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're wired differently, their nervous system makes this even harder.

In this episode, you'll discover:

- Why modern kids struggle more with frustration than previous generations

- The "empathy first, boundary second" framework that changes everything

- How to teach frustration tolerance (not just stop the meltdown)

- Why you might be accidentally reinforcing the exact behavior you're trying to eliminate

- Practical strategies for low-stakes practice that build the skill over time

By the end of this episode, you'll know how to hold firm boundaries without breaking your sanity—and how to help your child build the capacity to hear "no" and survive the disappointment.

Resources mentioned: Grab your free Frustration Tolerance Scripts & Practice Guide 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.