Perimenopause and the Reorganization of Maternal Identity.

There is a particular kind of grief that emerges in the midst of things going “well.” A child is healthy, developmentally on track, and moving toward greater independence. The family system remains intact. And yet, for many mothers, something quietly but decisively changes. The relational shape of daily life shifts. The closeness that once structured time, attention, and identity loosens. While not a crisis, it may feel like one and can be deeply felt. For many women, this transition coincides with perimenopause—a stage marked not only by hormonal changes but by a broader reorganization of Self.