Susanna came from a great home with Christian parents. She grew up attending church, playing sports, and going to youth group. But by the time she turned 17, she was selling drugs, abusing alcohol, and using meth at a rate of 500 dollars a day.

Susanna’s parents knew their daughter needed intervention, so they gave her a hard choice: get care and recovery at Heartlight Ministries, or leave home. Thankfully, she decided to get the help she needed.

I had the privilege of watching this troubled teen blossom into a beautiful and confident young woman. And after a year in our program, Susanna graduated clean from drugs and with a new perspective on life.

Could your teen’s life need intervention? No matter how bad things get, it’s never too late to turn them around.

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For parents whose teens are spinning out of control, it can often feel like a tornado that’s bearing down on your household.

I’ve heard moms and dads describe the struggle with their teen as a violent twister. There are calm days. Then, out of nowhere, there are gusty days. And there’s a lot of never-ending rumble in the middle. But with God’s help, they made it through the storm, and lived to tell the story.

So if your family is hunkered down in a crisis right now, I encourage you to sit tight,  and to wait as long as it takes for the storm to pass through.

Of this be sure, God will never leave you. Not for a minute. And some day, your family will see His Hand, and His amazing protection on your lives.

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Student Story: Hope

The art of conversation is a two-way street. But what about when your kid stays silent, and you end up doing all the talking? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston encourages parents to hold back, do a little introspection and practice listening before jumping into a conversation with their teens.

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Most of the companies we work for have policy manuals. And even though they’re tedious and boring, we choose to follow the rules because otherwise, we’d lose our jobs!

The rules within your own family belief system function in a similar way. They help each family member know what’s expected of them. They draw the line between good and bad behavior. And they clearly spell out the consequences for stepping out of bounds.

So help your child understand that the boundaries you set are designed to prevent poor choices from consuming their lives.

Your teen may not like the “family policies” now. But sooner or later, they’ll be thankful that the rules you enforced helped to launch them into a happy and healthy life.

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When was the last time you asked your teenager a question that wasn’t “How was your day?” or “What did you do at school today?”

I’ve said it a million times. And I’ll probably say it a million times more. “One of the most powerful tools in a parent’s toolbox is a good question.”

Good questions can’t be answered in one word. They convey a sense of value and relationship. And they give your teen the freedom to answer honestly.

So, open up the lines of communication, and ask your son or daughter a really good question. Then, keep your mouth shut long enough to hear their answer.

Remember, questions aren’t just for getting information. They’re for listening to your child’s heart!

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Parents always want to know, “Is it really possible to have a meaningful, two-way conversation with my teen?” Well, I’m here to tell you, yes, it is!

Conversation naturally occurs when two people are having fun together. Our counselors at Heartlight will often shoot pool, go for a walk, or play video games with kids during their counseling sessions. And they’ve found that these are the moments when kids really open up.

So find a time when you and your teen can have some fun together, even if it means learning a few new tricks, like air-softing, photography, or video games.

Then zip your lips, and wait to see what happens next.

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Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

I’ve met a lot of Christian parents who want to follow that verse word-for-word. And I applaud that! The problem comes when these parents believe that simply taking their kids to church every weekend will guarantee a peaceful adolescence. As if kids who are raised in good Christian homes never have any problems.

Well, every one of the teens at Heartlight comes from a quote, un-quote “good Christian home.” And if you think your child is going to be the exception, believe me, you’ll be proven wrong.

Mom, Dad, “train up your child in the way he should go.” And also, prepare for the day he will struggle, because no family is immune.

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It’s normal for your teen to make immature decisions. But if he or she has started making self- destructive choices, it’s time to get some outside help.

Divorce, abuse, a death in the family, or childhood trauma, just about anything can trigger a sudden explosion during adolescence. Most teens haven’t developed the skills they need to handle their emotions. So they turn to dangerous and destructive behaviors in an effort to dull the pain.

I know that moms and dads feel crushed by such behavior from their teen. But sometimes only a professional counselor can bring the underlying cause to the surface.

Have you noticed a drastic change in your child’s behavior? You can’t afford to wait! Get your teen the help he needs today.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Student Story: Josh

While parenting is rarely an easy task, there’s something about the hugs and laughs that seems to make it all worth it. But what about when your source of joy suddenly becomes your greatest source of frustration? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston discusses how to get through to “hard to love” kids in a way that offers hope and healing after broken trust.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Years ago, Jan and I had several teen boys living in our home. Based on the state of their bathroom, I could tell they needed to learn an important life lesson. So I said, “From now on, you need to clean your own toilet and bathroom. Otherwise, you’ll lose it!”

Unfortunately, the mess got even worse. So one day I just took the entire toilet out! Pretty soon, the smell was too much, even for them. So they came to me and pleaded, “What can we do to get our toilet back?”

In return for a new toilet, the boys cleaned all the bathrooms in the house for a few months. It taught them how to take care of things. But more importantly, they learned that when you break a rule, you pay the consequence.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.