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 you can share your knowledge and experience with your teen in meaningful ways. For a biblical perspective on how to gui...
Sep 28, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 593
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! Need some help pulling your teen out of a downward spiral? Check out Mark's book, "When Your Teen is Strugg...
Sep 27, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 592
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, and share some warning signs to look out for. For more on this important topic, check out Mark's article, ...
Sep 26, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 591
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 markgregston.com Our Sponsors: * Check out Stride K12: https://K12.com/TEENS Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle...
Sep 23, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 590
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 miss this great topic! For more insights on creating rules and boundaries, read Mark's article, "Getting No Respect...
Sep 22, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 589
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 what unintended messages you might be giving your teen. Tune in now! For more on how to communicate better with y...
Sep 21, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 588
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 self-worth. Tune in to hear their stories! To learn more about Heartlight, check out heartlightmini...
Sep 20, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 587
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 what to do. Don't miss this great discussion! For more on how to create structure within your home, check out...
Sep 19, 2022•11 min•Season 1Ep. 586
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! Want to ask your own parenting question? Send it in at markgregston.com Interested in exploring more Parenting Today's ...
Sep 16, 2022•7 min•Season 1Ep. 585
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 lose their relationship with their TEEN amid the split. For more on this topic, read Mark's article, "What if M...
Sep 15, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 584
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 grow as a parent. Tune in now! Want to learn how to communicate with your child more effectively? Order Mark's work...
Sep 14, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 583
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 help your kids use technology responsibly? Check out Mark's free e-book, "Keeping Your Teen Safe Online," at ...
Sep 13, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 582
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 alongside them in the midst of pain. Don't miss this episode! For more on this important topic, read Mark'...
Sep 12, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 581
In this episode, Mark Gregston answers a question from a listener whose 15-year-old daughter wants to spend most of her time alone playing on her phone. Does that sound familiar? Mark shares some practical steps you can take to help your teen get motivated to take responsibility, start pursuing other activities and begin to learn internal boundaries. Tune in now for Mark's tips! Are you faced with a parenting challenge right now? Ask Mark about it at markgregston.com For more help with creating ...
Sep 09, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 580
If your teen has been diagnosed with a mental or behavioral disorder, it's normal if you feel apprehension about seeking medication for their issues — many parents do! But getting medical treatment for a disorder is sometimes the best thing you can do for your teen when they're struggling. In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd tackle the tough topic of how parents can help their teens with mood and behavioral disorders. Don't miss this episode! If seeking help from licensed counselin...
Sep 08, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 579
Anger can sometimes be an amazing motivator for teens, but it can also damage or destroy relationships if they get swept up in it. So, how should you respond when your teen flies into a fit of rage? In this episode, Mark Gregston explains that when a teen gets angry, there is almost always a deeper reason behind it, and it's up to YOU to take a breath, observe and get to the bottom of it. Listen in now! For more insight on this topic, read Mark's article, "Getting No Respect From Your Teen?" at ...
Sep 07, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 578
When teens come to Heartlight, the lessons they — and their parents — learn often change the dynamics of their whole family, but it takes effort on everyone's part to continue moving forward in a healthy way. In today's episode, Mark Gregston chats with a couple of young men in the residential counseling program, including Jared, who has come to recognize that both he and his parents will have to work together to trust each other again. Don't miss these great interviews! To learn more about the ...
Sep 06, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 577
If you're the parent of a tween — a child between 9 and 12 years old — you've probably noticed they seem to act more and more like teenagers with each passing day. That's why it's SO important to stay engaged with them and begin to teach them how to make good decisions and take responsibility now rather than later. Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd sit down to share some advice for parents of pre-teens that will help you stay ahead of the cultural wave headed for your kids. Tune in now! Looking f...
Sep 05, 2022•17 min•Season 1Ep. 576
The immense amount of technology and information that teens have access to today presents new challenges for parents that prior generations never had to deal with. Put simply, how much screen time is too much? In this episode, Mark answers a question from a frustrated mom who is navigating the world of screen time limits for each of her three kids. Don't miss Mark's insights! Have your own parenting challenge you'd like Mark's advice on? Submit your questions here: markgregston.com For more insi...
Sep 02, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 575
Household rules, expectations and belief systems are all wonderful things to have — but if you don't cultivate a real relationship with your child, those rules won't do much good. Mark Gregston is joined by Wayne Shepherd to talk about why spending lighthearted one-on-one time with your teen is a huge investment in strengthening the relationship. Listen in for this great discussion! For more on why it's important to learn the heart of your teen, check out Mark's article, "The Greatest Gift to Gi...
