Kids First Co-Parenting with Dr. Royster – Details, episodes & analysis

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We face the quiet fear many moms hold: will my child turn out like my ex. We explain why mimicry isn’t destiny, how processing experience shapes character, and how one steady adult can outweigh chaotic modeling, even in high-conflict homes.

• naming the hidden fear without shame
• modeling versus processing and why it matters
• the role of one steady, safe caregiver
• influence versus control in co-parenting
• tech boundaries that reduce triangulation
• mimicry, phases, and testing limits across ages
• development facts about narcissism and identity
• red flags that signal a child needs more support
• practical scripts, repair, and home culture

Podcast listeners can use the code POD10 for $10 off the Co-Parent Tech kit. Use code POD10. Leave us a review, share with a mama who needs to hear this

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

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We look at why “just ignore it” fails kids in high-conflict homes and show how brief, blame-free validation protects their trust and nervous system. We share practical scripts to name the hard thing, contain it, and co-regulate without fueling new fights.

• why silence teaches kids to doubt themselves
• difference between ignoring a co-parent and ignoring a child
• when non-engagement makes sense strategically
• the name it, contain it, regulate framework
• age-appropriate validation and simple scripts
• avoiding overexplaining while offering reassurance
• co-regulation tools for car rides and transitions
• applying the same approach to wider community stress

Join the Kids First Co-Parenting membership for kid-focused lessons, practical tools, and live group coaching. Learn more at the link in the show notes
Join the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for $19. The link is in the show notes below

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send us a text

Ever watched your child’s face twist with confusion? Up at night worrying about gaslighting and how to protect your child from the exact dynamics you experienced?

 We’re tackling the quiet damage of gaslighting in high-conflict co-parenting and sharing the exact words you can use to steady your kid without badmouthing your ex or dragging them into the middle.

We start with validation on steroids. You’ll learn simple, easy to remember phrases that meet your child where they are, “I can see why that feels confusing,” “I’m glad you told me” and grounding strategies. 

Then you'll learn how to build the muscle that manipulation tries to weaken: a child’s trust in their own perception. Through open-ended prompts and gentle reality-checks, we show how to help kids hold two stories without losing their center, and why this skill protects them in friendships, school, and future relationships.

From there, we set clean boundaries that keep kids out of adult logistics and blame. You’ll hear how to avoid using your child as a messenger, when to share brief factual context about safety or court decisions, and how to correct misinformation without turning your kitchen into a courtroom.

For moms who want more, we point to our High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms concise, self-paced training with scripts, strategies, and a printable workbook so you always know what to say and how to say it. If this helped, tap follow, leave a quick review, and share it with a mom who could use a steadier week. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send us a text

What happens when the already intense world of competitive youth sports collides with the complexities of co-parenting after divorce? Dr. Alec Baker, a psychologist specializing in both sports psychology and family dynamics, joins Dr. Royster to explore this challenging intersection where parental dreams, financial pressures, and children's wellbeing often compete for priority.

Drawing from his background as a former competitive athlete whose career was cut short by injuries, Dr. Baker offers a compassionate perspective on why youth sports environments can become pressure cookers for family stress. His doctoral research revealed a concerning connection – as the percentage of family income devoted to youth sports increases, marital satisfaction (particularly for women) tends to decrease. When divorce enters the picture, these financial and scheduling strains often intensify, creating new battlegrounds for already conflicted co-parents.

The conversation challenges several pervasive myths about youth athletic development. Contrary to the fear-driven narrative that children must specialize early or "miss their chance," Dr. Baker explains why multi-sport participation and physical literacy development until ages 12-14 creates stronger, more resilient athletes. This evidence-based approach not only benefits children's athletic trajectory but can significantly reduce family str

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App: Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send us a text

Ever wondered if your child is being gaslit by their other parent? Manipulated into questioning their own reality? You're not alone, and you're not being paranoid.

Gaslighting - that subtle psychological manipulation where someone makes you question your own perceptions and memories - can be devastating for children caught in high-conflict co-parenting situations. When a child starts doubting what they saw, heard, or felt, it undermines their entire sense of security and trust.

In this deep dive, I explain exactly what gaslighting looks like when children are involved. From denying promises ("I never said I'd take you for ice cream") to rewriting family history or undermining your rules, these manipulative tactics create confusion and anxiety for kids. The damage runs deep because it erodes their internal compass - that essential ability to trust their own experiences and feelings.

But not every disagreement or difficult moment with your ex qualifies as gaslighting. I'll help you distinguish between genuine differences in parenting approaches and true manipulation, because labeling everything as "gaslighting" only dilutes its meaning and can make it harder to address the real problem.

This episode lays the foundation for understanding this complex issue, while a future episode will focus specifically on how to protect your child from gaslighting. Becaus

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App: Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send a text

Overwhelmed by the advice to "document everything" in your high-conflict co-parenting situation? You're not alone. In this practical episode, Dr. Karalynn Royster tackles the documentation dilemma head-on, offering clear strategies to transform that mountain of screenshots into a manageable, effective system.

