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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FREE webinar Feb 4 for single parents (and anyone who feels like one):

👉 Less Snapping, More Snuggling: Why Parents "Lose It"...and How to Finally Break the Cycle (Even if you're on your own)

🔗 parentingwithconnection.com/webinar

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⭐️ Join the VIP waitlist for The Regulation Reset.

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CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

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

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

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

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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).

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, vulnerable conversation about the challenges of parenting solo, including guilt, blame, resentment, and the power of self-compassion.

✔︎ Real-time coaching around one of Ali's ongoing challenges: Supporting her daughter's need for connection without entirely sacrificing her own needs.

👉 If snapping and shame spirals are a challenge for you too, my free webinar on Feb. 4 is designed with you in mind. Click here to learn more.

ABOUT ALI MILLER, MA

Ali Miller is a Single Mom by Choice, or, as she likes to call it, Sole Mom by Design. She's also an expert in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), a Couples Communication Coach, and a Marriage & Family Therapist. Ali helps parents level up their communication and conflict-resolution skills so they can stop the fruitless fighting and feel closer than ever.

👉 WEBSITE: https://www.alimillercoaching.com

👉 IG: @alimillercoaching

👉 FREE: Feelings & Needs Cheatsheets

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FREE webinar Feb 4 for single parents (and anyone who feels like one):

👉 Less Snapping, More Snuggling: Why Parents "Lose It"...and How to Finally Break the Cycle (Even if you're on your own)

🔗 parentingwithconnection.com/webinar

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

⭐️ Join the VIP waitlist for The Regulation Reset.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

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

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

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 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’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, inspiring - and fun! - conversation about life's unexpected lessons, community, resilience, chosen family, and the everyday moments that build a secure, loving relationship over time, without pretending that single parenting is easy or light.

ABOUT MARISA CORCORAN AND RITA FRATTO

Marisa Corcoran and Rita Fratto hail from Syracuse, New York, and consider themselves the original "Gilmore Girls."

Rita spent the majority of her career as the head of Senior Programs for The City of Syracuse as well as a Social Worker with Syracuse Housing Authority, all while being a widow and single mother.

Marisa Corcoran is the creator of The Copy Chat and Copy Confidence Society, helping business owners uncover what to say (think: words on your website, emails, and more!) to magnetically attract your dream clients.

👉 WEBSITE: MarisaCorcoran.com

👉 IG: @Mtoni

👉 FREE: 50+ Scroll-Stopping Subject Lines

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FREE webinar Feb 4 for single parents (and anyone who feels like one):

👉 Less Snapping, More Snuggling: Why Parents "Lose It"...and How to Finally Break the Cycle (Even if you're on your own)

🔗 parentingwithconnection.com/webinar

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

⭐️ Join the VIP waitlist for The Regulation Reset.

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

CONNECT WITH DR. GILA

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

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

🔗 Website: www.parentingwithconnection.com

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

©️ 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).