Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
Kids & Family
About
A weekly podcast on parenting teens and launching them into the world. Hosted by Cynthia Yanof with Dr. Ken Wilgus, author of the book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You."
Episodes
- Episode 250: Your Teen Summer Checklist Starts Now
This episode provides parents with a practical summer checklist for teenagers, addressing topics like screen time, jobs, sleep, dating, and family vacations. Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss balancing independence with family time and the impor…
- Episode 249: Mother’s Day Reset: 5 Lies Moms Shouldn’t Believe
In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken address common misconceptions mothers hold regarding their teenagers, particularly around Mother's Day. They discuss the pressure to maintain control, the feeling of failure when a teen struggles, and t…
- Episode 248: Are We Overdoing Self-Esteem?
In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken examine the concept of self-esteem in adolescents, debating whether it is a crucial parenting element. They discuss the effects of constant praise on confidence and the unexpected benefits of allowing c…
- Episode 247: When Is It More Than Teen Behavior? Signs Your Teen May Need More Support
Dr. Ken discusses recognizing when teen behavior extends beyond typical challenges, indicating a need for professional support. The episode covers distinguishing normal behavior from deeper concerns, the role of consistency, initiating dif…
- Episode 246: Sleepovers: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
This episode discusses the challenges and strategies for navigating adolescent sleepovers, emphasizing preparation and open conversations with teens about decision-making, rather than attempting to control every detail.
- Episode 245: The Wardrobe Wars (and how to survive them)
This episode of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You addresses parental disagreements over teen fashion. Dr. Ken explains these conflicts often center on a teen's need for independence and ownership, offering strategies for setting boundaries…
- Episode 244: The Phone Battle You’re Not Supposed to Win
This episode addresses the challenges of parenting teens and their phone usage, discussing screen time, boundaries, and the shift towards preparing young adults for life beyond the home.
- Episode 243: The True Meaning of Marriage (Christian Marriage Series Part 3 of 3)
In this episode of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You, Dr. Ken and Cynthia examine the Christian perspective on marriage, contrasting it with popular advice. They discuss marriage as a reflection of Christ and the Church, offering practical…
- Episode 242: What Your Spouse Needs From You (Christian Marriage Series Part 2 of 3)
Cynthia and Dr. Ken discuss common misunderstandings and fears couples bring into marriage, including wives fearing being alone or unseen and husbands fearing failure. They share practical ways spouses can listen, respond, and support each…
- Episode 241: A Christian Understanding of Marriage (Part 1 of 3)
Cynthia and Dr. Ken begin a three-part series on Christian marriage, discussing the intensity that arises from the biblical concept of two becoming 'one flesh.' Dr. Ken notes that many marital conflicts stem from unacknowledged deeper fear…
- Episode 240: Affluenza: Are We Giving Our Kids Too Much?
Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss "affluenza," examining parental pressure to provide more for teens and its potential to create entitlement. They explore how wealth and financial concerns impact kids' views on gratitude and responsibility, and…
- Episode 239: Sorry, not sorry. Should parents apologize to their kids?
This episode of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You discusses the concept of "repair," or apologizing to children, and why it is challenging for many parents. Drs. Ken and Cynthia explore how modern parenting differs from older generations re…
- Episode 238: Parenting the Pull-Away Years
In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken address parents whose teens are pulling away, discussing healthy separation, individuation, and the emotional impact on mothers. They offer advice on communication, strengthening the marriage, and avoid…
- Episode 237: Understanding Impulsivity
This episode breaks down impulsivity, oppositional behavior, and conduct disorder in adolescents. Dr. Ken explains how these behaviors differ, what they look like, and how to approach them with a balance of empathy and accountability.
- Episode 236: Roles Reversed: Dr. Ken Interviews Cynthia on Parenting the Long Game
In this episode, Dr. Ken interviews Cynthia about her book "How’d I Miss That?". They discuss the pressures modern parents face, the significance of small everyday moments in shaping children, and the importance of approaching parenting wi…
- Episode 235: Is Nicotine Really a Big Deal?
In episode 235, hosts Cynthia and Dr. Ken address parental concerns about adolescent nicotine use. They discuss the risks associated with nicotine compared to alcohol and marijuana, the importance of appropriate consequences, and how paren…
- Episode 234: Does My Teen Really Need Counseling?
