Parenting Today's Teens

I Mustache Mark a Question: School Stress, Teenage Values and Communication Breakdowns

In this week's Q&A episode, Mark dives into some more tough questions parents are facing with their teens right now. He talks through practical ways to support a daughter struggling in school and experiencing anxiety, and how to help an unmotivated college student who’s stepped back from faith. Mark also unpacks what to do if your teenager refuses to communicate with an overseas parent, and how to sensitively address the discovery of pornography on an eighth grader’s phone. Throughout the episode, Mark keeps the focus on having compassion, healthy boundaries and responding in ways that build lasting connections with your teen.Courtney's Corner: Questions to Reflect OnAre you easily manipulated by your teen?What beliefs are you willing to risk your relationship over?Would your child describe your love as conditional or unconditional?Have a question for Mark? Ask it here: markgregston.com

Feeling Distant From Your Teen? Start Here

Do you feel like there’s a growing gap between you and your teen? In this episode, Mark and Wayne discuss practical ways parents can strengthen connection during the adolescent years. From improving communication and adjusting expectations to establishing healthy boundaries and shifting from teaching to training, Mark shares insights that can help parents stay engaged when relationships begin to feel strained. You’ll also learn why listening matters more than lecturing, how to communicate wisdom instead of information and what role a strong relationship plays in guiding teens through challenging seasons. Tune in today!The world is full of people who will tell your teen what to think and when they are wrong. But no one is better positioned to really listen to them. Get tips here: bit.ly/listening-to-your-teen-on-a-deeper-levelMentioned in this episode:FICC Online PreRoll Stephen Curtis Chapman

The Recipe for a Strong Parent-Teen Relationship

In a world filled with pressure, anxiety and constant demands, does your home feel like a place of rest for your teen? In this episode, Mark shares a devotional on creating a home environment where teens feel safe, supported and understood. Using the analogy of a favorite recipe, Mark unpacks key ingredients for stronger relationships, including shared experiences, encouraging messages, meaningful conversations and a parenting style that adapts to the changing needs of adolescence. Tune in for practical wisdom on building a home your teen wants to come back to.Showing gratitude is another great habit to instill in your home. Get tips from Mark here: bit.ly/creating-a-thankful-home

Teen Stories: Struggling in Isolation

It's easy to think that anger, rebellion or pulling away is just part of being a teenager. But sometimes, it’s a sign of feeling lost or desperately wanting to belong. In today’s episode, Mark talks with two young ladies from Heartlight as they open up about family conflict, the pressure to fit in and hiding pain behind a happy face. Both share how trying to fill their emptiness with parties, perfectionism or taking care of others only left them more isolated. Listen in to hear how, through the ups and downs, these teens are slowly learning to trust, let people in and rediscover who they really are.Is Heartlight the right place for your struggling teen? Learn more today at heartlightministries.org

When Bad Behavior Points to Something Deeper

When teens act out, most parents focus on the behavior. But what if the behavior is only a symptom of something deeper? In this episode, Mark and Wayne explore how loss, disappointment, rejection, unmet expectations and emotional wounds often fuel the choices parents find most frustrating. Mark explains why every behavior has a purpose and how identifying the pain beneath the struggle can help parents move from simply managing behavior to addressing the real issue. Tune in for practical insight on recognizing the hidden losses that may be shaping your teen’s actions — and how to help them find healing and hope.One of the losses that could deeply affect teens is the break up of their family unit. Find out what your child may be going through and how to help at bit.ly/divorce-remarriage-and-the-effect-on-teensMentioned in this episode:FICC Online PreRoll Stephen Curtis Chapman