Have you ever heard of something getting “lost in translation?”

Sometimes things get “lost” when they’re translated from one language to another. You might have heard of a movie from the 70s called Grease. But in Argentina, the title was translated as Vaseline. See what I mean?

Parents often run into the same problem when communicating anger to their teens. If your son blows it big time, you might say, “I’m really disappointed in you right now.” But teen minds have a tendency to translate that line to “I don’t love you anymore.”

So how can you keep your words from getting lost in translation? Maybe give this phrase a try: “I’m upset with you right now, but I want you to know, I love you. And nothing you can do will ever change that!”

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I’m not trying to sound sappy here, but when was the last time you told your son you loved him?

Parents are usually better at showing love than speaking it. We express it in the way we work hard for our families, in way we take care of each other. But teens also need to hear with their ears that we care for them.

Here’s something that I make sure to tell my kids often, both at home and at Heartlight: “There’s nothing that you could do to make me love you more, and there’s nothing you could do to make me love you less.”

Why not give that line a try? Hey, I’m giving you permission to use it. Let your teens see, and hear, that you love them.

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.

We all do stupid things in life, and teenagers are definitely no exception!

So if you have a teen at home, you’re well aware that he makes mistakes. And lots of times, we as parents put a lot of effort into protecting our children from harm. But sometimes a scraped-up knee with a little dirt rubbed in for good measure, is exactly what a teenager needs.

The consequences of a mistake can teach life lessons far more effectively than any lecture could. Plus, if we never let our kids make goofy screw-ups, we’re basically telling them that they need to be perfect.

So don’t be afraid to give your teen the freedom to make mistakes. Teens are resilient. If they fall, you can teach ‘em how pick themselves up, dust off, and try again.

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: Kelly

In past generations, viewing pornographic images was considered shameful and taboo. But in today’s world, it’s widely accepted as a normal hobby for guys and girls of any age. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston coaches parents on how to talk to their kids about porn.

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.

Do you have a good relationship with your teen?

Relationships will suffer without effective communication. Having conversations with your son or daughter is essential to the process of reaching, teaching, and training them. Remember it’s the quality—not the quantity—of words that counts.

So how do you know if you’re communicating effectively with your teenager? Try asking yourself these questions:

Am I listening more, and lecturing less?

Do I ask good questions, or always supply answers?

Do I give my kids a chance to speak, even when I don’t agree with what they’re saying?

When your relationship needs mending, some good, honest conversation might just be the thing!

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.

One question I get all the time from parents is this: “How can I effectively discipline my teen?”

Here are a few quick reminders for healthy discipline.

The first thing to remember is that consequences should be established long before they’re needed! Make sure that everyone in the house clearly understand both boundaries and punishments.

Second, make rules appropriate. Identify what rule is most important to you, then make the consequence for breaking that rule something that will really hit home for your teen.

And finally, stick to your guns! Discipline is only going to be effective if you can actually enforce it. You can still offer your teen forgiveness and grace, while letting her consequences take full.

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.

Clear and helpful rules at home are crucial. But how do we take a “good” rule and make it a “great” rule?

My philosophy is that the rules of the house should be practical, attainable, and beneficial. When parents find their teens pushing against boundaries, I will often encourage them to evaluate their rules with these three questions:

One: Does this rule have a clear purpose to help my teen achieve their goals?

Two: Can my child really live up to this expectation?

And three: Will there be a positive outcome if my teen follows the rule?

If a rule can’t answer “yes” to any of these three questions, I say ditch it.  Are your rules practical attainable, and beneficial?

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.

If you catch your teen behaving inappropriately, your immediate reaction might be to lash out in anger. But will that really solve the problem?

Maybe your son’s developed a nasty temper. Or maybe your daughter’s gotten mixed up with the “bad crowd.” No matter what the behavior is, it’s key to remember that there’s a motivation behind it.

When mom and dad find their teen stepping out of bounds, discipline is a necessary course of action. But I would also encourage you to try to uncover the true source behind your teen’s behavior. Unless you know the reason behind the rebellious behavior, you’ll never get to the root of the issue!

So what are you looking for? There’s no better place to start than the issue behind the behavior!

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.

What happens when Mom and Dad suspect that their teenager may be involved in dangerous behavior?

Whether it’s sexual activity, drinking, or drugs, none of it is good. And when parents have a hunch about bad hidden, bad behavior, panic sets in! So how can parents handle the situation calmly?

First, I would encourage you to do a little investigating. It may mean invading your teen’s privacy, but if your family policies are being violated, then those actions by your teen could have some serious, lifelong consequences.

When you’re sure of your teen’s inappropriate behavior, take a few days to let it sink in. Seek counsel on how to proceed, and ask God for wisdom. He will give you the direction you need as you walk down the path of this conflict.

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: Carson

In a perfect world, every child would grow up in a home with both their mother and father. But in reality, things don’t always go according to plan. This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston offers wisdom and encouragement to parents who only get to be with their children part-time.

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.