Family in Focus®
by Wendy Schofer, MD
Are you feeling stuck around your child’s eating, weight, or health? Are food struggles or mixed messages about “doing it right” creating stress in your home? Family in Focus is a podcast for parents navigating family health, especially when concerns about food, body, and emotional well-being start to strain relationships at home. Hosted by Dr. Wendy Schofer, the pediatrician who helps parents lead meaningful change without harm, this podcast approaches family health in a very different way, by prioritizing connection, trust, and emotional health over control or pressure. Family in Focus centers parent-led shifts that actually last. Conversations explore how change can happen without shame, how emotions shape health behaviors, and why protecting the parent-child relationship is essential to supporting children’s well-being. This is a space for parents who want to support their child’s health
Episodes
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Perfectionism Is Keeping You Stuck
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...
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5 Things Parents Need to Know About Intuitive Eating for Kids
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...
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Before You Talk to Your Child About Their Weight, Ask Yourself This
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...
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Should We Be Talking About Other People’s Bodies?
Should We Be Talking About Other People’s Bodies? 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...
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How to Set Healthy Boundaries That Help Your Child Thrive
How to Set Healthy Boundaries That Help Your Child Thrive 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…
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The Best Thing to Say When Your Child Criticizes Their Body
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…
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The Kindness Your Child Needs Starts With You
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...
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Should Healthy Kids Wear Glucose Monitors?
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...
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Your Child Deserves More Than a Meal Plan. This Is Eating Disorder Prevention.
If you've ever worried about your child's eating, weight, or health and wondered if you're doing enough, this episode is for you. Many of us have been taught that helping our children means finding the right meal plan, nutrition strategy, or set of rules. But what if the most powerful thing you…
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5 Ways to Build Real Connection With Your Child
If you've ever been told to "just connect with your child" but found yourself wondering what that actually looks like in the middle of a busy weeknight, this episode is for you. Connection has become one of the most common pieces of parenting advice, but it's often misunderstood. We turn it into…
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The Voice You Never Meant to Pass On: Breaking the Cycle of Diet Culture
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…
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You Don't Need Another Meal Plan: What Actually Creates Change
If you feel stuck trying to improve your child's eating habits and wondering whether you just need a better meal plan, this episode is for you. Many parents are told that the solution is simple: serve healthier foods, cut out certain foods, or find the right nutrition plan. But if changing meals...
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When Weight Becomes All You Can See: A Better Way Forward
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...
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Your Child's Weight Isn't the Emergency. Here's What Matters First
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....
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Fix It or F It? Why Controlling Your Child’s Eating Backfires
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…
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Emotional Eating & Your Child: The Truth About the Unmet Need
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...
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Why “Just Tell Us What to Eat” Isn’t Working
If you have ever found yourself thinking, “Just tell me what to feed my kid,” this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I unpack one of the biggest misconceptions parents carry when it comes to changing eating habits and weight concerns at home: the belief that the answer is...
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Your Kid Isn’t the Problem: The Truth About Food Battles at Home
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…
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4 Ways to Show Up for Your Child When Diet Culture Sneaks In
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...
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How Diet Culture Entered The Doctor's Office (And What to Do About It)
If you have ever left your child's well visit feeling like you did something wrong, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I break down the history of BMI, diet culture, and why weight became the focus of your child's doctor visit. Because your doctor did not make up that...
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Why the BMI Was Never Meant for Your Child: What You Need to Know
If you have ever been told to focus on your child’s BMI, weight, or eating habits and felt like something wasn’t adding up, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I unpack the truth about BMI, pediatric weight guidance, and why the traditional “eat less, move more” approach...
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The Truth About BMI, Weight Stigma, and Your Child’s Health
If you have ever left your child’s doctor’s appointment feeling confused about BMI, worried about your child’s health, or unsure how to respond to conversations about weight, this episode is for you. In this episode of Family in Focus, I break down what is often missing from pediatric…
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When Your Child Says “I Hate How I Look”: How to Respond With Connection
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....
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The Truth About Perfectionism and The Stress It Creates in Your Child’s Life
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...
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Your Child Is Not Their Weight: It’s Time to Break Free from Hidden Shame, Pressure, and Food Stress
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...
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Think Beyond Habits: The Hidden Patterns Shaping Your Child’s Eating
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...
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What Actually Happens When Weight Becomes the Hidden Focus
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…
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3 Simple Steps to Transform Your Child’s Relationship With Food
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...
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Why Your Child’s Health Is About More Than Weight
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...
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You’re Not Failing: Start With What’s Going Well
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...
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Change Without Shame: A New Season Begins
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…
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Family in Focus® | A New Season Begins | Official Trailer
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…
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Heartfelt Conversations: Exploring Emotions and Connection with Jen Person
Are you craving authentic connections and meaningful conversations? Me too, which is why I turned to my favorite person (Person!) in the world, Jen Person, to have my first coffee conversation. Jen is a badass executive, leadership and personal development coach, so well-versed in emotional...
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An exercise to make parenting easier
Parenting is no joke! It's hard to juggle and figure out all the rules (which none of the kids want to follow). But there are ways to make it easier. Today we're going to do a reflective exercise to understand how becoming aware of and defining your values creates a foundation for making…
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The Power of Being a Real Human: Unpacking Expertise
Let's weave this together: celebrating certifications, expertise, and defining how you are an expert in your life, health and family. In today's show, Wendy celebrates achieving the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She discusses…
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My simple steps to eat less chocolate
I've been destroying the chocolate lately. Specifically, peanut butter M&Ms. In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the process that I'm using to get really clear on the problem and the steps I'm taking to make change. You're welcome to take the simple steps with me to make any change...
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A Conversation for Teens and Parents: Creating Supportive Relationships
Welcome to my very special listeners, teens! Today I want to share some videos I recently created to answer the question, "What does a supportive relationship look like between an adult and a teen?" Well there are two folks to consider in this question and I answered with what can be considered…
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Shake It Off: How to shift when you're stressed
You're zapped, trying to focus on getting that report done. Or from the kids running on your nerves all day long. And the kids are having a meltdown and just arguing with each other, raiding the cabinets and doing anything but homework. What do you do? In today's episode I explore the concept of...
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Are you playing ping pong or chess with your kids?
As a parent, are you playing ping pong or chess with your kids? It's not all about the games, it's about the approach to being with them. In this episode we talk about taking some lessons from Improv Comedy and apply them to working with our kids. No one approach is better than another, but is it...
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"Snack Sneakers Snonymous": 3 Steps for Parents to Understand the Sneaking
Are you ready to be a member of the secret parent society, "Snack Sneakers... S-nonymous?" Parents are frustrated with snack sneaking and want to know how to fix it. Today we talk about 3 steps that you haven't heard before to get to the root of the question, "What do I do about snack sneaking?"...
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New Choice! A Playful Tool that Works to Create Change
Ever notice how you tend to have a soundtrack playing for your life? The same emotions, same story, same day to day.... and don't get me started on the "I'm bored!" soundtrack. Today we dive into an amazing tool - a game from the world of Improv Comedy - and apply it to our day to day lives. You...
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Why we use shame tactics when it comes to health
We have to admit it: we all (yes, I) have used shame tactics when it comes to health. It's a part of our culture and once we admit it, we can start being on the look for where we are using the tool of shame against us. Because shame doesn't make anyone healthier. Period. It backfires time and...
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Finding Strength in the Coziness: Hygge
What does ending the year mean to you? I used to say that it meant getting ready for new beginnings.... but that was the part of me that was constantly on the move. Now I'm settling. I'm practicing hygge - and talking about what that looks like now with a few months since my introduction. (see...
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De-Stressing for the Holidays: A Gift for Parents
"Holidays = Stress" has become a part of our language. But why are you stressed around the holidays? Today we unpack 6 very common stressors for parents during the holidays: 1) There's so much to do 2) It's so hard to stay healthy during the holidays 3) I have to "make it magical" 4) My .... is…
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How We All Struggle with Weight (& what to do)
We are all struggling with weight, each and every one of us. The focus of our struggle may be our own weight, our loved ones, and professionally the struggle may be for our patients, students and colleagues. Today's episode is an abbreviated version of a chat I did for the local Children's…
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Navigating Big Emotions: Parenting in a World of Conflicts
In a world filled with conflicts and crises, how can we navigate the unique challenges of parenting children with big emotions? Join us in this episode as we dive into the crucial topic of recognizing the importance of your child's feelings without comparing them to the chaos of the world. Hear…
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How to Beat Overwhelm: The Little Steps Approach
Eeek! Today we are celebrating 100 episodes of the podcast and how we got here, amidst overwhelm, insanity and a crazy to-do list. Let's talk about the best way to address overwhelm: little steps. In this episode, I talk about how overwhelm develops, how it is so freaking natural and…
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An Experiment Gone Wrong: How I Failed a Family
I love experiments. Anyone who has worked with me in the office or the Family in Focus coaching community has heard me talk about little experiments. Well I want to share with you how I f'd it up. I f'd it up - and now I have learned so much in the process, as did the family. We are constantly...
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How to Deal with Overstimulation and Overwhelm
Are you a parent feeling lost in the chaos of modern life, struggling to understand and manage overstimulation and overwhelm in your children? Are you feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated yourself? Let's dive into the world of parenting in the modern age, understanding more about stimulation…
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Unlocking Your Inner Rebel: How Parents Can Break Free and Rediscover Themselves
Hon, can we talk? I know... the word rebel doesn't feel like it fits. Yet, what is possible if it is the way to lead the life you actually want? Today we're gonna catch up, because I look a 2 month break from y'all, and I have gained so much more along the way. Because I gave myself permission....
About this show
Are you feeling stuck around your child’s eating, weight, or health?
Are food struggles or mixed messages about “doing it right” creating stress in your home?
Family in Focus is a podcast for parents navigating family health, especially when concerns about food, body, and emotional well-being start to strain relationships at home.
Hosted by Dr. Wendy Schofer, the pediatrician who helps parents lead meaningful change without harm, this podcast approaches family health in a very different way, by prioritizing connection, trust, and emotional health over control or pressure.
Family in Focus centers parent-led shifts that actually last. Conversations explore how change can happen without shame, how emotions shape health behaviors, and why protecting the parent-child relationship is essential to supporting children’s well-being.
This is a space for parents who want to support their child’s health
Hosted by
Wendy Schofer, MD