Tera Johnson-Swartz 1/15/24 Tera Johnson-Swartz 1/15/24

Back-to-School During Midlife

Midlife isn’t the end of all things new and exciting—it’s often just the beginning. I went back to school summer of 2023, and I’m flourishing…

Tera Johnson-Swartz 12/13/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 12/13/21

Parenting During Menopause (part 2)

My grandma used to tell me having kids killed any motivation she had in the kitchen. I thought she was joking. Then I had a few of my own and hit midlife.

Tera Johnson-Swartz 11/1/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 11/1/21

My Insomnia and Menopause

Before motherhood and midlife, sleep and I had a love affair. Since, sleep has never been the same. Then the battle of menopause and insomnia reared its ugly head.

Tera Johnson-Swartz 10/25/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 10/25/21

My Mood Swings and Menopause

I used to think mood swings were a byproduct of one of three things: PMS, mental illness, or Mercury being in retrograde. Then, I hit perimenopause. At any given moment, little irritants of my husband and kids become outright attacks of guerrilla warfare.

Tera Johnson-Swartz 10/18/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 10/18/21

My Menopause Diet Plan

After college I got body conscious. My clothes stopped fitting and I couldn’t afford to replace my wardrobe. Then I had kids and perimenopause symptoms hit including menopause belly. How could I cope?

Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/27/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/27/21

Parenting During Menopause (part 1)

How foolish could I have been to think I was ready to be a mother? I had my first-born at 29, but had no fucking clue what was next. Fast forward 7 years and two more kids, and perimenopause hit to make things even more complicated.

Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/20/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/20/21

My Midlife Passion and Purpose (Part 1)

Some women struggle with their first career change at midlife. I’m on my third - or maybe fourth or fifth depending on who you ask. I had my first in my mid 20s…

Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/13/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/13/21

My Anxiety Before Midlife and Menopause

My therapist mentioned the phrase “high functioning anxiety disorder,” but I dismissed it. Then I hit midlife and menopause…

Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/6/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 9/6/21

Perimenopause and The Beginning of My Awakening (Part 2)

I’ll never forget the morning I learned I was pregnant with our unplanned #3 (or the pregnancy of my menopause manifesto). It was early – 6 a.m.-ish. My 6 and 3 year old were making noise somewhere in the house while my husband and I, zombies that we were, begrudgingly made breakfast. I was grumpy, which wasn’t unusual. Everything felt like a symptom of menopause and besides, I’d become used to being woken by the kids, night sweats, or a trip to the toilet.

Tera Johnson-Swartz 8/23/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 8/23/21

My Menopause Story

When I was young I rated midlife age women to be the coolest, most free spirited, outspoken, vivaciously beautiful humans on the planet. Then I became one…

Tera Johnson-Swartz 7/26/21 Tera Johnson-Swartz 7/26/21

Coming Soon - My Menopause Story

When I was young - late teens and most of my twenties - I rated midlife age women to be the coolest, most free spirited, outspoken, vivaciously beautiful humans on the planet.