Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection)

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:

1. What is "executive functioning," and why is it so important?
2. The language shift that changes how you - and your child! - interpret their difficulties
3. Why your struggles as a parent might actually be an asset
4. How to help your child build the skills they need to navigate daily life with more ease
5. Where to start when everything feels like a battle

RELATED RESOURCES:

👉 FREE from Carrie: Task Initiation Toolkit

👉 Episode 22: The Superpower Every Parent Has (And How to Use It for Good)

ABOUT CARRIE BONNETT

Carrie Bonnett is a veteran teacher, lifelong list-maker, and Executive Function coach based in Bend, Oregon. She works with students and families around the country using a practical, no-shame, brain-first approach that empowers students to thrive, helps parents and teachers better support them, and gives adults tools to stay on top of all that life requires.

In addition to coaching, Carrie creates digital resources, including her signature course Get the Brain on Board and a series of No-Shame Guides for Parents. She also provides brain-based workshops and trainings for parents, teachers, and other professionals. And she is an adjunct instructor at the University of Portland, where she supports early-career teachers.

👉 Website: www.carriebonnett.com

👉 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

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CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

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©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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:

1. Why cooking might be the most important life skill you can give your child
2. How to get kids of any age genuinely excited about it
3. Why cooking can be especially powerful for neurodivergent kids
4. Tips for keeping the experience low-stress for everyone

Whether you're just starting out or trying to re-engage an eye-rolling tween, there's something here for you.

RELATED RESOURCES:

👉 Knife Skills for Kids

👉 Teens Cook Real Food

ABOUT KATIE KIMBALL

Katie Kimball of Raising Healthy Families helps change kids’ relationship to food, both through work in the kitchen and helping parents of picky eaters. She’s a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, mom of 4 kids, and creator of the Kids Cook Real Food Course, Teens Cook Real Food Course, #LifeSkillsNow virtual summer camps, and blogs at Kitchen Stewardship. Her mission is to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and instill those all-important life skills!

👉 Raising Healthy Families

👉 Healthy Parenting Handbook Podcast

👉 Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

**Affiliate disclaimer: This episode may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a small financial benefit if you decide to buy something, at no extra cost to you. We only share products and services we genuinely believe will help you on your parenting journey. **

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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 use to interpret your child’s behavior changes how you respond.

Related resources:

⭐️ [Episode 7] Why Kids "Lose It": What's Beneath the Big Behaviors

⭐️ [FREE guide] Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My!

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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 home in your parenting, and why this can be especially transformational for gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent kids.

RELATED RESOURCES:

👉 Young Scholars Academy (use code "DRGILA10" for 10% off!)

👉 Free Summer Camp Open House for Young Scholars Academy

ABOUT SAM YOUNG (aka "Mr. Sam")

Sam Young, M.Ed., is the Head of School at Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, virtual village that empowers gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent students to thrive!

Sam is a two-time Fulbright Scholar, TEDx presenter, keynote speaker, and a neurodivergent person himself, who has committed his life to supporting clever, quirky students to overcome the harmful deficit-based system and develop their superpowers, and lead strength-based, talent-focused lives!

👉 Website (use code "DRGILA10" for 10% off!)

👉 Facebook

👉 Instagram

👉 [FREE] The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Stop Struggling and Start Living a Strength-Based Life

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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:

1. What mindfulness really is (and what it’s not)
2. A realistic “minimum dose” of practice
3. Tiny ways to weave mindfulness into chaotic days
4. How mindfulness can help you through tantrums and meltdowns

About Hunter:

Hunter Clarke-Fields is the number 1 bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every Day,” host of the Mindful Mama Podcast, global speaker, Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting Course and Teacher Certification program. She has over 20 years of experience in meditation and yoga practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide.

👉 Website: https://www.mindfulmamamentor.com/

👉 Podcast: Mindful Mama Podcast

👉 IG: @mindfulmamamentor

👉 FB: @mindfulmamamentor

👉 Free resources

👉 Mindfulness course

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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 Mom.

Michelle provides working moms with the tools they need so they can have more time in their day and their week to pour into their families. She specializes in offering productivity hacks, time blocking, organizational systems, purposeful parenting, and time management tools.

⭐️ Get Michelle's Productivity Planner & Time Blocking Basics

⭐️ Website: www.byrdmichelle.com

⭐️ Podcast: The Busy Vibrant Mom

⭐️ IG: @thebusyvibrantmom

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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:

1. [Episode 2] Keeping Your Cool: Emotion Regulation for Parents
2. [Workshop] Less Snapping, More Snuggling: Why Parents Lose It, and How to Finally Break the Cycle
3. [Program] 💛 The Regulation Reset – a 12-week small-group program for single parents (enrollment ends February 14)

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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:

1. A common reason many single parents get stuck in the cycle of “snapping” at their kids, and then spiraling into shame.
2. 3 Key ingredients for finally breaking that cycle.
3. My signature framework that helps my clients - and their kids! - understand their nervous system’s response to stress.
4. How this framework can help you finally be less reactive, and feel more capable of handling the tough moments in parenting (and life-ing) without “losing it” as often.

You'll also hear about The Regulation Reset - my 12-week, small-group program for single parents (and anyone who feels like one).

Enrollment is open through February 14. For more information, go to:

🔗 parentingwithconnection.com/reset

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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 shares her journey from parenting in survival mode and "walking on eggshells" with her kids, to feeling more empowered, confident, and capable of handling the realities of solo parenting.

It's a candid, highly relatable story, with golden nuggets of insight and hope for parents navigating similar terrain.

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).

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:

1. How even unintended pressure can escalate kids with sensitive nervous systems
2. Why common behavior-based approaches can backfire.
3. What actually helps when a child is in fight-or-flight.
4. Why the most challenging, and most impactful, piece is managing your own reactivity as a parent.

While we talk specifically about PDA, the insights in this episode apply to any child whose nervous system escalates under pressure, and any parent who feels like their instincts keep backfiring.

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❤️ Enrollment is open for Coaching Circles! Only 3 spots per Circle. 👉 parentingwithconnection.com/circles

❤️ FREE guide: Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages...Oh My! The single parent's guide to understanding challenging behaviors

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

👉 Join the newsletter for practical parenting tips and a hefty dose of empathy, delivered straight to your inbox.

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

✉️ E-mail: [email protected]

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 2026 Dr. Gila Parenting | All rights reserved

DISCLAIMER: All episodes of Single-Parenting with Connection (NOT Perfection) are for educational and informational purposes only. Although Dr. Gila is a licensed psychologist and certified coach, this podcast and the information discussed within the podcast do not constitute therapy, counseling, coaching, or other professional service, and are not a substitute for professional services including medical or psychological advice. Moreover, the views expressed on the podcast are those of the host and guests. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content.

Any use of this intellectual property owned by Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA) may not be used in connection with the sale or distribution of any content (free or paid, written or verbal), product, and/or service by you without prior written consent from Dr. Gila Parenting (DBA).