Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood

This July we are doing re-releases of our favorite episodes! Episode 144: "You're Only Human" Part 2 Dr. Ken Interviews Dr. Kelly Kapic Today we finish our great interview with Dr. Kelly Kapic, professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia. His book, "You're Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good News&#34...

This July we are doing re-releases of our favorite episodes! Episode 143: "You're Only Human" Dr. Ken Interviews Dr. Kelly Kapic Most all parents constantly feel guilty that they're not doing enough for their kids. For Christian parents, does our faith make any difference when we suffer like this? Theology professor Kelly Kapic's most recent book, "You're Only Human&#34...

Your college kid is back home for the summer... and suddenly you're wondering whether they're still your child, a guest, or a roommate who leaves dishes in the sink. This week, Dr. Ken and Cynthia tackle one of the trickiest parenting transitions: when young adults return home after months of living life on their own. From curfews and chores to tracking apps and family vacations, they disc...

Fake Instagram accounts. Secret relationships. Hidden piercings. Skipped classes. Every parent eventually discovers something their teen didn't tell them—and it raises the question: Is this normal teenage behavior, or is there something deeper going on? In this episode, Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss why teens become "sneaky" and how to tell the difference between healthy independence and...

Parents today are raising kids in a world of sports betting apps, online casinos, fantasy leagues, and gambling opportunities that didn't exist a generation ago. In this episode of Feeding the Mouth That Bites You , Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss the rise of teen gambling, why it's become so much more accessible, and how to know when it's simply part of the culture—or a risk worth paying...

Anxiety seems to be everywhere these days, which leaves many parents wondering what's normal, what's not, and how much we should be worried about our kids—or ourselves. This week, Cynthia and Dr. Ken have an honest conversation about anxiety, anxious thinking, and why understanding the difference matters. They discuss how worry can become a cycle we unintentionally reinforce, why overthink...

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 prac...

Dr. Ken and Cynthia tackle one of the trickiest parts of raising teenagers: what happens when the other parents in your world handle things very differently than you do. From phones and parties to dating rules, sleepovers, vaping, alcohol, and “everybody else is allowed,” they talk through how parents can stay consistent without trying to control every influence around their kids. They discuss the...

Dr. Ken and Cynthia are talking all things summer — because somehow it’s already almost here, and if you have teenagers at home, now is the time to start thinking ahead. In this episode, they walk through a practical summer checklist for parents: screen time, jobs, sleep schedules, dating relationships, family vacations, summer reading, and how to keep teens from spending three straight months att...

Happy Mother’s Day! 🌸🌸🌸 In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken talk through some of the lies so many moms carry—especially when it comes to their teens.  They unpack that nagging thought that if a teen is struggling, it must mean mom has failed, the pressure to hold everything together, and why a child pulling away might actually be a sign things are going more right than it feels. Today’s show i...

Cynthia came into this conversation ready to defend self-esteem like it’s a parenting essential. Dr. Ken… not so much. In this episode, they unpack what we actually mean when we talk about self-esteem in our adolescents—and why making it the ultimate goal might not work the way we think it does. They get into why constantly telling kids they’re amazing doesn’t always lead to real confidence, what’...

In today’s conversation, we address a topic no parent wants to face—but many find themselves navigating: What happens when things at home feel truly out of control? We move beyond typical discipline struggles and talk about the moments when a teen may no longer be functioning within the basic boundaries needed to live safely and responsibly at home. Dr. Ken outlines three key areas parents should...

Sleepovers: kids love them and parents have… feelings about them. Today Cynthia and Dr. Ken are talking specifically about sleepovers in the adolescent years—when it’s no longer just pizza and movies, but brings up real questions around values and supervision. Dr. Ken reminds us that sleepovers have changed. We can’t always assume shared values anymore, which means we have to be more intentional i...

