OC Moms, we are so happy to introduce you to Gia Gambaro Blount and share a first look at the parenting book everyone will be talking about!
OCMC: Thank you for spending some time with our readers, Gia! We’ve heard you’re an incredible parenting coach and have been working with families for 20 years. Tell us a little about what inspired you to take this path.
GIA: I’ve always had a calling to work with children and families—it’s truly been the throughline of my entire life. I started as the “fun babysitter” at age 12 and never looked back. All through high school and college, I worked in daycares, summer camps, and afterschool programs, always drawn to spaces where I could support and connect with kids and their families.
After college, I taught preschool through second grade until I had my own children. Becoming a parent is what really shifted everything. My two sons are so different, and raising them taught me the humbling truth that there’s no one right way to parent.
When my kids were little, I took parenting classes—not just to learn new strategies, but to feel supported in the day-to-day challenges of raising children. I had the book knowledge, but parenting in real life was complex. Sitting in those rooms with other parents, all of us figuring things out together, I realized just how essential support is in the parenting journey. That’s when it clicked for me: this is what I want to do—help parents feel more equipped, less alone, and supported as they raise their children.
OCMC: Your book, Good To Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today’s Intentional Parent, is being released in October 2025! What can OC moms expect to find when they pick up their copy?
GIA: It’s a truth universally acknowledged that infant parents are stressed about sleep—and toddler parents are stressed about potty training. That’s exactly why we wrote Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today’s Intentional Parent, coming Fall 2025 from Bloomsbury Publishing. I teamed up with Laura Birek, co-host of the Big Fat Positive podcast, to create a book that we truly believe will change the landscape of potty training—a milestone that’s long overdue for a modern, thoughtful overhaul.
When OC moms pick up Good to Go, they’ll find more than just a how-to guide. We teach 90% of the process before diapers come off using a method rooted in child development, emotional intelligence, and real-life parenting. It’s practical, encouraging, and packed with tools that help parents feel confident and connected, even during the messy parts.
OCMC: Speaking as a mom who has potty trained 3 kids, this sounds amazing. What makes your potty training method unique?
GIA: What makes Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today’s Intentional Parent truly unique is that it flips the script on everything you thought potty training had to be. Instead of starting with removing diapers, our method begins with building skills—what we call the rehearsal phase. During this phase, your child learns 90% of the process before ever going diaper-free, which means less stress, fewer power struggles, and more confidence for everyone involved.
What also sets our approach apart is that it combines the best of developmental theory with real-world parenting. We teach not just physical skills, but emotional intelligence tools that help kids cope with frustration, build body awareness, and develop independence. You’ll learn how to introduce “upskills”—small, practical steps that prepare your child for success—and how to recognize true capability rather than waiting for vague signs of readiness.
Unlike rigid 3-day plans or confusing “wait until they’re ready” advice, Good to Go offers a flexible, supportive roadmap that works for a wide range of families. And it prepares parents just as much as kids, with relatable stories, troubleshooting tools, and strategies that build connection instead of conflict.
OCMC: We’re curious about your concept of Upskills! What is Upskilling, and why is it such a game-changer for parenting?
GIA: Upskilling is really about noticing when your child is ready for more—and giving them the next little step up. It’s how we make sure we’re parenting the child in front of us, not the version from six months ago. Usually when I hear a parent say, “She used to love bath time,” or “All of a sudden, he won’t sit in his high chair,” that’s my clue. It’s not misbehavior—it’s growth. Upskilling is just small shifts that match where they are now so they can keep building confidence and independence without all the power struggles.
A good example is when your toddler “all of a sudden” starts throwing food or trying to climb out of their high chair, it might be time to take the tray off and pull them up to the table with the rest of the family, move them into a booster seat, or start letting them self serve. It’s such a small thing, but it completely changes the dynamic. Kids are wired to grow—we just have to notice and give them the next Upskill..
NOTE: Gia is hosting a free workshop on May 14th, all about Upskilling. Sign up to join HERE.
OCMC: You have such an exciting new approach to potty training—are there other tools, ideas, or projects you’re working on that parents should know about?
GIA: I’m excited to share that I created a card game called Spoonful of Fun! It’s designed for families, especially those with younger children, to make mealtimes more engaging and meaningful. The game helps shift the focus from just eating to truly enjoying the fun of connecting as a family at mealtimes. By making the experience about conversation, laughter, and shared activities, the pressure around eating naturally decreases. There are 30 cards with a mix of playful activities, silly games and activities.
Another thing I’m so excited to share is a new workbook that brings together some of my favorite parenting strategies: Parenting with Purpose, now available on my website. This workbook is over a decade in the making. It actually began back in 2012, when I was raising my own young children and teaching parenting classes. What started as a simple worksheet to help families identify their core values has grown—shaped by years of experience, growth, and feedback from families —into a thoughtful, practical guide. The workbook introduces you to the VCP (Values-Centered Parenting) tool, which helps you parent with intention. You’ll learn how to clarify your values and use them to teach, model, and reinforce what matters most. Whether you’re navigating power struggles, setting boundaries, or just trying to stay consistent, this workbook gives you a clear, reliable roadmap to come back to—again and again.
OCMC: How can our readers connect with you?
I would love to connect with your community. I frequently share parenting tips, strategies, and encouragement on Instagram at @parentcoachgia, and I offer a variety of free resources and downloads on my website. I also send exclusive content, insights, and tools to my email subscribers, so I encourage parents to sign up for my newsletter to stay updated.
Each month, I typically host one to two live workshops covering topics such as potty training, adventurous eating, and sibling dynamics. Parents are also welcome to reach out to me directly by email—I always enjoy connecting and offering personalized support whenever I can.
Website: www.giagambaroblount.com
Instagram: @parentcoachgia
Newsletter: Sign-Up
Email: giagambaroblount@gmail.com
Gia Gambaro Blount is a child development and parent education instructor, guest speaker, parenting consultant with over 20 years of experience, and mother of two. Gia co-authored the current California Department of Education Parent Education curriculum for Pasadena City College. She has been featured in HuffPost, AirTalk (NPR), AARP Family & Relationships, and Shout Out LA. She is the Toddler Expert for The Family Room, has been interviewed as an expert on several top parenting podcasts, and is a scouted keynote speaker for preschools, family centers, and corporations.
