Climbing Fish Parenting

That sound. You know the one. That grating, nails-on-a-chalkboard whine that makes your entire nervous system want to crawl out of your skin. "Moooooom, I want a snaaaack." "This is toooooo haaaaard." Here's what you need to know: Whining doesn't just annoy you—it activates your nervous system in a way that very few other sounds do. And your child has learned that this sound gets results. In this...

When Your Teen Can't Handle 'No': Door-Slamming, Silent Treatment, and What Actually Works Your teenager just exploded because you said they couldn't go to a party. Or maybe they went silent—giving you the cold shoulder for hours. Or worse, they agreed to your face and then snuck out anyway. If your teen's reaction to disappointment feels like living with a ticking time bomb, you're not imagining...

If saying "no" to your child feels like detonating a bomb in your own home, you're not alone. The screaming, the negotiating, the full-body collapse on the floor—it's exhausting. And you're probably wondering if you've somehow spoiled your child or failed as a parent. Here's the truth: Your child isn't manipulating you. They genuinely don't have the skill of frustration tolerance yet—and if they'r...

You've said "calm down" a thousand times. It never works. Your child is drowning in their emotions, and you feel completely helpless because nothing you try makes it better. Here's what's actually happening: Your child isn't choosing to stay dysregulated. They literally cannot calm themselves down in that moment. Their thinking brain is offline, and they need YOU to help them regulate. This is cal...

Halloween is supposed to be fun—but if you're dreading tonight instead of looking forward to it, you're not alone. For kids with ADHD, autism, sensory processing challenges, or anxiety, Halloween can be a perfect storm: scratchy costumes, unpredictable social interactions, scary decorations, and complete sensory overload. In this bonus episode, you'll discover: Why Halloween is so overwhelming for...

If your child "never listens" or you're constantly repeating yourself—the problem might not be defiance. It might be that your expectations aren't clear. "Clean your room." "Be good at Grandma's." "Use good manners." These feel like clear instructions, but to your child's brain, they're guessing games. And when kids don't know exactly what success looks like, they fail—over and over again. In this...

Does your child ignore you until you've repeated yourself five times? You're not alone—and it's not about defiance. In this episode, Dr. Kristi breaks down the 7 reasons kids don't follow directions the first time, including: - Why "get ready" and "be good" confuse their brains - The sneaky ways you're accidentally inviting negotiation - How asking instead of telling undermines your authority - Wh...

I'm Dr. Kristi, a psychologist and behavior analyst, and here's what I need you to know: Your kid isn't broken. Your parenting isn't broken. Sometimes, we're just asking our fish to climb trees. If you have a child who's wired differently and just doesn't respond to typical parenting strategies—this show is for you. In every episode, I'm giving you practical, actionable strategies rooted in behavi...