Kids First Co-Parenting with Dr. Royster

Dr. Karalynn Royster

The podcast for moms raising secure kids after divorce & separation, even when their ex makes everything harder.

  1. 7H AGO

    Beyond the “Best Lawyer” List: Questions to Hire the Right Fit

    Send us a text We walk through how to decide if your attorney is the right fit by focusing on your next 60 to 90 days, your case’s unique needs, and the communication systems that keep you steady. We compare junior and senior counsel, map specialties to real problems, and share steps to repair or replace without chaos. • reframing “best attorney” as best for your needs • defining immediate goals like enforcement or modification • weighing junior associate responsiveness against partner experience • matching attorney specialty to case complexity and risk • assessing responsiveness, urgency protocols, and evidence workflows • spotting realistic strategy versus empty promises • steps to repair the relationship before switching counsel • using community, templates, and checklists to interview well Please share widely and leave us a review if you do find it useful The best way you can support the show is by following, rating, and reviewing wherever you listen to podcasts and by sharing it with another mom who could use the support You can also connect with me on Instagram and Facebook at LearnwithLittle House, where I share daily tips and encouragement for moms raising kids through high conflict divorce If you’re ready to go deep and get more tools, scripts, personalized support, and coaching, come join us inside the Kids First co-parenting community 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.  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...

    26 min
  2. Holiday Series: Coping With Holiday Grief After Divorce

    12/19/2025

    Holiday Series: Coping With Holiday Grief After Divorce

    Send us a text We explore how to face holiday grief and ambivalence when the kids are with a co-parent and the house feels too quiet. We share a clear plan to cope ahead, micro-skills for spirals, and when to bring in extra support while modeling regulation for our kids. • naming grief and ambivalence during holidays • separating feelings from behaviors • building a coping ahead plan that fits you • body, mind and connection actions for hard days • grounding with feet and breath work • quick resets with water, sky and fresh air • recognizing red flags that signal added support • modeling self-regulation language for kids The membership is half off for listeners right now. You can find the membership at the link in the show notes 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...

    22 min
  3. Holiday Series: But You Get Two Christmases”-Grief, Joy, And Mixed Feelings For Kids

    12/05/2025

    Holiday Series: But You Get Two Christmases”-Grief, Joy, And Mixed Feelings For Kids

    Send us a text We explore how to support kids through holiday ambivalence without putting them in the middle, and why naming, validating, and coping rituals reduce stress for both kids and parents. We reframe “bad behavior” as stress signals, unpack loyalty pulls, and share simple connection rituals that steady transitions. • normalizing mixed feelings during holiday co‑parenting  • naming and validating emotions to build attachment  • explaining and easing loyalty pulls between parents  • reading behaviors as stress signals, not defiance  • using curiosity and lowering demands to de‑escalate  • creating simple, predictable connection rituals  • recognizing parallel process in your own emotions  • avoiding invalidating phrases and scorekeeping  • steady support through routine shifts and transitions 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...

    29 min
  4. 11/28/2025 · BONUS

    BONUS: Inside A Therapist-Led Divorce Recovery Group, an interview with Dr. Kristen Hick

    Send us a text We explore how a therapist-led, process-oriented divorce recovery group helps women move through grief, confront shame, and build real co-parenting skills when conflict runs high. Join us for the bonus conversation with Dr. Kristen Hick (Center for Shared Insight).  Along the way we name false summits, choose the right hills to die on, and find a steadier path forward. What's in this episode: • What a process-oriented group offers beyond support • Weekly flow, safety, and facilitated interaction • Grief as a normal, nonlinear part of divorce • Shame vs guilt and why shame is stickier • Community as an antidote to isolation • Group and individual therapy working together • Control traps with new partners, bedtimes, and rules • Choosing enforceable hills and protecting peace • Venting with boundaries and narrative work • The long arc of recovery and holding hope Join us today. We’ve made the Kids First Co-Parenting System a membership so it’s more accessible and affordable for moms just like you. Come in and get your first month and all the lessons again. You’ll find the details here.  Find Dr. Kristen Hick at the Center for Shared Insight, and learn more about the Divorce Recovery Group.  Follow the Center 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...

    42 min
  5. Holiday Series: How To Handle Nosy Relatives And Protect Your Kids On Thanksgiving

    11/21/2025

    Holiday Series: How To Handle Nosy Relatives And Protect Your Kids On Thanksgiving

    Send us a text Holiday tables can be tender ground when you’re parenting from two homes. We dig into practical, child-first strategies to keep Thanksgiving calm and drama-free, and be connected to the people that although they are being nosey...probably care a lot too. From boundary-setting texts you can send before you arrive to on-the-spot scripts that shut down gossip, comparisons, and invasive questions, this conversation gives you the exact words and plans you need. We start by reframing the season around regulation and safety, then map out how to brief relatives, protect kids from loyalty binds, and redirect when someone slips. You’ll hear short, repeatable lines to keep adult topics off the menu, ways to validate a loved one’s concern without unpacking the divorce at the table, and gentle non-answers you can use when asked about dating, custody, or who “got the house.” We also cover how to introduce a new partner thoughtfully and how to intervene when family tries to extract details from your child or compare “mom’s house vs dad’s house.” As the day unfolds, structure matters. You’ll learn when to shorten visits, arrive just for dinner, or create new, simpler traditions that meet your bandwidth. We share quick, neutral responses for kids’ questions about split holidays and guidance on saving deeper conversations for a calmer moment. If you’re attending solo this year, these same scripts protect your peace and model healthy boundaries. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s steady, grounded presence and a holiday your child remembers for comfort, not conflict. 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...

