Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood

We continue our focus on the destructive effects of addicted teenagers and their families. This week we consider the effects on siblings of addicted teenagers. Should parents let siblings help with an out-of-control teenager? What about parents' anger when they have to endure ongoing struggles with these adolescents? What role should we play when we see families struggling with these issues? G...

Drug and alcohol addicted teenagers can drag a whole family into a never ending spiral. How can families avoid patterns of addiction in teenagers? How can we help friends or family struggling with their teen's addiction? In this episode we discuss types of addictions, what is enabling, how addicted teens affect their parents' marriage and much more. Got questions or feedback? We want to he...

Dr. Ken answers even more questions from "Feeding The Mouth" listeners. This week we answer even more good ones like: "I want to post pictures of my teenager's room!" and other ways of shaming our kids. "What do I do about my teenager's poor diet if it affects their health?" "My senior wants to stay behind when we move" and "Should we change churches bec...

Dr. Ken answers even more questions from "Feeding The Mouth" listeners. This week we get some great ones like: "What about tattoos? Is that related to cutting yourself?" "I let my teen have control over video games and it's gone horribly. What am I doing wrong?" "What do you mean by parents as a 'benevolent bank' and how does that work?" "Are there e...

This episode was recorded after the last election and before the holidays. Who knew how important this discussion would turn out to be? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're back!.. and starting off a new season with the nagging issue of teenagers' self-esteem. Why do teenagers so often feel down about themselves? What can parents do to help boost an adolescent's flagging self-esteem? Why do parental efforts to help often end up making things worse? We also discuss "just how important is self-esteem anyway?" and "should Christian parents...

This will be our last episode for the year 2020. Thanks for all your support and we'll see you all again in January, 2021! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Holidays can be so fun and full of love... unless our teenagers mess everything up! In this episode we discuss why teenagers sometimes don't like holiday family time and how to avoid impossible control battles trying to force them to smile. Instead, Dr. Ken recommends using holidays as another way to signal to our teenagers that they are now on the adult side of the holiday equation. Maybe it&...

In this episode we refer to: " Parenting With Love And Logic " - Foster Cline and Jim Fay Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Eventually, all parents will face the challenge of teenagers and driving. Why aren't teenagers today as excited about driving as they used to be? What if we don't think our kid is ready for driving? Is GPS tracking a good thing or not? We take on these and many more questions that get you ready for when your teenager takes the wheel! Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! pod...

LGBTQ issues are a huge part of our teenagers' lives. If your teenagers aren't dealing with these issues themselves, they know or will know other young people who are. In this episode we answer further questions parents have including how should parents talk to their teenagers about LGBTQ issues and whether or not parents should take their transgender or gay teenager to therapy. It turns o...

In this episode we reference: " Primal Screams: How the Sexual Revolution Created Identity Politics " - Mary Eberstadt and " Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship " - Paul C. Vitz Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Teenagers' relationship to their bodies are conflicted enough as it is. Social media has made these bad feelings worse than ever. In this episode we talk about "normal" teenage struggles with food, appearance and body-image and when parents should be concerned. Do eating and body-image issues affect girls only? Most importantly, we cover what parents of teenagers can do and should NEVE...

In this episode, we reference: " The Social Dilemma " - Netflix " The Tech Wise Family " - Andy Crouch Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode we reference: 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences by Kathy Koch, PhD   Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Whether it's that constant, low-level hostility or scary blow-ups, adolescent anger can bring your whole family down. Why do teenagers get so angry? How should parents handle their teenagers' anger? Today we take on parent problems with managing teenager's anger including the "myth of teenage attitude" as well as tell you what to do when their anger gets violent. Got questions...

This week we take on the tough issue of spotting our own weaknesses as parents. How you were raised clearly effects how you parent your kids... and that's not always good! What are the most common ways a parent's upbringing impacts their own parenting? When do parents need to consider therapy for themselves and when do they NOT need therapy? What do parents who experienced abuse need to be...

In this episode we reference: " Testosterone " - "This American Life" episode 220; originally aired on Aug. 30, 2002 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Just because hormones aren't the root CAUSE of problems in adolescence, that doesn't mean they aren't a significant factor in teenage behavior. Today we start a two-part series and take on the issue of hormones in teenage girls and teenage boys. How much do hormones effect adolescent behavior? How can we help our teenagers cope with hormones and the physical and psychological changes t...

You asked and we answered! This week we answer more listener questions including: - what to do about teenagers bad language over text and social media - handling your teenagers' whining about stuff they "have to have" but you know it's too expensive - managing that kid your teenager is friends with but you REALLY don't like Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! p...

Young adults are (supposed to be) heading off for college, job training or work right now. How can parents best handle this "end of the road?" What are the best strategies for influencing young adults once they leave home? What happens when a pandemic keeps our kids from leaving as planned? This week we answer all your questions about the "finish line" of parenting... when they&#39...

In this episode we reference Elizabeth Kubler Ross's book "On Death And Dying"   Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Video games can be a constant headache for parents. These days it's easier than ever for our teenagers to play video games ALL DAY LONG! In this episode we provide important guidelines for parents to help manage this huge drain on so many adolescents' lives. How much gaming should parents allow? When is a teenager addicted to video games? What about games with violent or sexual content? Go...

Parents of teenagers ask us a lot of questions. This week we take on some of those most frequently asked. Just a few of the questions we answer in this episode include: How can we set house rules about phones and technology devices in general? Help! My teenager walked in on us... you know... being intimate. Is it good to tell your teenager they can call us even if they've been drinking and we&...

In this episode we recommend (and pick on just a little bit) - "The Teenage Brain" by Frances E. Jensen and Amy Ellis Nutt  - https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Teenage-Brain-Audiobook/B00SYZBGBA?source_code=GPAGBSH0508140001&ipRedirectOverride=true&ds_rl=1258208&ds_rl=1260658&ds_rl=1262685&gclid=CjwKCAjw9vn4BRBaEiwAh0muDIlKt9LnZEwcPf29_xEAnEh33kD2dOuMfFJ4R0HHjpr0SDbjstq8px...