Parenting Today's Teens

In today's episode, Mark Gregston answers the top parenting question of the week, which comes from a father wondering why his adopted daughter is not affected by discipline. Mark shares his advice and explains why kids, especially ones who've been adopted, may develop new defense mechanisms as they become teens. Don't miss this episode!   To send in your own parenting question, visit m...

When your teen rejects you or tells you they hate you, it can hurt deeply. But God can use even the most painful of moments for good — and after all, conflict is often a precursor for change! In today's episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share advice for parents who may feel like they've been "fired" by their teens and share some personal stories of overcoming rejection in t...

We know losses and pain can have a huge impact on teens' behavior ... but have you considered how the losses in your own life affect your parenting? In this episode, Mark Gregston shares why you need to be cautious not to transfer unresolved pain from your own life onto your child, and encourages parents to practice introspection and seek wise counsel when working through their own losses. Lis...

Many kids who arrive at Heartlight have a totally broken relationship with their parents, and it takes effort from the whole family to rebuild trust, communication and affection. In today's episode, Mark Gregston interviews two more Heartlight teens, including Sam, who was kicked out of high school and felt like he and his parents would never see eye-to-eye. But now, they have to work together...

Parenting a teen in today's ever-changing culture means you have to be prepared to shift the way you communicate and engage with your child — otherwise, your wisdom may fall on deaf ears. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about how discipline practices have changed over the years and why you shouldn't sweat the small stuff with your teen. Tune in now!    For more insig...

In today's episode, Mark Gregston addresses the top parenting topic of the week, which is how to help teens have healthy, age-appropriate boundaries surrounding social media use. As a parent, you have to find a balance between allowing your teen to connect with their friends without letting them be overwhelmed by the influence of culture on social media. Tune in for Mark's insights!    To...

When your teen makes a mistake, do you jump immediately into dishing out discipline in the heat of anger? Or do you pause, take a breath and get the facts first? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share the best ways to confront your child when they've broken the rules — without destroying your relationship. Listen in for their advice!   Are you a grandparent looking for more wa...

When your child is young, they tend to tell you when their favorite toy has broken or a friend has been mean to them — but when they become a teen and the losses get more serious, they may not tell you everything. In today's episode, Mark Gregston explains that if your teen has been acting out, it could very well be caused by a painful loss that you don't know about. Tune in now to hear Ma...

Whether it's simple passive aggression or fits of rage, teens often express hurts or unresolved problems in their lives through anger. As a parent, you can help them find better ways to channel their frustrations — but only if you don't get caught up in anger too. In today's interview with Heartlight teens, Mark Gregston talks to two young ladies, one of whom struggles to keep her ange...

When you're quarreling with a teenager, it sometimes feels like the conflict will never end. But God can use ANY problem for good, so don't lose hope! In today's episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share an encouraging discussion about how conflict can lead you to a closer relationship with your child. Don't miss today's show!    For more encouragement for your parenting...

In this episode, Mark Gregston answers the top question of the week, which comes from a parent who wonders how to properly share their perspective with their teen — not just their opinion. While opinions can come across as judgemental, perspective can impart wisdom. Listen in for Mark's thoughts!    Want to ask Mark a question? Submit it at markgregston.com

When teens are confronted with hurts or challenges in life that they're not prepared for, they typically react in one of three ways: Fight, flight or freeze. In today's episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss what each of these coping mechanisms looks like and how you can help your child move past them in healthy ways. Listen in for this important discussion!    Ready to learn so...

Cruel words, abuse and trauma that occur in our adolescent years can impact us for our entire lifetimes — sometimes whether we're aware of it or not. In today's special devotional, Mark Gregston shares why it's important to really understand your teen's heart and how their behavior might be stemming from loss or pain. Tune in now!   To find more powerful, practical help for you and...

Some of the teens who smile and laugh all the time are also the ones who are struggling the most on the inside. Behind the happy, bubbly exterior, these teens desperately hope someone will see what's going on in their hearts. In this episode, Mark Gregston chats with two Heartlight residents, including a young lady who is known around campus for being fun and outgoing, but on the inside, she s...

No matter what ups and downs you may encounter while raising your teen, your top priority should always be to build and maintain a healthy relationship that will last into adulthood. It's not easy, but it is worth it! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about why the ability to handle conflict with your child is part of a healthy relationship and share encouragement to stay...

In today's show, Mark Gregston answers the top parenting question of the week, which comes from a parent who wants to know how to enforce screen time limits when that's their child's way to relax. Video games, music and texting with friends may be a teen's way of finding rest and entertainment, but it's important to balance this time with age-appropriate responsibilities!   Got...

If your teen has started acting out or behaving differently, it may be time to take serious action to prevent it from getting worse. But how can you know for sure? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share a list of assessment questions that will help you decide the right course of action to help your teen. Don't miss these helpful questions!    For more advice on creating a heal...

Many kids who were brought up in Christian families and youth groups make a pledge to remain abstinent until marriage, and there are plenty who stick to this pledge — but also many teens who fail. In this episode, Mark Gregston explains that the fallout from mistakes like this is often enough to drive teens away from the church or their families ... unless they're met with grace and forgivenes...

When kids start having issues early on in life, it can be hard for them to unravel their problems in the same environment they started in. Hard as it may be, sometimes being sent away to a program to find help is the best route. In this episode, Mark Gregston talks to two teens with similar backgrounds — both girls were sent to a wilderness camp program before coming to Heartlight to finish their...

Happy 2023! The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on how relationships grew — or grew apart — in your family, and assess changes you'd like to make in the new year! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share advice for how to start the new year off right and discuss why now is a good time to hold a family meeting to explain expectations. Tune in now!   Is it t...

In today's episode, Mark Gregston addresses two of the top parenting questions of the week: One from a family who is concerned about their daughter's online activities and another from a parent who wants to know how to get a child to go to counseling. In a situation like the latter, sometimes it's okay to motivate your child with money or something else they want if you know it'll...

Have you ever seen conflict on the horizon with your teen and simply wanted to run the other way? Practically every parent knows this feeling! But conflict can provide some of the best teaching opportunities you'll experience with your teen. In today's show, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about why you should view conflict as an opportunity to understand your child better and share...

Many teens today feel like their parents' love is conditional, and whether or not it's actually true, they think their parents will stop loving them if they make too many mistakes. And often, the parents have no idea their teen feels this way! In this episode, Mark Gregston shares his insights on how parents can unwittingly get stuck in a performance-based relationship with their child, an...

When teens are dealing with internal turmoil, they often try to hide their problems from their families — but they can only bury hurt for so long. In this episode, Mark Gregston sits down with two young ladies from Heartlight, one of whom is an only child and the other the youngest of seven, to find out why they tried to hide their problems and what they've learned since being at the boarding...

Improving the dynamics of a family is never an instant makeover. But little changes over a long period of time can make all the difference! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share an encouraging message about why you should never give up on your vision for your family, and talk about what you can do to foster real change. Tune in now!   "Prayers For My Teen," is a carry-alo...