Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection)

When your kids are going at each other in the backseat, it can feel like playing pinball with five balls at once. And if you’re the only adult home, you’re working that machine on your own. This week I’m joined by Allyn Miller of Child Connection to talk about sibling conflict: when to step in, when to step back, and what to do after it all goes sideways (including when you’re the one who "lost it...

Sick of feeling like the only one in your home who notices or does anything? Carrying the whole mental load leaves you tapped out and resentful, but getting your neurodivergent or "strong-willed" kid to share any of it can feel impossible. This week, I'm talking with Sam Kelly about her "Notice and Do" approach to raising kids who understand and share the mental and physical load, at a pace that w...

Parenting without control might sound radical. Or maybe you love the idea but can’t picture it holding up when your kid needs a blood draw or can't turn off the iPad. I'm diving into it this week with Vivek Patel of Meaningful Ideas, including how his Non-Coercive Collaborative Parenting (NCCP) approach applies when the parenting stakes feel high. In this episode, you'll hear: Vivek's answer to th...

Is it true what they say? "Kids are resilient; they'll be fine!" We're diving into that very question in today's episode, plus three essential steps for supporting your child through challenging times. In this episode, you'll hear: What resilience actually is 2 key ingredients for building resilience Common myths and mistakes parents make when supporting kids through hard times 3 things you can do...

Back-to-school season is here! And for parents of complex kids, the new notebooks and backpacks often come with a side of anxiety and angst. This week I'm joined by Scotti Weintraub, host of the Unlocking School Success podcast, to talk about tips for setting you and your kids setting up a thriving new year. You'll hear: The low-lift inventory that tells you more about last year than any report ca...

An encore episode, just in time for back-to-school season! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide ********************* 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 b...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide 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 semanti...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide Parent burnout is real, and it’s not just about being tired . In this powerful conversation with Low-Demand Parenting author Amanda Diekman, we explore what parent burnout really means, and how to find your way back to yourself. If you’ve been running on empty or wonder...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide You’ve done the deep breathing and tried every self-regulation trick in the book...So why does single-parenting still feel so freaking hard?! In this episode, Dr. Gila shares two often overlooked pieces of the puzzle, and why a parent's self-regulation, while essential,...

A fan favorite — back for the summer! But first... 🌟 Get your free printable meltdown guide at parentingwithconnection.com/guide Why does your kid push back so hard, even over simple stuff? And how can you break free of these battles so life doesn't feel like a trek through molasses? Power struggles may be the bane of your existence, but they're also a glimpse into your kid's brain. Join Dr. Gila...

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...