Parenting Today's Teens

In this special episode, Mark Gregston answers a question from an insightful young lady who is trying to successfully navigate her teen years while dealing with anxiety. Mark shares some practical things teens (and parents) can do to help mitigate the anxious thoughts that plague so many teens in today's culture. If you have a teen that struggles with anxiety, you don't want to miss this e...

When you and your teen are in the midst of conflict, or you don't understand something about their culture, it can be tempting to just pull away from them entirely. But your child needs you the most in those moments! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share why you should try to stay engaged in your teen's life no matter what. Tune in now!    Need some help reestablishing pe...

When you and your teen disagree on something, whether it's politics, how they're dressing, who they want to date or anything in between, do you get lost in the argument? Or do you respond with love? Sometimes you need to remind your teen (and yourself) that their decisions will never get in the way of your relationship. In this special devotional, Mark Gregston shares why it's crucial...

Teenagers are naturally driven to be social butterflies, but when being a people-pleaser backfires or they're totally rejected by their peers, coping with that pain can be challenging. In this week's interview with Heartlight teens, Mark Gregston sits down with a young lady who was adopted and dealt with feelings of rejection her whole life — which only amplified once she got to middle sch...

One thing is certain about teenagers — they WILL make mistakes and hurt you from time to time. This is where forgiveness is your superpower! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss how you can learn to let go of bitterness toward your teen and forgive them, while still implementing proper consequences for their choices. Don't miss out on this important topic!   For more on ha...

This week's top listener question comes from a mom who caught her 16-year-old son watching pornography — a situation all-too-common for many parents of teenage boys. Mark Gregston shares some advice for how you can wisely talk with your son about the impact of porn, what practical steps you can take to help him with this battle and more! You don't want to miss this important topic.    If y...

If you're feeling tired and defeated from ongoing battles with your teen, it might be time for you to take a break! Whether that means going out of town for a weekend, or simply getting up earlier to have your coffee in peace, it's okay to take some time for yourself. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss why it's healthy for parents to take a break, and how you can...

If there is one thing the majority of teens have in common, it's that they are desperate to be loved for WHO they are, not for what they do. So, Mom and Dad, does your teen feel loved unconditionally? Or do they feel like you have unmeetable expectations? It might be time to ask them! In this special devotional, Mark Gregston shares why you need to listen to what's on your teen's heart...

Teens can benefit enormously from having a close, genuine relationship with their dad, but sometimes — through any combo of life's challenges — it doesn't always work out that way. Dads and their teens then have to work TOGETHER to overcome those obstacles and build a bond. In this episode, Mark Gregston chats with a couple of young ladies staying at Heartlight who are both walking through...

Teens in today's culture engage in all kinds of self-destructive behaviors, from cutting to drinking to sexual promiscuity. So, as a parent, how can you help keep them from making these harmful choices — or help them recover if they already have? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss the WHY behind teens' self-destructive choices and share some advice for how you can be...

When your child enters their young adult years, they'll more than likely start seeking out a serious relationship or future spouse — and you may very well butt heads with this new addition to the family. So, how should you handle this type of conflict? In this episode, Mark Gregston shares advice for a frustrated mom whose 20-year-old son is pulling away from his family because of a new girlfr...

When your teen pulls away from — or outright rejects — the faith that you've raised them with, it can feel like you've done something wrong as a parent. But this is the most important time to trust in God that He will bring your teen back to a better place. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share encouraging insights for parents whose teens might be walking through their &#...

From the outside, today's teen culture looks crazy — practically every parent can agree on that! But it's important to remember that it's all your child knows and if you don't understand their culture and only offer criticisms, it will damage your ability to share real wisdom and perspective with them. In today's episode, Mark Gregston shares a special devotional focused on how...

In this week's interview with Heartlight teens, Mark Gregston sits down to talk with a couple of teens who know exactly what it feels like to hit rock bottom — both physically and emotionally — and have to rebuild. For Blake, his wake-up call came the second time he was sent to jail, where he realized he had to create a different path for his life. Tune in now for these incredible stories!   ...

Out of the thousands of teens who have stayed at Heartlight, a large portion of them have been involved with some kind of drug use. A common factor? Most of their parents were caught completely off guard by their child's addiction. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about why it's better to be OVERprepared rather than underprepared for your teen to experiment with drugs...

In today's episode, Mark Gregston answers the parenting question of the week, which comes from a couple trying to figure out if they can still enforce a curfew on their 18-year-old son. For older teens, it's still essential for them to respect rules and authority — it'll help them later in life with their own families and careers.    Have a parenting question for Mark? Send it in at ma...

As a parent, you have every right to establish boundaries to protect yourself AND your teen. Adolescents are self-centered by nature, and if you don't set up boundaries safeguarding your time and emotions, they'll walk all over you! In today's episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about practical examples of boundaries and how you can implement them in your own home. Don't...

Do you ever catch yourself worrying about if people view you as a good parent? You're not alone, but the good news is that you can take the pressure off yourself. If you try to be the "perfect parent," your teens might feel the ripple effects of that unattainable goal. In this episode, Mark revisits how pressure from a perfection-seeking boss caused burnout in his own life and shares w...

Teens that struggle with perfectionism often start using harmful coping mechanisms to help relieve some of the pressure they put on themselves. But unfortunately, this can come back to bite them in even worse ways. Mark Gregston sits down to chat with two young men from Heartlight who both struggle with trying to be perfect and likable in the eyes of others but are learning the true value of their...

For plenty of families who go to church on a regular basis, there will come a day when your teen (or pre-teen) starts pushing back and doesn't want to attend anymore. So, should you force them? Or let them work it out on their own? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd tackle these questions and share why it's important to take the age of the teen into account when evaluating w...

In today's episode, Mark Gregston answers a question from a distraught couple whose teenage son stole hundreds of dollars from them to spend on video games. Mark shares that while it's important to understand WHY video games draw teens in, it's equally important to set up proper consequences to make sure this young man never pulls such a stunt again. Don't miss Mark's insights!...

In today's culture, the chances are pretty high that your family has been directly or indirectly impacted by divorce in some way — and many people say that kids are able to cope reasonably well when their parents split up. But is that really the case? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd tackle this tough topic and share what divorced parents can do to make sure they don't los...

In this devotional, Mark Gregston shares stories from families who all had to accept the truth of their child's behavior or struggles in order to move forward. Of course, the truth may not always be fun to hear, but it's essential to the process of healing your family. Mark also revisits the challenges he walked through with his own son's choices and how those situations helped him gro...

In today's episode, Mark Gregston sits down with a couple of Heartlight teens and learns why their families sent them to the boarding school. For one 14-year-old girl, being bullied into sending explicit pictures over text sent her down a dark and painful path. Learn how the counselors at Heartlight are helping her see her worth and beauty in this episode!    Want to learn more about how to he...

When teens feel completely hopeless and think they have nowhere left to turn, they might start to believe suicide is the only option to end their pain. This is when they need your love more than ever! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss the warning signs you need to look out for, why you should always take it seriously when a teen threatens suicide and how you can walk alongs...