    25 min
  6. What the heck is Nesting?

    11/07/2025

    What the heck is Nesting?

    Send us a text The kids stay home, the parents rotate—simple to say, hard to do well. We unpack nesting with straight talk on what it is, when it helps, and how to make it work without sliding back into the same conflicts that made separation necessary. From early-stage divorce logistics to keeping bedtime steady for a neurodivergent child, we share a practical blueprint anchored in safety, trust, and child-centered routines. We start with the basics: a clear definition of nesting, common scenarios where it shines—high cost of living, a traveling parent, or a need to preserve medical equipment and school routines—and the invisible load it creates. You’ll hear why privacy protocols, written house rules, and transparent money systems prevent “gotcha” moments that reignite resentment. We also get candid about non-negotiables: if there’s coercive control, abuse, or constant boundary-breaking, nesting is the wrong tool. Parallel parenting from separate homes with structured communication will serve your child better. Then we move into execution. Set the schedule first and keep exchanges brief and businesslike, like passing a relay baton. Align on routines using the “siblings, not twins” principle so life feels familiar even as parents change places. Lock down a plan for chores, groceries, mail, guests, and tech boundaries. Track expenses and reconcile on a cadence so costs don’t become character judgments. Most importantly, assign an endpoint—30 to 60 days—and review objective markers: on-time handoffs, fewer meltdowns, and lower parent conflict. If it’s working, extend with intention; if it’s not, pivot promptly. If messages from your ex make your stomach drop, grab our High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms for $19 to get scripts and strategies you can use today. And if you want ongoing coaching, tools, and community, join the Kids First membership—use code ProtectKids at learnwithlittlehouse.com. Subscribe, share with a mom who needs this, and leave a quick review to help more families find solid ground. 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...

    25 min
  7. Pioneering Co-Parent Communication: An Interview with Sol Kennedy founder of Best Interest

    10/31/2025

    Pioneering Co-Parent Communication: An Interview with Sol Kennedy founder of Best Interest

    Send us a text A single notification shouldn’t hijack your nervous system. When co-parenting gets high-conflict, though, even a short text can set off a cascade of stress that steals focus from your kids. We sat down with founder Sol Kennedy to unpack Best Interest, the first AI‑moderated messaging app for co-parents, built from his own divorce and supported by Dr. Ramani’s expertise. Think of it as a calm, intelligent “shield” that filters inflammatory language into clear, actionable requests while preserving originals for records and reflection. We explore how the app learns your context, aligns replies with your parenting plan, and compresses message floods into a single daily notification. Emergencies still break through, so you stay responsive without living on edge. For anyone using Our Family Wizard or Talking Parents, you can import conversations via screenshot and get immediate coaching. And when legal documentation matters, Best Interest exports unaltered messages with timestamps so judges see what was actually said—alongside your steady, concise responses. Beyond the tech, this conversation dives into mindset: moving from reactivity and “evidence mode” toward agency, boundaries, and regulation. Courts are slow, costly, and often fuel a winner‑loser frame that fails kids. Reducing conflict at the source—messaging—creates space to parent with clarity, model calm, and protect your peace. We also share a practical tool for another flashpoint: screens across two homes. The Co-Parent Tech Agreement Kit gives you a decision framework, scripts, and a shared log to end the tug‑of‑war without power struggles. If you’ve wondered whether one parent can make things better, the answer is yes. You don’t need your ex’s consent to start using Best Interest, try the free AI coach, or set limits that honor your bandwidth and your child’s needs. Follow, rate, and share the show with a mom who needs relief today—and tell us what boundary would bring you the most peace right now. Best Interest App: 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...

    38 min
  8. The Five Decision Framework: A strategy to make tech decisions in Co-Parenting

    10/17/2025

    The Five Decision Framework: A strategy to make tech decisions in Co-Parenting

    Send us a text Court-ordered FaceTime, late-night pings, and surprise speakerphone moments can turn tech into a battleground—unless you have a plan built for high-conflict co-parenting. We break down a practical five-decision framework that transforms chaos into clarity: precise call windows, allowed platforms, device-free anchors, clear privacy norms, and a calm problems protocol for when things go sideways. You’ll hear why judges dislike being dragged into phone debates, what the research says about delaying smartphones and social media, and how small wording changes in your parenting plan stop late calls from steamrolling bedtime. We keep it real with scripts for missed-call boundaries, tips for choosing simple, low-drama platforms, and ways to protect your child’s nervous system with shared anchors like phone-free meals and device-free bedrooms. You’ll learn how to teach kids to assert privacy—no more hidden recordings or third-party coaching—and how to create a digital incident log that tracks issues neutrally, strengthens your case if needed, and keeps communication with your co-parent steady and brief. The goal is simple: a calmer home, a steadier routine, and a child who feels safe and seen across both houses. If you’re ready for tools that work when personalities clash, this conversation gives you the structure to reduce conflict and keep your kid at the center. Check out our Co-Parenting Tech Agreement kit for scripts, worksheets, and a fillable incident log, and don’t miss our High Conflict Communication Bootcamp for Moms for fast, usable strategies. If this helped, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a mom who needs steadier evenings and better sleep. Your support helps more families find calm. Snag your seat in the Co-Parent Tech Agreement Workshop, use podcast bonus code POD10 for $$ off. Check out Jonathan Haidt's book, the Anxious Generation 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...

    27 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The podcast for moms raising secure kids after divorce & separation, even when their ex makes everything harder.