This episode tackles a question almost every parent of teens faces: What do you do when you don’t agree with how your kids want to dress? From short shorts to oversized hoodies (and everything in between), Cynthia and Dr. Ken walk through how to handle these moments without turning your home into a constant control battle. Dr. Ken unpacks why these conflicts are often less about clothes and more a...

Cynthia and Dr. Ken dive into one of the biggest parenting struggles right now—adolescents and their phones. From screen time issues to kids finding creative ways around the rules (hello, burner phones and smartwatches), it’s clear this isn’t going anywhere. Dr. Ken reframes the whole conversation by reminding us this isn’t about controlling phones—it’s about raising young adults. That means setti...

We’re back for week three of our marriage series, and Dr. Ken and Cynthia kick things off with some true-or-false questions that prove how much questionable marriage advice is out there. From “marriage should feel easy” to “never go to bed angry,” we sort through what actually holds up and what doesn’t. From there, the conversation shifts to a bigger idea: maybe marriage isn’t mainly about being h...

This week, Cynthia and Dr. Ken continue their three-part series on marriage by unpacking some of the most common misunderstandings couples bring into relationships and what actually strengthens connection over time. From questionable advice heard in church classes to the classic “never go to bed angry” rule, the conversation starts with a few laughs before getting into why so many couples feel dis...

This week on Feeding the Mouth That Bites You , Cynthia and Dr. Ken kick off a three-part series on Christian marriage. They start off with a little humor (including Cynthia’s list of things husbands should probably never say if they want to stay married), but the conversation quickly turns to a bigger question: why does marriage sometimes bring out the most intense reactions in otherwise reasonab...

In this episode, Dr. Ken and Cynthia dive into the topic of “affluenza” and the real pressure many parents feel to give their kids more—more opportunities, more experiences, and sometimes just… more stuff. They talk honestly about the tension between wanting to provide well and wondering if we’re accidentally creating unrealistic expectations or entitlement along the way. From private school compa...

Today we take on apologizing to our kids—or what psychologists call “repair”—and why it feels so hard for many parents. Dr. Ken and Cynthia discuss how older generations rarely apologized because authority was the priority, while modern parenting emphasizes connection.  They unpack why some parents struggle to say “I’m sorry,” especially high-achieving or strong-willed parents, and Dr. Ken explain...

Is it normal for teenagers—especially seniors—to barely be home, seem disengaged, or act irritated when family time is required? In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken respond to a listener question that captures a common and often heartbreaking parenting experience: watching a teen pull away while knowing it’s part of growing up. They discuss healthy separation and individuation, why this stage can...

Is your teen being impulsive, oppositional, or something more concerning—and how can you tell the difference? In this episode, Dr. Ken breaks down three commonly misunderstood behavior patterns in adolescents: impulsivity, oppositional behavior, and conduct disorder. He explains what impulsivity actually looks like in teens (and what it doesn’t), how oppositional behavior often shows up only aroun...

This week on Feeding the Mouth That Bites You , we flip the script. Instead of Cynthia asking the questions, Dr. Ken takes over—and interviews Cynthia on release day of her new book, How’d I Miss That? What follows is equal parts parenting wisdom, real-life chaos, and proof that even competent adults can forget to put the gas pump back. Dr. Ken digs into why modern parents feel so much pressure to...

In this episode, Cynthia and Dr. Ken respond to a listener question many parents are facing: how to handle nicotine use with adolescents. The situation raises important questions about legality, respect, boundaries, and how parental authority shifts as kids grow older. Dr. Ken offers perspective on how nicotine use differs from alcohol and marijuana, why not all “bad choices” carry the same level...

This week’s episode was important enough to re-record: when (and if) you should push your teen to go to therapy. Cynthia and Dr. Ken unpack what therapy actually is, why forcing a resistant teen rarely works, and the surprising ways counseling can sometimes do more harm than good. Dr. Ken explains how to recognize when therapy becomes necessary, why parent coaching often helps more than sending a...