Claim OwnershipFeeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
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Feeding the Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teenagers into Adulthood Copyright © 2024 by Kenneth Wilgus. All rights reserved. Cover and interior illustration of mouth by Ron Kaufmann. Copyright © 2024 by Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.
Description
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."
231 Episodes
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This week on the show, Cynthia and Dr. Ken dig into the age-old issue of entitlement—how it shows up in American culture and how it shapes our teens.
This week on the show, Cynthia and Dr. Ken dive into the often-overlooked world of adult friendship—why it matters for your emotional health and your parenting.
This week on the show, Dr. Ken and Cynthia dig into listener questions.
This week on the show, Cynthia and Dr. Ken dive into the wild, wonderful, and occasionally mind-numbing world of youth sports.
Today, Dr. Ken and Cynthia talk about how AI is shaping the world our teens are growing up in. From homework help to “AI friends” and therapy bots, this technology is moving fast — and our kids are encountering it whether we feel ready or not.
Today we’re talking marriage with Dr. Ken Wilgus — not our marriages (although we detoured there), but our kids’ future ones.
Bullying is one of those topics that hits close to home for almost every parent—and it’s rarely simple. In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken unpack the complex dynamics between the bully, the victim, and the bystander, helping us see that there’s always more beneath the surface.
They talk about how bullying shows up in different forms—whether it’s physical, verbal, or online—and why it is important to understand the context and power dynamics involved. The conversation also touches on the challenges parents face in addressing bullying, the impact of social media, and the need for open communication with teenagers.
Cynthia and Dr. Ken talk about the difference between a child who’s estranged from you versus estranged from God, why power dynamics so often make things worse, and how to focus less on control and more on trust.
Dr. Ken tackles the often tricky topic of finances with teenagers and young adults. From who pays for what to how much control parents should keep as kids become more independent, they unpack what it looks like to guide—not grip—the financial reins.
This week on Feeding the Mouth That Bites You, Dr. Ken unpacks a word every parent has heard lately—dysregulation—and what it really looks like in teenagers. Spoiler: it’s not always as clinical or mysterious as it sounds. Sometimes it’s just what we used to call “spiraling” or “losing it.”
This week Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss a challenge almost every parent faces—what to do when you and your spouse don’t see eye-to-eye on planned emancipation.
From tragic events to the endless political chatter on social media, it can be hard to know how to navigate this with our teens. We talk about the tension of wanting to protect our kids while also respecting that they’re young adults who see and hear more than we realize.
Today we tackle the common issue of how parents should handle planned emancipation when their teenager carries one or more diagnoses like ADHD or Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder or Dyslexia or Depression or Anxiety or Trauma etc. etc. etc. This question comes up a lot!
This week we talk about teenagers who seem very eager to grow up and those who seem to fear adulthood. How should parents handle those differences? Is this a temperament thing? Are they afraid to leave us? Isn't it a good thing if our adolescents feel like they want to hang with us all the time?
We cover this and much more. Did you even know we have an Instagram account? Dr. Ken didn't!
Plus Dr. Ken and Cynthia decide on a "safe word" if Cynthia goes off the rails!
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI Got questions or feedback?
We want to hear from you! podcast@feedingthemouth.com or check us out on Instagram!
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
We're starting off our 6th season with a bang! Today we review the things you need to check as a parent to help the new school year start off right. Feeding The Mouth parents know to review their teenagers' freedoms, expectations and who's more worried about school, you or your kid? This year you better double check your teenager's school cell phone policy. Jonathan Haidt's book, "The Anxious Generation" https://a.co/d/bfHCLmG (see Episode 181) is having major effects around the world.
Also, "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" makes a major step forward as Jessica steps back from hosting the show (you can't believe all that she has going on) but, believe it or not, we talked Cynthia Yanof (see episode 171) to take over as host of the show. This is going to be fun!
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI Got questions or feedback?
We want to hear from you! podcast@feedingthemouth.com
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
Well it's that time again. School's out for a lot of you and Jessica and Dr. Ken are breaking for the summer. We leave with a few reminders for summer with teenagers. Hint: it has to do with those stupid phones.
If you have time, drop us a line this summer with questions or further thoughts on topics you want to hear on "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You." Your feedback really helps.
Thanks to you all who have made "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" among the top parenting teens podcasts.
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI
Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you!
podcast@feedingthemouth.com
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
Today we take on some of the questions we get from parents. How can you give room freedom if your teenager shares that room with a sibling? What can parents do about making sure their adolescent is eating well? Also, Jessica accidentally hits a nerve with Dr. Ken by asking about what sources parents use to get parenting advice. Cue the soapbox.
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI
Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you!
podcast@feedingthemouth.com
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
Today, Dr. Ken interviews Jessica who tells her own story of being proactive in overcoming the trend toward isolation that pervades our culture. Parents can't just set up "play dates" for their teenagers, they must themselves have a grounded group of friends who they share their lives with. What role does extended family play in these essential relationships? What about just being friends with the parents of your kids friends? We discuss these and other aspects of pushing back against an increasingly individualized culture.
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI
Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you!
podcast@feedingthemouth.com
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
Today we review a growing trend of adults choosing to go "no contact" with their parents. Dr. Ken reviews the kind of circumstances that do call on people to put strict boundaries around their contact with parents and other family members. This new trend however, seems to stem from a growing number of therapists that have over-defined trauma and therefore recommend that their clients eliminate any person that they no longer find "supportive."
Today's episode stems from the New Yorker article of the same name - https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/why-so-many-people-are-going-no-contact-with-their-parents
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI
Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you!
podcast@feedingthemouth.com
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
NOTE: Today's topic includes some mature content.
Today we finish a series on adolescents and sex. Whatever happened to purity rings and "True Love Waits?" What are the best ways to prepare teenagers for possible struggles with sex and dating? Plus, Dr. Ken repeats a previous episode when he reviews the really awkward topic of "how far is too far" when getting physical during dating.
If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners.
You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here: https://a.co/d/hBnlbzI
Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you!
podcast@feedingthemouth.com
Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/
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5 stars. A voice of sanity in a culture who expects so little of teens. Both an anti-"failure to launch" strategy, and a help for those of us who would be too strict with our teenagers.