Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood

Dr. Ken and Cynthia are tackling one of the easiest parenting traps to fall into: nagging. When does a helpful reminder become something that’s actually keeping our teens from taking responsibility for themselves?They talk through chores, school, jobs, college applications, executive functioning struggles, and why sometimes the best thing we can do is stop being our kid’s personal reminder system. Plus, Dr. Ken explains why holding boundaries—even when your teen is mad about it—doesn’t damage the relationship. Turns out, they can be annoyed with us now and still want to come home when they’re grown adults.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" hereYou can order Cynthia's book "Life Is Messy, God Is Good" hereYou can pre-order Cynthia's book "How'd I Miss That" here Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! [email protected] Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Have kids always been picky eaters...or have we accidentally helped create them? This week, Dr. Ken and Cynthia talk about the fascinating book Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History and what it says about why so many kids today struggle with food. But don't worry—this isn't an episode about feeling guilty over what happened when they were little. It's about what to do if your teen or young adult is still a picky eater.You'll hear why it's time to stop being the family short-order cook, how getting teens involved in shopping and cooking changes the conversation, and why, as they get older, their eating habits become their responsibility—not yours. They also talk about food sensitivities, "clean eating," medications that affect appetite, and how to help your teen prepare for real life without turning every meal into a battle. It's an encouraging conversation that just might take a little pressure off parents around the dinner table.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" hereYou can order Cynthia's book "Life Is Messy, God Is Good" hereYou can pre-order Cynthia's book "How'd I Miss That" here Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! [email protected] Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This July we are doing re-releases of our favorite episodes!Episode 222: Defiant or Dysregulated?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.” We talk about how to tell the difference between a teen who’s simply being disrespectful and one who’s truly overwhelmed by emotion, and why calling everything “dysregulation” can actually make parenting harder. Dr. Ken breaks down what’s happening when your teen crosses that line from moody to out-of-control, why they can usually hold it together outside the home, and what to do when they can’t. We also get real about what happens when we join the chaos. If you’ve ever found yourself matching your teen’s energy (or volume), this conversation will give you a few tools—and probably a laugh—to help you step back and respond differently. It’s a practical, hope-filled episode for every parent navigating big emotions, slammed doors, and late-night drama.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" hereYou can order Cynthia's book "Life Is Messy, God Is Good" hereYou can pre-order Cynthia's book "How'd I Miss That" here Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! [email protected] Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/Our Sponsors:* Check out Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy