Teen Stories: Looking For Answers

Does any of this sound familiar? Your college-age daughter wants to move in with her boyfriend against your wishes. Your son fights you on doing his chores and threatens to run away. Your teen is using their phone inappropriately. In this episode, Mark breaks down these real scenarios sent in by listeners and gives practical advice on dealing with disrespect, entitlement and mental health struggles. Whether youre grappling with technology issues, defiance or emotional challenges in your family, this Q&A delivers empathy and straight talk to empower you on your parenting journey. Check it out!

Have a question for Mark? We'd love to hear it! Go to markgregston.com to submit your parenting questions.

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.

Its easy to fall into the trap of criticizing kids these days. But how you view the younger generation will shape the kind of relationship you have with them. In this episode, Mark and Wayne are joined by Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur to talk about how parents and grandparents can move beyond criticism and toward meaningful connection with teens. Instead of lectures and assumptions, they encourage sharing stories, asking questions and learning about the world teens are growing up in today. Youll also hear from a Heartlight teen who shares how years of family conflict shaped her destructive choices. Her story is a reminder that behind every troubled teen is a deeper story waiting to be understood. Tune in today!

Discover how best to grandparent the teens in your life at parentingtodaysteens.org/articles/a-legacy-of-hope

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.

In this episode, Mark shares a deeply personal devotional about the challenges parents face when their teens make decisions that go against family values or wound their hearts. Mark explores how parents can maintain meaningful relationships with their children even amid conflict, disappointment and cultural changes. He emphasizes the importance of listening, asking thoughtful questions and loving unconditionally, rather than leading with criticism or cutting off connection. If youre navigating disagreements with the teen in your life, this episode is for you!

To better understand why teens do the crazy things they do and how to protect your relationship while still teaching them a valuable lesson visit bit.ly/teens-inappropriate-behavior-2

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org. 

Most struggling teens hold a story inside their hearts: a story of searching, hurt and hope. In todays episode, Mark sits down with two Heartlight teens who open up about their personal battles with loneliness, depression and not feeling good enough. Both teens carried the weight of fractured relationships and unmet needs one longing for a fathers involvement, the other wrestling with feelings of isolation and the pain of not being seen. Now, at Heartlight, theyre learning that true belonging and healing begin with understanding their own stories, and discovering theyre not alone on the journey.

Want to learn more about the Heartlight residential program? Visit heartlightministries.org today!

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org. 

In this episode, Mark and Wayne talk about the profound impact that tough parenting decisions can have on a family's future. Through personal stories including Mark's life-saving decision for his daughter decades ago they explore how setting boundaries, having hard conversations and trusting God's plan can rewrite the story for generations to come. Plus, a Heartlight teen opens up about his journey through rebellion, struggles with addiction and lessons learned at Heartlight. This episode is a powerful reminder that the choices we make with our teens today can echo far into the future. Listen now!

What makes sharing your perspective versus your opinion with your teen so powerful? Read about it at parentingtodaysteens.org/articles/the-power-of-perspective-2

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.