"Just stay calm." "Be the calm in the storm." Easy to say, impossible to do when you're already depleted from co-regulating through three transitions before breakfast, making seventy decisions, and absorbing your child's anxiety all morning. Here's the truth: you can't lend your child a calm nervous system if yours is running on empty. And trying harder to "stay calm" when you're already dysregulated? That's not a reasonable expectation—it's not even biologically possible.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why your child's nervous system is constantly scanning yours for cues of safety or danger

• What's happening in your body when chronic stress shrinks your "window of tolerance"

• How to notice your early warning signs before you're already yelling or shut down

• The micro-moments of regulation (30 seconds to 2 minutes) that actually work in real-time

• Why repair after dysregulation matters more than perfect calm

• When you need professional support for your own nervous system (and why that's not weakness)

By the end of this episode, you'll understand what's actually happening in your body when your child is dysregulated, why "just stay calm" doesn't work, and what you need to do to regulate yourself so you can help regulate your child.

Resources mentioned: Sign up for the newsletter at www.climbingfishparenting.com for a specific regulation technique that works in under 60 seconds—plus instant access to the Frustration Tolerance Scripts & Practice Guide.

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.

If you're trying to "do it all"—homemade meals, organized systems, consistent routines, patience, self-care—while parenting a child who's wired differently, I need you to hear this: You're not failing because you're not trying hard enough. You're failing because the goal itself is impossible. That vision of "good parenting" wasn't designed for families managing constant co-regulation, sensory needs, and nervous systems that can't handle typical demands.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why you're operating from a scarcity model (and how it's setting you up for collapse)

• How to identify your real non-negotiables (there should be fewer than you think)

• The "should audit" that will free up massive amounts of energy immediately

• Why tight schedules always break—and how to build buffers that actually work

• How to embrace different seasons of parenting without guilt

• What "good enough" parenting actually means (and why it's better for your child than perfection)

By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to stop doing, what actually matters, and how to build a parenting approach you can maintain for years without burning out.

Resources mentioned: Sign up for the newsletter at www.climbingfishparenting.com for this week's exclusive Swim Strategy—a specific question that will help you figure out what to drop immediately.

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.

If you're completely drained from parenting your child who's wired differently—and wondering if you're just not cut out for this—I need you to hear this: It's not because you're weak or doing it wrong. There are very specific, research-backed reasons why this type of parenting is exponentially more exhausting than typical parenting. And once you understand what's actually happening, you can stop blaming yourself and start protecting your energy.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why you're functioning as your child's external regulation system (and what that's doing to your nervous system)
• How you're making hundreds more decisions every day than other parents—and what to do about decision fatigue
• The invisible translation work that's draining you (and how to stop doing it alone)
• Why chronic uncertainty keeps you in a constant state of low-level panic
• Practical strategies to restore your energy between co-regulation moments
• How to pace yourself for the marathon, not the sprint

By the end of this episode, you'll understand the seven specific reasons parenting your child is so depleting—and have concrete strategies to protect your own capacity so you can keep showing up.

Resources mentioned: Sign up for the newsletter at www.climbingfishparenting.com and get your Swimming Strategy for the week - a research finding about co-regulation that didn't make it into this episode.

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.

"Great, another therapy word that sounds nice but doesn't actually help when my kid is having a full meltdown in Target." I get it. But here's the thing: validation is one of the most powerful tools you have for reducing meltdowns, building confidence, and teaching your child to trust themselves. And it's way simpler than you think.

In this episode, you'll discover:

- What validation actually is (hint: it's not agreeing or giving permission)

- Why kids who grow up without validation become adults who don't trust themselves

- The 5 specific strategies for validating your child in real, messy situations

- How to validate feelings while still holding firm boundaries

- Examples of validation at every age (toddlers through teens)

By the end of this episode, you'll understand how to acknowledge your child's internal experience without approving their behavior—and why this one shift reduces meltdown intensity, shortens duration, and builds the foundation for self-regulation.

