In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Markham to unpack the often messy world of sibling dynamics—especially when one or more kids are neurodivergent. We talk about why peaceful parenting starts with connection, how to handle those inevitable "it's not fair!" moments, and how to repair after conflict. Laura shares thoughtful, practical strategies for supporting each child’s unique needs while nurturing more positive sibling relationships, even when things feel really hard.

About Dr. Laura Markham

Dr. Laura Markham is the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How To Stop Yelling and Start Connecting, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How To Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life, and The Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook: Using mindfulness and connection to raise resilient, joyful children and rediscover your love of parenting.

Dr. Laura Markham earned her PhD in clinical psychology at Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with countless families across the world. Over 170,000 moms and dads enjoy Dr. Laura’s free weekly coaching posts via email. You can sign up on any page of her website, Peacefulparenthappykids.com, which serves up Aha! Moments for parents of babies through teens. Dr. Laura’s aspiration is to change the world, one child at a time, by supporting parents. The proud mother of two thriving young adults who were raised with her peaceful parenting approach, she lives with her husband in New York.

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why parenting that prioritizes connection over strategy lays the foundation for healthy sibling dynamics

How self-regulation in parents shapes the emotional tone and effectiveness of conflict resolution between siblings

Why it’s important to embrace sibling conflict as a normal and teachable part of growing up, while guiding repair and emotional processing

How acknowledging each child’s unique needs and avoiding comparison fosters a sense of fairness and individual worth

Why modeling compassion, calm, and appropriate behavior teaches kids how to navigate conflict and build emotional intelligence

How recognizing the goodwill in children and validating their feelings helps strengthen sibling bonds, even during tough moments

Resources mentioned

Dr. Laura Markham’s Peaceful Parent Happy Kids website

Raising Peaceful Siblings with Tools to Ease Jealousy and Build Connection (Free Guide)

Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Dr. Laura Markham

Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to Stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life by Dr. Laura Markham

Dr. Laura Markham on Facebook

Dr. Laura Markham on Instagram

Self-Compassion for Tough Moments Printable

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RUR, by Karel Capeck