Episode 238: Parenting the Pull-Away Years

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 feel especially painful for mothers, and how a teen’s distance doesn’t predict the quality of your future relationship. Dr. Ken explains the importance of strengthening the marriage during this transition, communicating honestly with teens about how their absence affects the family, and avoiding the slide from caring connection into control. If you’re parenting an older teen and wondering whether this season is normal—or how to respond without guilt, fear, or overcontrol—this episode is for you. 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! podcast@feedingthemouth.com Music provided by the great John David Kent - Advertising Inquiries: Privacy & Opt-Out:

You can listen to Episode 238: Parenting the Pull-Away Years online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 238: Parenting the Pull-Away Years is an episode from Feeding The Mouth That Bites You by Kenneth Wilgus, Cynthia Yanof.

This episode is 29:22 long.

This episode was published on Feb 17, 2026.

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