Behind the stethoscope, Dr Juanri Jonck is also a mom navigating school runs, lunchboxes and the occasional parenting panic — which is exactly why her advice comes from both sides of the consulting room.
By the time many parents walk into a doctor’s consulting room with a worried child or teenager, they’ve already done a quick Google search, asked a WhatsApp group for advice and possibly blamed themselves somewhere along the way.
Dr Juanri Jonck understands that spiral well. Not only as a GP, but also as a mother.
Beyond her work at LifeLAB medical practice, she also specialises in aesthetic medicine, anti-ageing and hormone optimisation, with a strong focus on holistic health. Her approach looks at the bigger picture — helping patients optimise their wellbeing through lifestyle changes, hormone balance and personalised care.
But beyond the white coat and qualifications is a woman navigating the same daily chaos most families know all too well. School lunchboxes. Packed schedules. Endless WhatsApp messages from school groups. And the constant mental load that comes with loving small humans fiercely.
“I’m a mom of two and a wife to one very supportive and inspirational husband,” she says with a smile. “I also like to think I’m a good sister and friend. And honestly, those roles shape everything else I do.”
Her philosophy is simple … patients deserve to be treated like family.
Outside the practice, her world runs on the familiar rhythm of family life, homework, grocery deliveries, school activities and trying to keep some form of structure in the middle of it all. “The mental load of parenting is real,” she laughs. “And while I love structure, curiosity and learning, I’ll admit I don’t always succeed in keeping everything perfectly organised.”
Then again, perfection was never really the goal.
Motherhood changed the way she practises
It didn’t just reshape Juanri’s personal life — it changed how she approaches medicine. “Motherhood somehow managed to both soften me and sharpen me at the same time,” she explains. She’s far more attuned to what parents are feeling when they sit down in her consulting room. “Most parents are dealing with fear, guilt and genuine overwhelm. Behind many questions is simply a parent trying to do the right thing.”
At the same time, becoming a mother made her far more practical. “You quickly realise that parents don’t need a lecture. They need a plan.”
Advice, she says, has to work in real life — chaotic school runs, limited time, picky eaters and decision-making on very little sleep included. “Parents need solutions that fit into their lives, not ideal situations.”
Looking beyond the symptoms
Being both a doctor and a mother has also shifted the way Juanri sees young patients.
“I don’t just see the pathology anymore. I see the entire family system around the child.”
That means recognising the emotions parents bring with them such as fear, sadness, frustration and sometimes pure exhaustion.
With teenagers, she deliberately creates space for them to speak openly. “They need the chance to express themselves without interruption, while parents need reassurance and a clear plan.”
For younger children, it’s about trust. “You explain what you’re going to do. They might not understand the medical side, but they understand reassurance.”
When the doctor becomes the mom
Of course, even doctors aren’t immune to parental worry.
“When it’s your own child, all logic goes out the window,” Juanri laughs. “Love makes everything louder.”
Her approach at home is something she jokingly calls the “home filter”. If a child is drinking fluids, passing urine, alert and symptoms remain mild, she’s comfortable monitoring things at home. But she encourages parents to trust their instincts. “If there are warning signs like breathing difficulty, severe pain, dehydration, persistent fever or unusual drowsiness, get medical help.”
And sometimes, she says, it’s simply a gut feeling. “Parents usually know when something about their child just isn’t normal.”
What she’s seeing in teenagers
In recent years, Juanri has noticed a growing number of teenage patients presenting with metabolic-related concerns. “We’re seeing more weight gain, insulin resistance and PCOS-type patterns in teenage girls.” The challenge is that these changes often develop quietly.
“It creeps in slowly and can look normal until suddenly it isn’t. Symptoms like constant fatigue, intense cravings, irregular or very heavy periods and early puberty changes can signal something deeper. These aren’t just normal growing-up phases. They’re metabolic shifts that deserve attention.”
The information overload parents face
Parenting in the digital age comes with its own challenges. “Parents today are flooded with information, and unfortunately not all of it is helpful.”
One common worry she encounters is parents panicking about every cough or fever. “In reality, many childhood viral infections are self-limiting and part of how the immune system learns and strengthens.”
Another trend she often sees is the search for the “perfect” supplement. “There’s this idea that one magic product will fix everything. But health is rarely that simple.”
Real life behind the scenes
Despite her professional expertise, Juanri’s home life is refreshingly relatable. “There’s honestly no such thing as a normal day in our household. Some mornings start calmly and then the inevitable “Where’s my…?” moment throws everything into mild chaos.”
Her workday is equally unpredictable, with each patient bringing their own story and circumstances. Evenings are a familiar juggle of preparing something both nutritious and edible (with occasional help from Checkers Sixty60), homework, family time and catching up on patient emails.
“Our family walk is something we prioritise. It’s a simple way to reconnect after a busy day. And my daily 30 minutes of exercise is also non-negotiable.”
The croissant confession
For someone who promotes balanced nutrition, Juanri is honest about one weakness. “I love croissants. Love! So yes, on a Saturday morning you might find me enjoying a buttery croissant without guilt. I tell my patients the same thing. The 80:20 rule applies to everything. Sustainable health, she believes, should always leave room for joy.”
Her message to parents
If she could leave parents with one piece of advice, it wouldn’t involve complicated routines or expensive supplements. “Don’t chase perfection. It doesn’t exist. Chase consistency.
“Children don’t need flawless parents. They need present ones.” Because children learn far more from what parents model than from what they’re told.
“They’re watching you,” she smiles. “Whether they like it or not.”
And as she gently reminds parents, you can’t pour from an empty cup. “The first step is to put the oxygen mask over your own mouth before helping someone else on the plane.” Because in the end, children aren’t looking for perfect parents … just ones who show up, stay calm and occasionally remember where the school shoes are.
Quick health wins for families
· Sleep should always be non-negotiable. It supports immunity, mood regulation, learning and appetite hormones.
· Aim for fibre, protein and healthy fats at every meal. This helps with steady energy, better concentration, healthy gut function and less snacking chaos.
·Daily movement and sunlight support physical health, mood stability and better sleep.
· The idea that kids will naturally balance their food intake if they’re hungry isn’t always true. In today’s food environment, structure around meals is often necessary.
• Swap sugary cereals for mieliepap, oats or eggs
• Replace some rice or pasta with lentils for extra fibre
• Make water the staple, with juice as an occasional treat
· Eating together — even outside — creates connection and helps lower stress after busy days.
· Predictable routines help children feel secure. A simple weekly schedule for meals, bedtimes and activities can make a big difference.
· Encourage children to identify and talk about their emotions. Learning to label feelings helps build emotionally resilient kids.
Details: lifelabmed.com, twenty4skin.co.za or follow @juanrijonck on Insta.
Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Image: BELRIE BOTHA.