Get practical strategies at www.climbingfishparenting.com

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.

Your child just asked when Grandma's coming back—for the fifth time this week. Or they're melting down over nothing. Or they seem completely fine while you're barely holding it together. And you're thinking: Am I doing this wrong? Should I hide my tears? Will talking about it make it worse?

Here's the truth: Grief during the holidays is complicated—for you AND your kids. And most of us are trying to protect our children from pain in ways that actually make it harder for them to heal.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why shielding your kids from grief teaches them that sadness is shameful
• What grief actually looks like at every age (hint: it doesn't look like adult grief)
• The question that changes everything: "Am I teaching my child that we erase people when they die?"
• How to talk about death in age-appropriate ways that are honest but not terrifying
• Why you MUST talk about your loved one—even when it's hard
• The exact signs that grief has become concerning and needs professional support
• How to manage your own grief while still showing up for your kids

By the end of this episode, you'll know how to navigate the holidays with grief in a way that honors your loved one, makes space for all the feelings, and teaches your kids that hard emotions are part of being human—not something to hide.

Resources mentioned: Get practical strategies at www.climbingfishparenting.com

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.

You finally implemented a behavior plan.

Day one went great. Day two was even better. And then day three hit—and your child didn't just whine, they SCREAMED. They escalated harder than ever before.

And you're standing there thinking: "What did I do wrong? This was working!"

Here's the truth: You didn't do anything wrong. What you're seeing is proof that your strategy is working.

In this episode, you'll discover:

- What an extinction burst is (and why it means your plan is actually working)

- The three patterns extinction bursts follow (so you know what to expect)

- Why most parents quit right before breakthrough (and how to push through)

- Real-life examples of what extinction bursts look like with bedtime, homework, and sibling conflict

- When to worry that something else might be going on

By the end of this episode, you'll understand why behavior spikes right after you change the rules—and exactly how to stay consistent through the hardest week or two without giving up.

Get practical strategies at www.climbingfishparenting.com

Your kid isn't broken.

Your parenting isn't broken.

Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees.

That's what we fix here.

Your child just said "That's not fair!" or "You can't make me!" and you're standing there thinking: Is this disrespect? Should I shut this down? Or am I about to crush my child's voice?

Here's the truth: Most of us don't know. We're navigating a massive cultural shift in parenting without a roadmap—trying to teach our kids something we were never taught ourselves.

In this episode, you'll discover:

- The question that changes everything: "Is this an attack, or is there a need underneath the bad delivery?"

- Why boundaries often sound like backtalk when kids lack the skills to express them

- How to teach respectful disagreement when you were never taught it yourself

- The exact line between advocacy and disrespect (and how to hold it)

- Why strong-willed kids need MORE voice, not less

By the end of this episode, you'll know how to honor your child's growing voice while still teaching respect—so they become adults who can advocate for themselves AND communicate in ways people will actually listen to.

Get practical strategies at www.climbingfishparenting.com

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.

-Dr. Kristi

Your child just rolled their eyes at you. Or said "no" for the tenth time today. Or told you your rule is "so unfair." And you're standing there wondering: Is this normal? Or am I raising a disrespectful kid?

Here's what you need to know: Most pushback isn't disrespect—it's normal development. But some behavior does cross the line, and you need to know the difference.

In this episode, you'll discover:

- What's developmentally normal at ages 3-5, 6-9, 10-13, and 14+ (and what actually crosses into disrespect)

- Why shutting down ALL pushback teaches your child their voice doesn't matter

- How to teach your child to disagree respectfully instead of attacking

- The exact language to use when they cross the line

- Why kids who can't advocate for themselves become adults who get walked over

By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear framework for knowing when to correct disrespect and when to honor normal developmental pushback—so you can raise a child who's both respectful AND able to stand up for themselves.

Get practical strategies at www.climbingfishparenting.com

Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes we're just asking our fish to climb trees. That's what we fix here.