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’s actually normal when your middle schooler suddenly feels insecure about everything, and how the very things we try to protect our kids from—failure, disappointment, rejection—might be doing more good than harm. If you’ve ever wondered when to step in, when to hold back, or whether you’re accidentally raising an American Idol kid… this one’s worth a listen. 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 - https://www.johndavidkent.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy