Parenting Today's Teens

Today, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss how respect is foundational to a peaceful, healthy home, and it must be intentionally taught and modeled by parents. Mark explains that many teens struggle with respect because they don’t feel respected themselves, making it essential for parents to examine their words, reactions and expectations. Even in disagreement, families can maintain unity by...

Listen today as Mark Gregston reflects on a generation that pursued “peace at all costs” and avoided conflict, often weakening relationships instead of deepening them. Drawing on Galatians 6:9, he reminds parents that true, God-given peace doesn’t eliminate struggle — it carries us through it with hope. Even in the darkest family crises, perseverance, engagement and faithful investment matter more...

For many teens, the drive to fit in or feel worthy can shape almost every decision they make. Beneath the surface, those struggles often trace back to deep questions of value, trust and belonging. Today, Mark sits down with two Heartlight residents who each share their journeys through perfectionism, insecurity and the desire to be loved. For Emily, her struggles with anxiety and perfectionism sta...

Join Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd today as they discuss the powerful opportunity parents have to shape their teens’ hearts and direction through intentional one-on-one time. Mark reminds parents that the teen years are brief, and busy schedules can cause us to miss moments we may later regret. Regular, judgment-free time spent listening, asking questions, and showing compassion builds trust an...

In this Q&A episode, Mark dives into some of the most sensitive questions parents are facing right now. Addressing tough topics like puberty and sexual development, Mark offers practical insights and relatable anecdotes drawn from his years of experience working with teens and families. You’ll also hear thoughtful advice on managing changing family dynamics — like what to do when your college...

As a new year begins, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur encourage families to pause and have honest, grace-filled conversations with their teens. This is a powerful opportunity to listen to what your teen hopes will be different and to offer a fresh start rooted in relationship, not control. By focusing less on surface issues and more on the heart, parents can strengthen connectio...

Mark Gregston reminds parents that many frustrating teen behaviors are actually normal parts of adolescence and part of how kids learn to grow into adulthood. Understanding what’s normal can lower anxiety and help parents respond with patience instead of panic. At the same time, Mark urges parents to recognize clear warning signs that signal deeper trouble and require immediate action. When parent...

Family relationships aren’t always easy, and sometimes the toughest struggles can lead to the strongest connections. On today’s episode, Mark sits down with two young women at Heartlight who have walked through dark seasons of conflict, self-doubt and destructive choices. Their journeys show that while pain and misunderstanding can create distance, there’s hope for rebuilding trust and closeness a...

On today's episode, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur remind parents who feel overwhelmed by a child’s struggles — whether addiction, pregnancy or deep emotional pain — that their situation is not hopeless because God has promised hope. They share how Parenting Today’s Teens has been a beacon of hope for nearly two decades, walking alongside families at the end of their rope....

Today, Mark dives into some more pressing challenges parents face today — from transitioning your parenting style as kids grow, to managing teens’ phone usage and tough issues like household rules for 18-year-olds. Drawing from real listener questions, Mark discusses how to foster safe and open communication and find the balance between structure and relationship. If you’re struggling with tech bo...

Merry Christmas! The holidays can unite families, and grandparents play a unique role in setting a warm, meaningful tone for those gatherings. Today, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur explain that grandparents offer heritage, perspective, commitment and a lived-out example of grace that teens deeply need — not through lectures, but through presence and love. They encourage grandpa...

Join Mark Gregston as he talks about how Luke’s account of Christ’s birth highlights a powerful idea often overlooked. Mark explains that modern adolescents live with unprecedented exposure to uncertainty — from social pressure and information overload to global crises — which fuels anxiety, confusion and experimentation that can pull them away from what they’ve been taught. Parents cannot elimina...

What happens when teens feel unheard at home? This week, Mark talks with two Heartlight teens, who bravely share their battles with depression, insecurity and the search for real connection. Beneath struggles with anger, risky choices or even isolation, both young women's stories reveal a powerful theme: Teens desperately need their parents to truly listen — not just jump into problem-solving...

Today, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss how parents often hold tightly to control out of fear, but doing so can stunt a teen’s ability to develop maturity and self-control. Mark explains that healthy independence requires gradually transferring responsibility from ages 12 to 18 so teens can practice decision-making before they leave home. When parents micromanage, teens may rebel or make r...

In today's episode, Mark dives into some more pressing questions from parents who are struggling with their teens and young adults. From addressing severe outbursts and substance use in a high-functioning autistic teen, to knowing when it’s time to seek psychiatric help, Mark offers practical advice and empathy for families in crisis. The episode covers issues like adolescent depression, paren...

Listen today as Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur discuss the reality that Christmas often brings conflict rather than peace, especially in families with struggling teens. They emphasize that parents must rise above the chaos by extending grace, offering love when it’s least deserved and avoiding the pressure to create a “perfect” holiday. Instead of withholding gifts or withdrawi...

Mark reflects on the lessons he’s learned as a parent and grandparent, emphasizing how small, consistent conversations build trust and open the door for deeper, life-shaping talks with kids and teens. He shares how both positive and negative voices shaped his own life, and how a handful of wise, older mentors profoundly influenced him through simple but powerful statements offered over time. Mark...

Every teen's journey is shaped by a search for identity — a need to take ownership of their life, make choices and discover who they truly are. Today, Mark sits down with two young women from Heartlight who share their struggles to find themselves amid high expectations and family dynamics. Both wrestled with rebellion — not just for rebellion’s sake, but as a way to carve out their independen...

Families in crisis often feel overwhelmed, isolated and “at the end of their rope,” but Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur remind parents they are not alone and real help is available. They explain that teen struggles are usually signs of deeper issues — not parental failure — and that progress often comes through small steps, strengthened relationships and seeking support. Parents...

In today's episode, Mark Gregston dives into some of the toughest questions parents face with their teenagers today. From encouraging faith in a 17-year-old son who resists reading the Bible, to setting boundaries with a 19-year-old daughter living at home and finding the balance when communicating with college-aged children, Mark offers practical advice rooted in real-life experiences. He exp...

Today, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur explain that effective discipline flows out of a healthy relationship, not anger or authority alone. Parents often lean too far into being either “tough” or “tender,” but teens need a balanced blend of strength, gentleness, listening and compassion. True authority comes from connection, not control, and the goal is to reflect God’s characte...

Mark Gregston shares how unexpected setbacks — including getting fired — became the catalyst for founding Heartlight Ministries and beginning a lifelong “journey to genuineness.” As he reflects on rejection, pride and unresolved personal issues, he encourages parents to consider how their own wounds and blind spots may be influencing their parenting. Mark urges moms and dads of struggling teens to...

Navigating the teen years can sometimes mean facing invisible walls — barriers of isolation, anger or uncertainty about how to let others in. Today, Mark sits down with two young men from Heartlight who share honest accounts of what shut them off from their families and peers. For Harry, the struggle was with isolation and the challenge of making real-world connections after a hard move and ongoin...

Today, join Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lefleur as they discuss setting boundaries for your family. They explain that healthy boundaries start with understanding what each child truly needs and tailoring rules by age, maturity and individual challenges — not just enforcing control for control’s sake. Mark and Courtney emphasize focusing first on relationship, then building clear exp...

Today, Mark Gregston fields real questions from parents grappling with the challenges of guiding older teens toward adulthood. Drawing from decades of experience, he addresses issues such as fostering independence in 17- and 18-year-olds, setting boundaries with troubled teens, navigating the complexities of homeschooling, and providing support for teens with depression and anxiety. Mark offers pr...