Sep 01, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 574
If you don't start to hand over the reins of responsibility to your kids as they enter their adolescent years, it can have lasting consequences as they enter their adult years. In today's devotional, Mark Gregston explains that overinvolved parents who continue to do everything for their teens are setting their kids up to be entitled and unmotivated adults. You want your kids to soar after they leave home, NOT return to the nest! For more on how to teach your teens responsibility, check out Mark...
Aug 31, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 573
If you're a stepparent to a teenager, you probably know that your relationship with them comes with a unique set of challenges. In this week's interview, Mark Gregston sits down with a young lady who found herself at Heartlight because she and her stepmom struggled with nonstop conflict. But at the end of the day, their relationship is one of the most valued ones in this teen's life. Don't miss this episode! Interested in learning more about Heartlight Ministries? Check out heartlightministries....
Aug 30, 2022•25 min•Season 1Ep. 572
It can be hard to keep a positive outlook when you're walking through difficulty with your teen, but eventually, every storm comes to an end. In today's episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss why you should try to see the good in your child and still offer them unconditional love in the midst of their struggles — just like God does for us. Tune in for this great discussion! For more on this topic, read Mark's article, "Develop a New Style of Resolving Conflict," at bit.ly/3K00t0E Our ...
Aug 29, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 571
If your child is shutting down and never wants to engage in conversations with you, there is almost always something going on behind the scenes. In this episode, Mark Gregston tackles a tough question sent in by a mom whose son hasn't been willing to open up to her or a counselor. As a parent, it's crucial to show your child that you'll give them a listening ear, without interjecting your opinion or speaking FOR them. Tune in for Mark's insights! Got a parenting question for Mark? Ask it here: b...
Aug 26, 2022•9 min•Season 1Ep. 570
If you're like many parents, you can probably pinpoint which one of your teen's friends is "the bad kid." But have you ever wondered why your child is drawn to that friendship? In this episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd talk about how a teen's friends are often an expression of what's going on in their hearts, and why you should steer clear of sheltering your kids too much. Don't miss this great discussion! For more on this topic, check out Mark's article, "Teens Need to Belong," at bit.l...
Aug 25, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 569
Comments people make to teens, especially negative or hurtful ones, can leave a lasting impact on their hearts for years to come. In this devotional, Mark Gregston recalls how he was personally impacted by naysayers — along with how he was uplifted and motivated by mentors who believed in him. Your children need your encouragement to chase God's calling for their lives! If you're looking for more insight on how to effectively communicate with your teen, read Mark's article, "Navigating Your Teen...
Aug 24, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 568
Growing up in a family where houses and parental dynamics are constantly changing can definitely have an impact on kids — especially once they hit their teen years. In this episode, Mark Gregston interviews a couple more Heartlight teens, including one young lady who is working through drug abuse recovery and emotional wounds caused by an unstable household. But no matter the obstacles, she wants to grow to be a great role model for her younger siblings. Don't miss this episode! Trying to decide...
Aug 23, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 567
Here's a painful truth: When teens start struggling, the first casualty is often the relationship between their parents. Not being on the same page about how to handle an out-of-control teen can cause a LOT of conflict and friction in practically any marriage, no matter how solid it may seem. In this episode, Mark Gregston sits down with Wayne Shepherd to discuss tips parents can use to keep their marriage strong despite adversity. Listen in now! Looking for more in-depth advice on parenting you...
Aug 22, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 566
One of a parent's biggest challenges in today's culture is teaching their child how to use technology and social media responsibly, without it hindering their academics, job or other chores. So, what should your approach be? In this episode, Mark Gregston addresses this question and other challenges submitted by parents just like you. Don't miss his insights! Do you have a parenting problem you'd like to ask Mark about? Submit it here: bit.ly/3NzKC9K For more guidance on how to navigate a diffic...
Aug 19, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 565
As your child enters their teenage years, they begin to change a LOT — and so should your methods of discipline. Mark Gregston is joined by Wayne Shepherd to discuss how you can enforce household rules without sacrificing the relationship you've cultivated with your child. The way you discipline your teen now will make all the difference in how they approach their adult life! For more advice on how to shift your parenting style to best help your teen, read Mark's article, "How Do We Let Go of Ou...
Aug 18, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 564
