How Postpartum Anxiety Changed My Parenting: Insights From Chloe E
In this heartfelt episode of The Real Family Eats, host Reesa Morala, LMFT, sits down with Chloe E, a mother navigating postpartum anxiety and the everyday transitions of parenthood. Chloe opens up about trusting her instincts amidst societal expectations, lessons learned from her daughter, and she shares her Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs recipe.
The Heart of the Episode: Parenthood & Postpartum Anxiety
Hosted by: Reesa Morala, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Welcome back to another heartfelt episode on The Real Family Eats! If you’re searching for authentic stories on parenting transitions, managing postpartum anxiety, and family food traditions, you’ve landed in the right place. In today’s episode, co-host Reesa welcomes back Chloe E, a St. Louis mom, home cook, and candid storyteller, for an honest conversation that many modern parents will find deeply relatable.
Whether you’re navigating new phases like your child’s first day of preschool, managing parental anxieties, or just looking for comforting family dinner ideas, this episode addresses it all. Read on for a deep dive into Chloe’s experience, her nostalgic lemon pepper chicken thigh recipe, and important takeaways on parenting with compassion and self-trust.
Embracing Life Transitions
Chloe’s story resonates with any parent experiencing the whirlwind of transitions: from newborn feeding challenges to sending a child off to preschool. As she candidly puts it, this journey is full of learning moments, especially around trusting your child’s cues and your own instincts as a parent.
Navigating Postpartum Anxiety
One of the core themes is postpartum anxiety - something Chloe faced head-on with the support of a therapist just six weeks after giving birth. For Chloe, much of her anxiety centered on feeding her daughter. Being a mom to a small but efficient eater, she grappled with constant worries: Was her daughter eating enough? Was it okay that feedings were so brief? Would her daughter’s grazing habits affect her growth?
She discusses the pressure from both societal expectations and authority figures (like pediatricians), which often conflicted with her daughter’s actual, healthy behavior. The anxiety wasn’t just mental. It manifested physically as frustration, heat in her face, and a racing heart over seemingly “small” things like a plate of food.
Topics Reesa & Chloe discuss:
Postpartum anxiety symptoms
Coping with parenting anxiety
Feeding challenges with toddlers
Parenting mental health support
How to trust your child’s cues
Trusting Your Child and Yourself
A powerful thread throughout the episode is the idea that children, even as toddlers, are often more in tune with their bodily needs than adults give them credit for. Chloe shares the evolution of learning to listen to her daughter (who prefers grazing and knows when she’s full) against the backdrop of her own upbringing and cultural norms about mealtime.
She reflects on how the pressure to make her daughter “fit” into conventional eating structures created stress, both for herself and her family, and how letting go of these expectations brought more peace to their household.
This nuanced discussion addresses:
How to trust your toddler at mealtime
Parenting against generational food habits (“clean your plate” culture)
Raising intuitive eaters
Letting go of parenting perfectionism
Key Takeaways for Navigating Postpartum Anxiety
1. Trust Your Instincts
You know your child best. Medical and societal advice is helpful, but ultimately, your intuition and close observation provide the most meaningful insights about your child’s needs.
2. Every Child is Different
Chloe’s experience highlights the futility of comparing your child to charts, averages, or other kids. Children grow, eat, and develop at their own pace. Accepting this can alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress.
3. Emotional Well-Being Matters
If you’re struggling with anxiety, even about “small” things like your child’s lunch, it’s valid, and seeking support is a strength, not a weakness.
4. Kids Can Teach Us
Parenting isn’t just about teaching. Chloe emphasizes the importance of listening to and learning from her daughter, who models a trust in her body many adults have lost.
5. Slow Down
Modern life often pushes families into a perpetual rush. Chloe’s journey with her daughter reminded her of the value of slowing down … at meals, in transitions, and with emotions.
6. Community Counts
Having a supportive network, whether it’s a therapist, supportive pediatrician, partner, or friends, makes all the difference in navigating hard seasons.
7. It’s Okay to Do Things Differently
Whether it’s how you feed your child or how you parent, you don’t have to fit into the box. Your approach is valid if it’s working for your family.
Frequently Searched Questions Reesa & Chloe Address about Postpartum Anxiety & Parenting
How do I manage postpartum anxiety as a new mom?
Chloe’s story illustrates that early intervention with therapy and community support can help.
What should I do if my toddler only eats small amounts or grazes?
Trust your child’s hunger and fullness cues. Pediatricians themselves affirm that variations in toddlers’ eating patterns are normal.How can family food traditions be adapted for modern parenting?
Recipes like Chloe’s lemon pepper chicken, adapted from her dad’s whole roast version, are meant to bring comfort and adapt to the pace of daily life.When should I seek a new pediatrician?
If you feel your pediatrician dismisses your concerns or doesn’t support your intuition, it’s okay to look for a better fit.Is it normal to feel anxious about feeding my child?
Yes, especially with mixed messages from outside sources. You are not alone, and your worries are valid and addressable with support.
Honoring Food Memories: Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
The episode opens with Chloe sharing her signature lemon pepper chicken thigh recipe, a dish rooted in childhood memories of cooking with her single father. Originally a whole roasted chicken, Chloe adapted the recipe with busy adulthood in mind, switching to chicken thighs for a quicker, comforting meal that’s both zesty with lemon and orange notes and full of emotional meaning. This recipe is more than just food; it’s a source of comfort on tough days and a reminder of deep family roots.
Ingredients
-4 chicken thighs
-Orange juice
-Lemon pepper
-Vegetable oil
-2 cups of rice
-Green beans
-Salt & pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a glass bowl, cover thighs with veg. oil and lemon pepper, be generous! In a pan, cover bottom with veg. oil and heat to med high, place skin side down and hear the sizzle. 4-5 minutes each side. Depending on the thickness of the thigh, sometimes need longer. When thighs are nicely browned, add lemon pepper and orange juice to the pan. Place the pan in the oven for 30 minutes. Cook rice in instapot. In another pan, place green beans in water and bring to a boil, cook until al dente and remove from water. Season with olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper.
“This is a homemade recipe, so it's a lot of feel and roll with it for me.” - Chloe E
Listen, Cook, and Connect
Tune into The Real Family Eats for more honest conversations like this one, where real food and real life collide.
If you are a parent ready to share your real-life parenting struggle and dish up a recipe with Reesa, apply here!
