Advertise on podcast: Parenting Today's Teens

Building trust with grandchildren is all about deciding when to share your wisdom and perspective, and when to give them space to seek their own answers. But once you've found the balance, you can create a wonderful relationship! In today's show, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd dive into the important role that grandparents play in their grandchildren's lives. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of grandparenting, the need for intentional engagement, and the impact of storytelling and unconditional love. Listen in! For more help connecting with teens, take our FREE e-course, "Five Ways to Stay Engaged With Your Teen." Enroll at bit.ly/stay-engaged-course 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

In today’s episode, Mark Gregston answers questions from parents who need guidance on everything from vaping and drinking to divorce and blended families. Mark shares that while the nature of issues may evolve, the core needs of every teen — belonging, relationships and a desire to appear older — remain constant. Understanding and addressing these needs, rather than solely focusing on controlling behavior, is the key. Tune in for valuable insights on how to connect with your teen on a deeper level and truly reach their heart! Have a question for Mark? Submit it here: markgregston.com 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

Do you feel like you're talking to a brick wall when you preach your values to your teen? You can recite them all day long, but it's the silent lessons taught through your actions that have a lasting impact. In today’s episode, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd delve into the important role of parents in helping their teens build good character and make positive choices. They emphasize the significance of intentional parenting and modeling integrity, honesty, grace and wisdom for teens to emulate. Listen now for advice on shaping yourself and your teen into a positive influence in today’s world! For more inspiration and encouragement, check out Mark's newest devotional, "Daily Hope For Families," at dailyhopeforfamilies.com 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

How much do you trust your teen? For many parents, this can be a hard question to answer. But at some point, gradually letting go of control is the best thing for your child — and for you! In today's show, Mark delves into the topic of control versus trust in the parent-teen relationship. He re-shares a personal anecdote of a family struggling with their son's rebellious behavior and how their extensive list of expectations led to a battle for control. He emphasizes the importance of giving teens the opportunity to make decisions and prove their maturity. Listen in now! For more on building healthy expectations within your family, check out "Developing Rules and Consequences." Order your copy at bit.ly/developing-rules 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

As drug use is increasingly normalized among our teens, so many of them turn to self-medicating when they're hurting or lonely. Tragically, this can start them on a path to addiction. In today's show, we hear from two Heartlight teens, including Gabe, who opens up to Mark about his journey from drug use to residential treatment. He discusses his troubled relationship with his family and how he quickly fell into addiction — but now, he's working to mend things. Tune in! Visit heartlightministries.org to learn more about how the Heartlight residential program helps teens and their families. 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

Peer pressure has been around for generations, it just manifests differently with today's teens than it used to. In today's show, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd shed light on both the positive and negative aspects of peer pressure, providing valuable wisdom for parents seeking to support their teens through these challenges. They emphasize the vital role of nurturing strong relationships with teenagers so they can be prepared for the pressures they face. Join us for this great discussion! For more support on your parenting journey, check out our online store! Visit parentingtodaysteens.org/shop to browse all our resources. 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

In today’s episode, Mark Gregston delves deep into listeners’ tough, but not uncommon, questions. From dealing with risky behaviors like vaping and sexual promiscuity to handling the emotional challenges of adoption, Mark offers his wisdom on creating strong, loving relationships that stand the test of teen turbulence. With compassion and humor, Mark highlights the value of setting boundaries and stresses the crucial role of open communication. Remember, every challenge is a doorway to connection — listen now! Have a question for Mark? Submit it here: markgregston.com 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

Have you ever stopped and thought about what really builds strong connections between people, especially your kids? Join hosts Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd as they unpack the essential elements that form lasting bonds between parents and teens. In this episode, discover the significance of quality time, deep conversations, clear expectations, grace and a commitment to lifelong learning from each other. Tune in now! For more help understanding your teen's behavior, check out our free "Tough Guys and Drama Queens" e-course! Enroll today at bit.ly/3PtDGxl 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

In order to effectively communicate wisdom to your teens, you need to know how to share your perspective AND see theirs! The viewpoints may look very different, but with a little work, you both can find understanding. In today's show, Mark reflects on lessons he's learned in his own life about the power of perspective. He also highlights the importance of parents understanding and engaging differently with their teens while helping them see the bigger picture. Listen in for this great devotional episode! To dive deeper into more ways to help your teen, check out our Teen Struggle Bundle! Order yours at bit.ly/struggle-bundle 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

High school is a tough time for many teens, full of different experiences and challenges — and sometimes bad influences. In today's episode, Mark sits down with two teens who found themselves in a downhill spiral in high school, including one young lady who succumbed to bad influences after transferring schools, where she struggled to fit in at first. She also discussed her newfound understanding of love and forgiveness and the positive changes she's witnessing in herself during her time at Heartlight. Tune in now! Want to learn more about how the Heartlight program works? 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

As parents, we want to protect our kids. But if you spend too much time trying to control your teen's world, you'll never have the chance to teach them how to live in the real one. In today's show, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd address the challenges faced by Christian parents who are navigating the delicate balance between setting boundaries and allowing their teens the freedom to explore. They delve into the issues of saying "no" too often and explore the importance of finding opportunities to say "yes" to help teens mature. Listen in! For more on this topic, check out "Raising Teens in a Contrary Culture," at bit.ly/contrary-culture 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 www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode, Mark Gregston tackles pressing questions from parents about their teenagers' behavior and struggles. He shares valuable insights on connecting with reserved teens, guiding struggling students, addressing self-esteem issues, rebuilding after divorce, and navigating the allure of dark and disturbing content. Whether it's handling tough conversations or setting boundaries, Mark's wisdom serves as a roadmap for parents aiming to understand their kids better while fortifying their bond. Listen now! Have a question for Mark? Submit it here: markgregston.com 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 www.ChristianParenting.org