Parenting Today's Teens

Today's teens are living in a culture that is often vile and full of demeaning language, and not surprisingly, this is reflected in today's popular music. So if your teen is listening to music you don't approve of, should you put a stop to it? Is it a battle worth fighting? In this episode, Mark Gregston addresses this question, along with several others, including how to separate ment...

If you're a grandparent — or will become one someday — you'll need to examine your relationship with your grandkids and what impression you are leaving upon their hearts. You have wisdom they desperately need, but if you are constantly nitpicking or making your grandkids feel judged, they won't be open to receiving it. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd chat about how yo...

How well do you truly know your children? Do you spend time listening to them at the dinner table? Or is that time simply spent lecturing your teen? In this devotional, Mark Gregston shares the importance of sitting down and asking your teens genuine, well-intentioned questions about their lives and interests — and NOT immediately sharing your opinions. Listen in for more advice on how to build tr...

When teens push down deep wounds, such as grief and low self-worth, those repressed emotions will eventually explode — often in very unhealthy ways. In this episode, Mark Gregston chats with a couple of teens who are Heartlight residents, including one young lady who lost her father in a brutally traumatic way and struggled to process her grief and heartbreak on her own. At Heartlight, she was abl...

As the back-to-school season rapidly approaches, your teen might be nervous about returning to the pressures of middle school or high school. So how can you, as a parent, help shift their gaze away from what could go wrong and focus on the positives instead? Mark Gregston is joined by Wayne Shepherd to share advice for parents on how to come alongside their kids and help them make this the best sc...

So, your teen has declared they no longer want to go to church — what now?! In this episode, Mark Gregston sits down to answer some tough questions, including what a parent's response should be when their teen decides they don't believe in God or they hate attending church. It might be time to examine whether your child's God-given gifts are actually being nurtured in your church, or i...

Do you know how to tell if you have a good, healthy relationship with your teenager? Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share FIVE markers you can use to gauge how well you're connecting with your teen and where you could do better. A great starting point is to simply spend more one-on-one time with them! Listen in for more of Mark and Wayne's tips.   For some extra help fine-tuning your par...

As kids enter their teen years, they get completely bombarded by information, gossip and negative messaging from media sources all around them. Unfortunately, as your teen's head spins with all the info, they can begin to view people as unworthy of respect — especially people in authority. In this devotional, Mark Gregston focuses on how you can maintain the respect you have cultivated with yo...

Adopted teens — and their parents — often have a unique set of challenges throughout the adolescent years as the teen explores questions about their birth parents. Mark sits down to chat with some Heartlight teens, including a 16-year-old boy who was adopted at a very young age. He explains that he struggled to feel a real, genuine attachment to his adoptive parents, which led to fights in the hom...

No matter how well-intentioned they are, many parents have habits they may not even be aware of that drive their teens crazy and damage the relationship. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd go over some of the most common parenting pitfalls you might stumble into that can end up pushing your teen away from you. Listen in now to hear their advice!   Need some more ideas on how to keep...

Most parents experience their teens breaking their trust. But what if you've given multiple chances and the behavior continues? On today's episode, Mark answers some of your most pressing questions on the topic of trust.   Kids are going to break your trust ... but you can use those situations as teachable moments. Whether you've given them two chances or 20, don't give up. Consequ...

Parents are engaging with their kids more than ever before, but when those same kids grow up thinking the world revolves around them, they're in for a rude awakening. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss what happens when you've lost authority with your teen.   Tune in to hear Mark and Wayne answer questions from listeners, as well as share how to have a good relations...

As kids enter their teen years, they become increasingly aware of how uncertain the world can be. They are surrounded by news of wars, school shootings, natural disasters and other anxiety-inducing information — on top of the normal social pressures they face in day-to-day life. Mark Gregston shares a devotional to encourage you to be the certain, steadfast presence your kids so desperately need i...

So many teens battle depression and other mental health issues, and as parents, it's extremely important to be able to identify cries for help when your teen is in a dark place. In this episode, Mark Gregston has conversations with both current and former Heartlight teens, including a brave young woman who is recovering from injuries caused by a suicide attempt. Tune in to hear her powerful st...

Can you remember when someone gave you a second chance after you made a mistake? In the harsh world we live in, your teens need that grace from you, too! In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about how you need to recognize that your child WILL inevitably make mistakes, and you should be ready to give them more chances to get it right. Don't miss this discussion!    For more o...

Creating a home environment with balanced, reasonable rewards and consequences can be crucial for your teen's growth into an independent adult — but it's not an easy process. In this episode, Mark Gregston answers more great questions from parents just like you who want to see their teens succeed. He shares tips on how to avoid arguments, set up house rules for your teen's boyfriend or...

It's okay for teens to feel guilt when they do something they know is wrong — but when parents then approach them with shame-filled comments and criticisms, it can cause damage that lasts a lifetime. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd sit down to discuss the importance of implementing natural consequences for your teen WITHOUT any shame piled on top. Listen in for more on how to...

Parenting teenagers is no walk in the park — especially when your child is going through a difficult phase and declaring they don't need you anymore. If you have unresolved hurts in your own heart, their behavior can leave you feeling lost and rejected. Mark Gregston shares a heartfelt devotional about how important it is for you, as a parent, to spend time reflecting on who YOU are and any li...

Experiencing trauma and betrayal at a young age can leave a lasting, devastating impact on a teen's life, and sometimes they need a helping hand to lead them out of the darkness. Mark Gregston interviews two Heartlight teens who share their stories of transformation, including one young woman who found freedom and healing through learning to trust in Jesus. Don't miss these impactful stori...

Practically every parent can think of things their child does that are bothersome, but are you spending too much time correcting — or worse — nagging your teen about the little things? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd share how important it is for you to have the right motives and timing when giving feedback or corrections to your teen. Listen in now to hear their advice!    Looki...

Do you make a point to sit down with your teen at least once a week and simply spend some time with them? If not, it may be time to start! In this special episode, Mark Gregston shares a list of conversation starters for you to use with your teen in the midst of a conflict or to encourage them to open up about the challenges they face. Listen in now for Mark's tips on how to have meaningful co...

Mark Gregston is joined by Wayne Shepherd to discuss how parents should naturally fall into the role of being a moral compass for their kids as they navigate through their adolescent years. Teens can get lost pretty easily — and it's YOUR job as a parent to spend some time understanding the world and culture they live in. After all, you can't navigate well with outdated maps! Don't mis...

It can be very tempting to totally avoid conflict when there's tension between you and your teen, but it's usually better to confront the problem and walk alongside them in their struggles. In this episode, Mark explains that how you relate and interact with your child during the darkest times of their lives will determine your relationship with them in the future. The best investment you...

When a teen's home life becomes full of pain and tension, sometimes they see no other way out of the situation other than suicide. But no teenager is beyond help. Mark Gregston listens to the stories of a couple of teens living at Heartlight, including Daniel, who shares how depression and strained parental relationships led him to a suicide attempt. Don't miss his powerful story!    For m...

Today's generation of teens faces so many challenges and areas where they can stumble into behaviors that harm themselves or the people around them. It is VITAL for parents to be aware of these pitfalls and be ready to help their teens. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd go over a list of the most common pitfalls so parents can be aware of what to look out for. Listen in now!   ...