Episode 252: Powering Up Your Words
From Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood by Kenneth Wilgus, Cynthia Yanof
May 26, 2026 · 31 min
About this episode
Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss effective communication strategies for parents to ensure their messages are heard by their teens.
Summer is almost here, which means more time together—and more opportunities to wonder if your kids can actually hear you. This week, Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss why parents often feel ignored, why repeating ourselves rarely helps, and how small changes in communication can make a big difference. From forgotten chores and sibling drama to screens and everyday family frustrations, they explore practical ways to get your message across without turning every conversation into a lecture. Dr. Ken shares why staying calm is often more effective than raising the volume, and how consequences can give your words weight. If you've ever wondered how to be heard without repeating yourself seventeen times, this episode is packed with encouragement, humor, and simple strategies you can put to work right away. Just in time for summer. 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 You can order Cynthia's book "Life Is Messy, God Is Good" here You can pre-order Cynthia's book "How'd I Miss That" here Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you…
People in this episode
Hosts: Dr. Ken, Cynthia
Topics covered
- communication
- parenting
- family dynamics
- teenagers
- effective listening
Keywords
- communication
- parenting
- teenagers
- family
- listening
- consequences
- summer
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Feeding The Mouth That Bites You, Life Is Messy, God Is Good, How'd I Miss That
More episodes of Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
- Episode 254: Teens and Gambling: Should We Be Concerned? · June 9, 2026 · 27 min
- Episode 253: What If Anxiety Is a Habit? · June 1, 2026 · 26 min
- Episode 251: When Parents Parent Differently Than We Do · May 19, 2026 · 31 min
- Episode 250: Your Teen Summer Checklist Starts Now · May 12, 2026 · 34 min
- Episode 249: Mother’s Day Reset: 5 Lies Moms Shouldn’t Believe · May 5, 2026 · 32 min
- Episode 248: Are We Overdoing Self-Esteem? · April 28, 2026 · 31 min
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