Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection)

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide If the idea of “being playful” with your kid makes you want to crawl into a cave, this episode is for you. In this episode, Dr. Gila talks with Mia Wisinski from Playful Heart Parenting , who has a seemingly endless bucket of low-effort, high-connection ideas for sneaki...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide Snapping at your kids more than you’d like? Or do they keep "losing it," with tantrums and meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere and leave you walking on eggshells? In this episode, Dr. Gila shares her signature framework for understanding emotion regulation. It’s...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide When your child can't get started, loses everything, or shuts down, it's easy to blame attitude. But what looks like "lazy" or "defiant" behavior might actually be related to executive functioning. In this episode, executive functioning coach Carrie Bonnett and I break...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide Can kids form secure attachments in single-parent families? Or are they..." screwed" ? In this compassionate conversation, I chat with therapist, mediator, and award-winning author, Aurisha Smolarski, LMFT, to unpack attachment theory and resilience (without the jargon!...

A fan favorite (and with good reason!). But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide Encore episode: Stressed about screen time? (Who isn't?!) What you're about to hear might surprise you...and make this topic feel a lot less scary. In this episode, I'm joined by Ash Brandin, EdS, aka TheGamerEducator and author of the bestselling book, "Power On: Man...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! Tantrums, and meltdowns, and rages...oh my! Big behaviors mean big stress for the whole family. If you’re tired of walking on eggshells, wondering when and why your kid is going to "lose it," this episode is for you. Dr. Gila breaks down what’s really happening beneath the surface when kids have big reactions, and how understanding those moments can transform...

Different schedules, new settings, and a whole lot of "are we doing enough?" Summer has a way of turning up the volume on everything. In this solo episode, Dr. Gila shares her top five tips for minimizing meltdowns and maximizing connection this summer break. You'll hear... The mindset shift that makes summer feel manageable What connection actually looks like on a hard day The "should" that might...

If you can't reach 'em, you can't teach 'em. That's true whether we're talking about math class or tying shoes. No one knows this more than Dr. Emily King, a school psychologist, child psychologist, and author of the upcoming book The Neurodivergent Learner. In this episode, we dig into why the system was never really designed for kids like yours, and what that means for you at home and at school....

No solutions today. Just me, Dr. Gila, saying the quiet parts out loud. This episode is for anyone whose had a rough morning, or wondered how it's even possible to single-parent in our broken systems. Related resources: ⭐️ Feeling overwhelmed? Download Dr. Gila's short, guided meditation: parentingwithconnection.com/meditation ⭐️ Questions or need support? 👉 hello@drgilaparenting.com About Dr....

"You love my brothers more than me!" These prickly thoughts are hard! They're hard for you to hear, hard for them to feel, and hard to know what to do. In this week's episode, Dr. Gila walks through how to handle this and similar situations in response to a listener whose daughter's recent meltdowns seem to be related to sibling jealousy. You'll hear... What's really going on when your child says...

Summer is coming! And the pressure to plan it is already here. This week I'm talking with Debbie Reber, founder of Tilt Parenting, host of the Tilt Parenting Podcast, and author of Differently Wired, about setting ourselves and our neurodivergent kids up for success during the long summer break. You'll hear: The expectation trap most parents walk straight into every June Tips for navigating screen...

It's the situation every parent dreads: Your child or teen is hurting themselves. Or, worse yet, wants to kill themselves. What do you say? What do you do? And how do you not fall apart in the process? This episode is for parents in the thick of it...and for the ones who want to be ready before they get there. Licensed therapist and author Katie May joins Dr. Gila to talk about self-harm, suicidal...

Boundaries! Parents talk about this A LOT. But are we actually talking about the same thing? In this episode, Dr. Gila breaks down the three distinct concepts that get lumped together into the term "boundaries," and why getting clear on the difference isn't just semantic. In this episode: The difference between boundaries, limits, and expectations...and why it matters. The key ingredients for boun...

When your child can't get started, loses everything, or shuts down, it's easy to blame attitude. But what looks like "lazy" or "defiant" behavior might actually be related to executive functioning. In this episode, executive functioning coach Carrie Bonnett and I break down the brain skills behind your child's struggles at school and at home, and what you can actually do about it. You'll hear: Wha...

Cooking with kids and teens builds more than meals — it builds confidence, connection, and life skills that last. Katie Kimball, creator of Kids Cook Real Food and Teens Cook Real Food , joins Dr. Gila to talk about how cooking can be a gateway skill for kids of all ages and stages. You'll hear: Why cooking might be the most important life skill you can give your child How to get kids of any age g...

If you give your child attention during or after a tantrum, are you rewarding the behavior and making things worse? When your child is upset and acting out, how do you offer comfort without unintentionally reinforcing the behavior? Those are the questions we’re unpacking in today’s episode. You'll hear why this advice is so common, what “working” actually means in parenting, and why the lens you u...

It’s heartbreaking to watch your child struggle, whether at school or on the playground. Yet it's an all-too-common experience, especially for parents of bright and quirky kids. Today's guest shares my determination to change that! In this conversation with with Sam Young (aka “Mr. Sam”), founder of Young Scholars Academy, you'll hear about strength-based schooling, how to apply the principles at...

Ever wondered what in the world "mindfulness" actually looks like? Or how to squeeze it into your day when you barely have time to pee? This episode answers all of that...and more. In this conversation, I’m joined by Hunter Clarke-Fields (aka the "Mindful Mama") for a practical, no-fluff mini masterclass on mindfulness for busy parents. You'll hear: What mindfulness really is (and what it’s not) A...

If you’re a single parent juggling two adults’ worth of responsibilities, this episode is for you. In this conversation with Michelle Byrd of The Busy Vibrant Mom podcast , we talk about how to infuse productivity and joy into your day, and creating a rhythm that fits your family. ABOUT MICHELLE BYRD: Michelle Byrd is the host of a top ranked podcast for Christian working moms, The Busy Vibrant Mo...

There's a superpower every parent has, whether you want it or not. (Though sometimes, it can feel more like kryptonite!) Tune into this episode to find out... ✔︎ What it is ✔︎ Why it's so powerful ✔︎ How to use it without being manipulative ✔︎ 3 specific ways to harness it for your and your child's good Resources mentioned: [Episode 2] Keeping Your Cool: Emotion Regulation for Parents [Workshop] L...

This bonus episode is a replay of my webinar, "Less Snapping, More Snuggling: Why Parents "Lose It"...and How to Finally Break the Cycle (For single parents (and anyone who needs one))." To watch the video of the replay, go to parentingwithconnection.com/webinar . In this special training, you'll hear: A common reason many single parents get stuck in the cycle of “snapping” at their kids, and then...

What happens when you know how you want to handle your kids' big feelings and behaviors, but your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight? In this episode, I’m joined by my client Sara, whose high-conflict divorce and custody battle left her struggling with the emotional and physical demands of life as a solo, working parent, and with supporting her kids through the emotional fallout. Sara shar...

What do you do when “traditional” parenting and school strategies make things worse, and you're not sure what to do instead? In this episode, I talk with Eric, dad to an awesome, autistic kiddo with a PDA profile, about what backfired for his family...and what actually helped. You’ll hear: How even unintended pressure can escalate kids with sensitive nervous systems Why common behavior-based appro...

How do you balance your child's need for connection with your own need for space, especially when there's no adult to "tag in"? That's just one of the questions we explore in this conversation with Ali Miller, a Single Mom by Choice and an expert in Nonviolent Communication (NVC). In this episode, you'll hear: ✔︎ The three essential principles of NVC, and how they apply to parenting. ✔︎ An open, v...

What’s it really like to grow up in a single-parent home shaped by grief...and deep, enduring connection? In this special episode, I’m joined by copywriting coach Marisa Corcoran and her mom, Rita Fratto — a real-life “Gilmore Girls” duo whose story offers a powerful glimpse into widowhood, single parenting, and the long-term impact on children as they grow into adulthood. This is an honest, inspi...