This episode addresses when and if teens need counseling, discussing what therapy entails and why forcing resistant teens is often ineffective. Dr. Ken explains how to identify necessary therapy, the benefits of parent coaching, and factor…
- Episode 233: Where’d You Hear That? Sorting Through Today’s Parenting Advice
This episode addresses the overwhelming amount of online parenting advice, urging parents to critically assess sources and research. Cynthia and Dr. Ken discuss identifying misinformation, particularly claims based on flawed "brain science…
- Episode 232: New Year, Same Teen? 3 Parenting Resets for 2026
In 2026, Cynthia and Dr. Ken suggest parents reset their trajectory by focusing on three foundational areas that often cause tension and confusion when parenting teens. The episode addresses control, conflict, and the emotional toll on par…
- Episode 231: Why Entitlement Is Shaping Our Kids More Than We Realize
This episode discusses how entitlement affects American teens, exploring behaviors that reveal beliefs about self-respect and responsibility. It explains how parents can unintentionally undermine gratitude and discusses how broadening chil…
- Episode 230: Why Adult Friendships Matter More Than You Think
This episode discusses the significance of adult friendships for emotional well-being and parenting, addressing the "friendship recession" and its impact on loneliness. Dr. Ken and Cynthia explore why parents need community as teens mature…
- Episode 229: You Asked, We Answered: Parenting Q&A with Dr. Ken
Dr. Ken and Cynthia address listener questions on topics including digital monitoring and teen driving, parental moral convictions regarding adult children, adolescent interest in occult trends, and strategies for communicating with withdr…
- Episode 228: Winning the Game: How to Parent Well Through Teen Athletics
Dr. Ken explains how to parent teens through athletics, focusing on the issue of control in sports, why talented teens quit, and how parents can set expectations without their child's identity becoming consumed by sports.
- Episode 227: Raising Teens in the Age of AI
Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss how AI is influencing teenagers' lives, from academic tasks to social and emotional experiences. They advocate for parental guidance and critical thinking, emphasizing the distinction between simulated support a…
- Episode 226: The Case for Earlier Marriage (and why parents panic)
Dr. Ken Wilgus joins "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" to discuss research suggesting earlier marriage can be a cornerstone for building adulthood together, not just a capstone. The episode covers cultural trends, fear-based parenting, an…
- Episode 225: Bullies, Victims and Bystanders - Teens and Bullying
This episode discusses parenting teens through bullying, focusing on parental presence and connection rather than fixing problems. It also touches on social media's influence and includes information on ordering books by the hosts and cred…
- Episode 224: When Teens Wander
This episode addresses how parents can navigate a teen
- Episode 223: Show me the money (and boundaries)
Dr. Ken and Cynthia explore financial topics with teenagers and young adults, discussing parental guidance, financial responsibility from high school through college, and the impact of parental money habits.
- Episode 222: Defiant or Dysregulated?
In this episode of Feeding the Mouth That Bites You, Dr. Ken explores the concept of teen dysregulation, differentiating it from simple defiance. The discussion provides insights into understanding teenage emotional responses and offers st…
- Episode 221: When Spouses Disagree on Planned Emancipation
Dr. Ken and Cynthia address parental disagreements on planned teen emancipation, discussing how to manage differing views on curfews and devices, prioritize the marriage, and support each other through conflict. The conversation also inclu…
- Episode 220: Parenting Teens Through Hard News and Politics
Dr. Ken discusses how parents can guide teenagers through heavy news and unsettling political events. The episode covers initiating conversations, deciding when to discuss faith, and modeling trust in God amidst cultural instability.
- Episode 219: But What About A Teen Who's Diagnosed With [fill in the blank]?
This episode discusses planned emancipation for teenagers with diagnoses such as ADHD, Autism, or Anxiety. Dr. Ken suggests that while diagnoses influence coaching methods, they do not alter the necessity of granting freedoms. Parents are…
- Episode 218: Teens That Can't Wait To Leave And Teens Who Never Leave
In episode 218, hosts discuss the differing attitudes of teenagers towards adulthood, whether they are eager to leave home or fear leaving. The conversation touches on parental handling of these differences, temperament, and the nature of…
- Episode 217: Start The School Year Off Right With Your Teen Plus A Huge Announcement!
Feeding The Mouth That Bites You, Episode 217, discusses preparing teens for the school year by reviewing freedoms, expectations, and school cell phone policies, referencing Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation". Cynthia Yanof takes ov…
- Episode 216: End Of Season 5 And Time For Summer Break!
The hosts are taking a summer break as season 5 ends, offering reminders for parents of teenagers, specifically regarding phone usage. They invite listener feedback and questions for future episodes.
- Episode 215: Dr. Ken's Soapbox: Parenting "Experts," Controlling Teen's Eating and Shared Rooms
This episode of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You addresses parental concerns about adolescent independence in shared rooms and nutrition. It also features a discussion on sources of parenting advice, prompted by a listener question.
- Episode 214: How To Overcome Isolation
Dr. Ken interviews Jessica about proactively overcoming cultural isolation. The discussion emphasizes parents needing their own grounded friend groups and explores the role of extended family and friendships with other parents in pushing b…
- Episode 213: Why So Many People Are Going “No Contact” with Their Parents
This episode examines the increasing trend of adults cutting contact with their parents. Dr. Ken reviews situations that warrant strict boundaries and discusses how some therapists may overemphasize trauma, leading to recommendations to re…
- Episode 212: Sex, Purity Culture and "How Far Is Too Far"
This episode of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You addresses topics of sex and purity culture, exploring the question of
- Episode 211: All About Sex and Dating
Dr. Ken and Jessica discuss how parents can talk to teenagers about sex and dating, covering topics like teen disinterest and birth control. A book reference is included.
- Episode 210: The Rise in Teen Sextortion Cases and What You Can Do About It
This episode addresses the increasing trend of teen sextortion, where minors are blackmailed with explicit photos. Hosts encourage parents to foster open conversations about online dangers and prepare adolescents for such threats, rather t…
- Episode 209: All About Addiction in Teenagers
In episode 209 of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You, Dr. Ken and Jessica explore addiction in teenagers, addressing parental anxieties, the definition of addiction, and strategies for parents concerned about substance use. The episode also…
- Episode 208: Lying, Disrespect and Other, Common Issues in Limit-Setting with Teenagers
In this episode on limit-setting with teens, Dr. Ken and Jessica discuss miscellaneous issues such as lying, effective grounding time limits, and handling persistent disrespect. They offer guidance on limiting inappropriate behavior while…
- Episode 207: When Parents Have Different Limits, They're Both Ineffective
Episode 207 discusses the challenges parents face when they have different limits for their teenagers. It emphasizes the importance of presenting a united front to adolescents and offers strategies for discussing these differences with a s…
- Episode 206: Anger and Yelling Make You Weaker as a Parent
In this episode on effective limit-setting with adolescents, hosts discuss how losing one's temper and yelling at teenagers can undermine parental authority, making parents appear as bullies. They explore strategies for avoiding anger and…
- Episode 205: Speechmaking: Adolescents Learn From Experience, Not Words
This episode discusses the ineffectiveness of speeches in influencing adolescent behavior, emphasizing that teens learn best from experiencing the consequences of their choices. Jessica and Dr. Ken share personal struggles and offer sugges…
- Episode 204: Limit-Setting with Adolescents - You're Not a Cop, You're a Judge
This episode discusses effective limit-setting with adolescents, advising parents to adopt the role of a judge rather than a cop to better understand what they can and cannot control. The episode emphasizes the power of "the smile" when de…
- Episdode 203: Reviewing Planned Emancipation Part 2 - The Expectations and Consequences List
This episode reviews the "Expectations and Consequences List" as part of planned emancipation for teens. It covers the list's purpose in reducing conflict and increasing parental effectiveness, and addresses common questions regarding punc…
- Episode 202: Reviewing Planned Emancipation Part 1 - The Freedoms List
This episode clarifies the purpose of the "Freedoms List" in parenting teens, distinguishing it from the "Expectations and Consequences" list. It addresses listener questions about presenting these lists and alternative methods of granting…
- Episode 201: Teenagers, Jobs and Employability
This episode of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You explores the significance of job experiences for teenagers, covering topics like when and how adolescents should work, balancing summer employment with family vacations, and the choice betwe…