Documentation serves three crucial purposes: creating an objective record of events for legal proceedings, helping you maintain emotional clarity, and most importantly, protecting your children from confusion and conflict. But without a proper system, documentation quickly becomes an overwhelming second job that many parents eventually abandon.

Dr. Royster walks through exactly what's worth documenting (and what isn't), sharing a simple question to ask yourself: "Would this matter to a mediator, judge, lawyer, or therapist?" While safety concerns and medical issues always warrant documentation, not everything deserves equal attention. By focusing your efforts strategically, you can build a documentation practice that's sustainable and effective.

The episode offers practical guidance on creating a system that works for your unique brain - whether that's using co-parenting apps, Google Drive folders, organized photo albums, physical binders, or journals. You'll learn the importance of documenting facts rather than feelings, and how proper organization can help y

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App: Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send a text

Show Notes: 

Dr. Karalynn Royster invites child psychologist Dr. Julianne Monday to explore the connection between anxious moms and anxious kids, discussing how parental regulation impacts children's emotional development. They share practical strategies for breaking generational patterns and creating emotionally safe homes while addressing the pervasive issue of mom guilt.

Key Points:
• Dr. Monday's journey from early childhood teacher to child psychologist focused on anxious moms and sensitive kids
• How parents under stress revert to patterns they experienced in their own childhoods
• The difference between mom guilt and mom shame and strategies for releasing both
• Why perfect parenting isn't the goal – repair after mistakes builds crucial resilience in children
• Importance of regulating your own nervous system through breath work and body-based strategies
• How modeling calm for your children works through mirror neurons even when they're upset
• Overview of the Wire to Connect program for anxious moms of emotionally sensitive children

Connect with Dr. Monday at the links below:

Private Facebook Group

Get your Your Mom Guilt Freebie

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App: Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send us a text

Summary:

Dr. Karalynn Royster explores how to respond when your child returns from their co-parent's home repeating confusing or inaccurate information. This episode provides practical guidance on validating your child's experience while maintaining appropriate boundaries that protect them from adult conflicts.

Takeaways:

• Children asking difficult questions shows they trust you enough to bring challenging topics to you
• Your child is not trying to hurt you when repeating confusing information
• Focus on clarity rather than confrontation 
• Avoid phrases that create loyalty binds 
• Use the validation, boundaries, and redirection approach to respond effectively
• Document concerning patterns but address them separately from conversations with your child
• Remember that children need emotional safety more than they need complete information

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send us a text

Summary: Our neurobiological response to co-parenting stress often mirrors evolutionary survival mechanisms, triggering fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reactions when we receive messages from difficult ex-partners. Recognizing these pattern is the critical first step to interrupting automatic responses and choosing more intentional communication.

Key Takeaways:

• The "four Fs" (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) are natural trauma responses designed to protect us in threatening situations
• Different situations may trigger different response patterns based on your history
• You can't control your initial reaction, but you can learn to recognize it before responding
• Naming what's happening creates space between your reaction and your response
• Asking trusted friends about your typical response patterns can provide valuable insights

Resources: 

Check out our High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for just $19, where we go beyond naming these responses and provide practical tools for each pattern. 

If you’re tired of every conversation with your ex turning into a fight, the High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms  is for you.  In this  self-paced 3 day online course, get scripts, strategies, and a workbook you can use right away, designed for moms in high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting. Enroll now for just $19 here. 

BestInterest Co-Parenting App
Join BestInterest App and get 22% off yearly subscriptions with code LITTLEHOUSE22

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...

Send us a text

Episode Summary: 

We explore how to handle tough questions from your children about separation, divorce, or your past relationship in ways that are honest, developmentally appropriate, and emotionally supportive.

Key Points
• Understand what's driving your child's question before answering 
• Validate their question first with phrases 
• Gently assess why they might be asking 
• Keep responses child-focused
• Respond directly to the underlying concern (like fear of losing your love) 

Kids First CoParenting System: The best membership for moms co-parenting in a high conflict dynamic. If you are co-parenting with a narcissist, dealing with a manipulative ex, or feeling overwhelmed by high-conflict dynamics, you are not alone. These resources are designed to help you protect your child’s emotional health and take back control of your co-parenting experience.

Get More Support

• How to Co-Parent with a Difficult Ex Masterclass (Free & Instant Access)
• Kids First Co-Parenting Membership (First Month $48.50--> $97 after that, cancel anytime)

Explore the Kids First Co-Parenting System to learn how to raise emotionally secure kids after divorce, even when your co-parent refuses to change. This is the support system every overwhelmed mom needs.

Social Links:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Youtube

The Kids First CoParenting podcast and all related content are provided for general educa...