By the time many parents walk into a doctor\u2019s consulting room with a worried child or teenager, they\u2019ve already done a quick Google search, asked a WhatsApp group for advice and possibly blamed themselves somewhere along the way.<\/p>\n
Dr Juanri Jonck understands that spiral well. Not only as a GP, but also as a mother.
\nBeyond 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 \u2014 helping patients optimise their wellbeing through lifestyle changes, hormone balance and personalised care.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a mom of two and a wife to one very supportive and inspirational husband,\u201d she says with a smile. \u201cI also like to think I\u2019m a good sister and friend. And honestly, those roles shape everything else I do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her philosophy is simple \u2026 patients deserve to be treated like family.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cThe mental load of parenting is real,\u201d she laughs. \u201cAnd while I love structure, curiosity and learning, I\u2019ll admit I don\u2019t always succeed in keeping everything perfectly organised.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then again, perfection was never really the goal.<\/p>\n
Motherhood changed the way she practises<\/strong> At the same time, becoming a mother made her far more practical. \u201cYou quickly realise that parents don\u2019t need a lecture. They need a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Advice, she says, has to work in real life \u2014 chaotic school runs, limited time, picky eaters and decision-making on very little sleep included. \u201cParents need solutions that fit into their lives, not ideal situations.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking beyond the symptoms<\/strong> With teenagers, she deliberately creates space for them to speak openly. \u201cThey need the chance to express themselves without interruption, while parents need reassurance and a clear plan.\u201d<\/p>\n For younger children, it\u2019s about trust. \u201cYou explain what you\u2019re going to do. They might not understand the medical side, but they understand reassurance.\u201d<\/p>\n When the doctor becomes the mom<\/strong> Her approach at home is something she jokingly calls the \u201chome filter\u201d. If a child is drinking fluids, passing urine, alert and symptoms remain mild, she\u2019s comfortable monitoring things at home. But she encourages parents to trust their instincts. \u201cIf there are warning signs like breathing difficulty, severe pain, dehydration, persistent fever or unusual drowsiness, get medical help.\u201d<\/p>\n And sometimes, she says, it\u2019s simply a gut feeling. \u201cParents usually know when something about their child just isn\u2019t normal.\u201d<\/p>\n What she\u2019s seeing in teenagers<\/strong> \u201cIt creeps in slowly and can look normal until suddenly it isn\u2019t. Symptoms like constant fatigue, intense cravings, irregular or very heavy periods and early puberty changes can signal something deeper. These aren\u2019t just normal growing-up phases. They\u2019re metabolic shifts that deserve attention.\u201d<\/p>\n The information overload parents face<\/strong> One common worry she encounters is parents panicking about every cough or fever. \u201cIn reality, many childhood viral infections are self-limiting and part of how the immune system learns and strengthens.\u201d<\/p>\n Another trend she often sees is the search for the \u201cperfect\u201d supplement. \u201cThere\u2019s this idea that one magic product will fix everything. But health is rarely that simple.\u201d<\/p>\n Real life behind the scenes<\/strong> \u201cOur family walk is something we prioritise. It\u2019s a simple way to reconnect after a busy day. And my daily 30 minutes of exercise is also non-negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n The croissant confession<\/strong> Her message to parents<\/strong> \u201cChildren don\u2019t need flawless parents. They need present ones.\u201d Because children learn far more from what parents model than from what they\u2019re told.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re watching you,\u201d she smiles. \u201cWhether they like it or not.\u201d<\/p>\n And as she gently reminds parents, you can\u2019t pour from an empty cup. \u201cThe first step is to put the oxygen mask over your own mouth before helping someone else on the plane.\u201d Because in the end, children aren\u2019t looking for perfect parents … just ones who show up, stay calm and occasionally remember where the school shoes are.<\/p>\n Quick health wins for families<\/strong> Details: lifelabmed.com<\/a>, twenty4skin.co.za<\/a> or follow @juanrijonck on Insta<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Image: BELRIE BOTHA.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Behind the stethoscope, Dr Juanri Jonck is also a mom navigating school runs, lunchboxes and the occasional parenting panic \u2014 which is exactly why her advice comes from both sides of the consulting room. By the time many parents walk into a doctor\u2019s consulting room with a worried child or teenager, they\u2019ve already done a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":22672,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,51,19,40,20],"tags":[10056,2532,10057,10058],"class_list":{"0":"post-22671","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kids","8":"category-lifestyle","9":"category-lifestyle-travel","10":"category-people","11":"category-personalities","12":"tag-dr-juanri-jonck","13":"tag-get-it-pretoria","14":"tag-lifelab","15":"tag-twenty-4-skincare"},"yoast_head":"\n
\nIt didn\u2019t just reshape Juanri\u2019s personal life \u2014 it changed how she approaches medicine. \u201cMotherhood somehow managed to both soften me and sharpen me at the same time,\u201d she explains. She\u2019s far more attuned to what parents are feeling when they sit down in her consulting room. \u201cMost parents are dealing with fear, guilt and genuine overwhelm. Behind many questions is simply a parent trying to do the right thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBeing both a doctor and a mother has also shifted the way Juanri sees young patients.
\n\u201cI don\u2019t just see the pathology anymore. I see the entire family system around the child.\u201d
\nThat means recognising the emotions parents bring with them such as fear, sadness, frustration and sometimes pure exhaustion.<\/p>\n
\nOf course, even doctors aren\u2019t immune to parental worry.
\n\u201cWhen it\u2019s your own child, all logic goes out the window,\u201d Juanri laughs. \u201cLove makes everything louder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIn recent years, Juanri has noticed a growing number of teenage patients presenting with metabolic-related concerns. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing more weight gain, insulin resistance and PCOS-type patterns in teenage girls.\u201d The challenge is that these changes often develop quietly.<\/p>\n
\nParenting in the digital age comes with its own challenges. \u201cParents today are flooded with information, and unfortunately not all of it is helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nDespite her professional expertise, Juanri\u2019s home life is refreshingly relatable. \u201cThere\u2019s honestly no such thing as a normal day in our household. Some mornings start calmly and then the inevitable \u201cWhere\u2019s my\u2026?\u201d moment throws everything into mild chaos.\u201d
\nHer 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.<\/p>\n
\nFor someone who promotes balanced nutrition, Juanri is honest about one weakness. \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIf she could leave parents with one piece of advice, it wouldn\u2019t involve complicated routines or expensive supplements. \u201cDon\u2019t chase perfection. It doesn\u2019t exist. Chase consistency.<\/p>\n
\n\u0387 Sleep should always be non-negotiable. It supports immunity, mood regulation, learning and appetite hormones.
\n\u0387 Aim for fibre, protein and healthy fats at every meal. This helps with steady energy, better concentration, healthy gut function and less snacking chaos.
\n\u0387Daily movement and sunlight support physical health, mood stability and better sleep.
\n\u0387 The idea that kids will naturally balance their food intake if they\u2019re hungry isn\u2019t always true. In today\u2019s food environment, structure around meals is often necessary.
\n\u2022 Swap sugary cereals for mieliepap, oats or eggs
\n\u2022 Replace some rice or pasta with lentils for extra fibre
\n\u2022 Make water the staple, with juice as an occasional treat
\n\u0387 Eating together \u2014 even outside \u2014 creates connection and helps lower stress after busy days.
\n\u0387 Predictable routines help children feel secure. A simple weekly schedule for meals, bedtimes and activities can make a big difference.
\n\u0387 Encourage children to identify and talk about their emotions. Learning to label feelings helps build emotionally resilient kids.<\/p>\n