Amy Grace is joined by Dr. Gila, a parenting coach, to discuss her journey as a single parent and her approach to supporting other single parents. Dr. Gila shares her personal story of becoming a mom later in life and adjusting to the challenges of single parenting. She dives deep into the complexities of raising a strong-willed child, the importance of self-regulation, and how to model healthy behaviors for our kids. Dr. Gila also discusses her work supporting single parents and how they can thrive through connection and flexibility.
Key Takeaways:
The Importance of Flexibility: Parenting requires constant flexibility, especially when life doesn’t go as planned. Dr. Gila shares how recalibrating your expectations is key to thriving as a parent.
Understanding Strong-Willed Children: Strong-willed children teach us important lessons in patience, self-regulation, and how to model healthy communication.
Self-Regulation and Communication: The two most essential skills in parenting are self-regulation and communication. Both are lifelong processes that we must continue to develop as parents.
The Parent-Child Relationship: Dr. Gila uses the metaphor of a tree to explain how the foundation of parenting relies on understanding the parent’s role, the child’s needs, and the relationship dynamic.
Single Parenting with Connection: Single parents face unique challenges, but Dr. Gila emphasizes the importance of creating supportive, non-judgmental spaces where they can connect with their children and thrive, even in the face of adversity.
Key Quotes:
“Parenting requires flexibility. You have to recalibrate your expectations when life doesn’t go the way you expect.” – Dr. Gila
“Strong-willed kids challenge us to be better parents. They teach us lessons that we wouldn’t learn from easier kids.” – Dr. Gila
“Self-regulation and communication are the two most important skills for parents. ” – Dr. Gila
“It’s not about being perfect. It’s about creating connection and modeling healthy behavior for your children.” – Dr. Gila
“Even if you’re on your own, you don’t have to do it alone. Single parents need support, and it’s okay to seek it.” – Dr. Gila
About Dr. Gila
Dr. Gila is a Jai-certified parent coach and certified Clini-Coach®, in addition to being a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist. Most importantly, she’s a single mom.
Dr. Gila specializes in single parenting with connection, not perfection. She is passionate about helping single parents build healthy relationships with their kids AND themselves, through workshops, individual coaching, and her group program, The SingleParentology™ Lab. Her motto is: Even if you're on your own, you don't have to do it alone!
Website: drgilaparenting.com: Visit Dr. Gila’s website for resources, free guides, and more about supporting single parents.
Free Resources: Dr. Gila offers a free guided meditation for single parents, a PDF on understanding tantrums and meltdowns, and a short video pep talk.
Single Parenting Summit: Dr. Gila’s upcoming summit for single parents, featuring experts in various fields, is set for February. Learn More and Sign Up Today!
About Your Host:
Amy Grace is the heart behind Everyday Supermoms, a podcast that inspires and empowers mothers by sharing diverse stories of resilience and connection. As a licensed therapist, she supports moms through all stages of motherhood. A mom of six, Amy draws from her own journey—from single parenting to blended families—to create a community where mothers can embrace their unique paths with confidence and grace.
For More Info and your FREE Embracing Your Inner Supermom Workbook visit www.everydaysupermoms.com
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Amy Grace has courses designed for moms to help them thrive in motherhood and be the best mom they can be. Check out her Courses and Love your Motherhood!
