually looks like when diet culture gets to your kid — and more importantly, four ways to show up when it does. Because the instinct to correct, reassure, and fix is coming from love. But it is often the thing that closes the door. Because showing up is not the same as solving it. And the difference matt...

If your child has ever said something like “I hate how I look,” and you felt unsure what to say next, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I share a different way to respond in those moments when your child is struggling with body image, food, or how they see themselves. Because your child does not need you to fix it. They need you to stay with them in it. Drawing from improv, I introduce a simple framework that can help you respond with more connection and less pressure,...

If you have ever felt stuck trying to do things “the right way” for your child, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I explore how perfectionism shapes the way we parent and creates stress, pressure, and disconnection in everyday family life. Because it is rarely about getting it right. Perfectionism often shows up as the belief that things need to look a certain way before we begin. It can lead to overthinking, hesitation, and avoidance, making it harder to take action o...

If you have ever felt overwhelmed trying to help your child with eating, weight, or health—this conversation is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus , I’m joined by Joey Skelton, MD, MS, FAAP and Dara Garner-Edwards, MSW, LCSW , co-authors of Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World . Together, we explore how to support your child without shame, pressure, or food battles—and why focusing on weight often does more harm than good. Dr. Skelton and Dara bring nearly ...

If you are frustrated by constant conversations about your child’s eating habits, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I explain why focusing on habits often keeps families stuck and how shifting your attention to patterns can completely change the way you approach eating behaviors at home. Because it is rarely just about habits. What looks like a habit on the surface is often the visible tip of a much larger pattern shaped by stress, emotions, relationships, environment,...

If you are worried about eating disorders, disordered eating, dieting, or the intense focus on weight in today’s culture, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I explore what actually happens when weight becomes the hidden focus in your home and how that quiet shift can shape your child’s relationship with food, body image, and self-worth. Because it is rarely just about weight. When weight becomes the center of conversations, concerns, or decision-making, it often creates...

If you are struggling with your child’s eating habits, mealtime battles, picky eating, or concerns about weight, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus , I share 3 simple steps to transform your child’s relationship with food by addressing the emotional patterns and nervous system dynamics happening at home. Because it is not just about the food. It is about the patterns. Your child’s eating habits are shaped by stress, autonomy, family dynamics, and emotional regulation. Wh...

If you are worried about childhood obesity, BMI percentiles, or your child’s eating habits, this episode is for you. As a pediatrician, I see how often parents are told to focus on weight, growth charts, and body mass index, or BMI. But when we focus only on the number, we miss the deeper factors influencing your child’s health, emotional eating patterns, and relationship with food. In this episode of Family in Focus, I explain why weight is often just the tip of the iceberg and what parents nee...

Some days, parenting does not just feel hard. It feels confusing. You are trying to do the right thing for your child, especially around food and health, but the messages are overwhelming. Eat this. Do not eat that. Worry about weight. Do not talk about weight. Move more. Stress less. Somewhere in all of that, it can start to feel like you are failing. If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. You are in the right place. Welcome to Family in Focus, where I help parents lead meaningful change w...

If you are trying to help your child make changes and it feels like nothing is working, this episode is for you. I hear it every day from parents. Food feels like a battle. Screens feel impossible to limit. Movement feels forced. And no matter how hard you try, it can start to feel like you are failing over and over again. In this episode, I want to say this clearly. You are not failing. What is failing is the approach that has been handed to you. The plans, prescriptions, and one size fits all ...

Hey. I see you. I know the struggle. Let me ask you something. What would it mean if you didn’t feel so much pressure around your child’s eating, growth, or health? What would it be like to stop sorting through advice that feels stressful or even harmful? I’d like to invite you to Family in Focus, a space for parents who want to lead change without harm. We focus on connection over control, emotional health over numbers, and parent-led shifts that actually last, so families can build healthier r...