Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Responsival.

When I started writing my Not Just Hot Flashes: A 52-Week Journey Through Perimenopause, Midlife, and Motherhood series, I had a pretty good idea of the things I wanted to talk about. I knew we'd be talking about hot flashes, anxiety, brain fog, ridiculous sleep problems, and all of the other things that seem to show up during this stage of life without bothering to ask permission first. What I didn't necessarily expect was how many other little changes I'd start noticing in my body along the way. Lately, one of those things has been my feet.

I know. Of all the glamorous topics we could discuss when we're talking about being a woman in her 40s, here we are talking about feet. But if you've ever gotten out of bed in the morning and immediately regretted that first step, or spent a long day on your feet and felt like your arches and heels were completely done with you by the time you finally sat down, you probably understand why I'm bringing it up. One minute, we're young and carefree, wearing pointed-toe heels and flats, and then the next... wait, is this a bunion? If you're dealing with arch pain or plantar fasciitis, finding the right support for your feet may be worth paying attention to rather than simply deciding this is another thing you're going to have to live with.

I want to be careful here because I'm not suggesting that perimenopause automatically causes foot pain or plantar fasciitis. There are plenty of reasons our feet can hurt, and I'm certainly not qualified to diagnose anyone. But our bodies go through a lot of changes during perimenopause. The Menopause Society includes joint aches and pains among the symptoms some women experience during the menopause transition, along with things like hot flashes, sleep changes, mood changes, and brain fog. So when you're already noticing that your body doesn't quite feel like it used to, it's not surprising to start noticing other aches and pains, too.

For me, this has been one of the stranger parts of getting older. I don't feel 43 most of the time. In my head, I still have the energy to do everything I want to do, and I generally expect my body to cooperate with whatever ridiculous schedule I've created for myself. The problem is that my body doesn't always get the memo. I'm working, taking care of my family, running Mommy's Block Party, working at church, leading worship, running errands, dealing with school schedules, cooking, cleaning, and doing all those little things that make up everyday life with three kids. None of it necessarily feels like a workout, but by the end of the day, my feet know exactly how much I've been doing.

I've also become much more aware of my feet when I've been standing for a long time or when I get up after sitting for a while. If you've experienced plantar fasciitis, you probably know that particular discomfort. According to Mayo Clinic, plantar fasciitis can cause heel pain that is especially noticeable with the first steps in the morning or after sitting or standing for a while. There is something particularly irritating about finally getting a chance to sit down after a busy day, only to discover that getting back up isn't going to be nearly as pleasant as you hoped.

I think motherhood and perimenopause have an interesting overlap here. Our bodies may be changing, but our responsibilities haven't exactly slowed down to accommodate that. There are still kids who need rides, meals that need to happen, laundry that somehow reproduces overnight, work that needs to get done, church responsibilities, and approximately 900 other things that don't care whether I'm having a hot flash or whether I woke up at 3:30 that morning because my brain decided it was time to think about everything I've ever forgotten to do.

I've always been pretty good at pushing through things. I think a lot of women are. But one thing I'm learning during this season of life is that being able to push through something doesn't necessarily mean I should ignore it. Sometimes taking care of ourselves is incredibly practical. It may mean paying more attention to the shoes we're wearing, making sure our feet have adequate support, stretching, resting when we actually have the opportunity, or simply admitting that persistent pain deserves some attention.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons has helpful information about common foot and ankle conditions, and ongoing or significant foot pain is something worth discussing with a doctor or podiatrist rather than automatically blaming on age or hormones.

At 43, I'm realizing that my body isn't the same body I had at 23, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. I just have to learn how to take care of the body I have now. That includes figuring out the hot flashes, sleep issues, brain fog, anxiety, hormonal roller coaster, and apparently, my feet. Because if I'm going to keep doing all the things I want to do, I would really like my feet to cooperate.

They've carried me this far. The least I can do is give them a little support along the way.

Are you noticing any changes in your feet? Drop a comment below and join the conversation.