Podcast Episode

Episode 266: Parenting Pitfalls: Are You Too Available for Your Teen?

Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood·Kenneth Wilgus, Cynthia Yanof·2 September 2026·26 min

About this episode

Dr. Ken and Cynthia are back with another Parenting Pitfall: are we too available for our teens? Being involved and willing to help feels like good parenting, but at some point, always being available can keep our kids from learning to handle things themselves.From making appointments and managing schedules to stepping in with teachers, coaches, and even employers, Dr. Ken and Cynthia talk about why parents need to become less available as their kids get older. They also dig into the harder question: do we keep doing too much because we still want to feel needed? It’s a practical look at how our availability today can impact our teen’s independence tomorrow. 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! podcast@feedingthemouth.com Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/ Our Sponsors: * Check out Amazing Generation: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy