Parenting Today's Teens

Have you noticed that kids today seem more worried than in past generations? It’s not just you! Today’s teens are struggling with a heightened level of stress and anxiety. And they need their parents’ help to deal with it.

This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston advises parents on how to help their teens overcome anxiety.

Has your teen been spending more and more time with friends … and less and less time at home?

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

Often, parents feel hurt or slighted when their kids no longer want to do things with them … and hanging out with mom and dad stops being cool. But as painful as those moments may be, it’s actually a good thing!

Kids naturally begin to move away from their parents as they grow up and mature. And their desire to spend less time at home is typically a sign of healthy independence.

So be willing to loosen your grip as your teen begins to spread her wings. And continue to be a presence in her life … one that offers guidance and limitation when necessary, and grants freedom and responsibility when appropriate.

Mistakes are obviously best avoided. But part of growing up is understanding that nobody’s perfect … not even parents!

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

It’s inevitable that everyone fails. The trick is knowing how to “fail forward.” It means learning from your mistakes … and keeping yourself from repeating them. So here are a few ways you can practice “failing forward” in your own life:

First, admit when you’re wrong! Don’t make excuses.

Second, apologize to those you hurt.

And third, ask your teen what the consequences should be for your own failures … and carry through!

Remember, your teen will blow it one day. But if you teach them how to “fail forward” … you’ll give them an invaluable tool for every stage of life.

Every teen faces identity issues at one point or another. But sometimes for adopted teens, the struggle escalates even higher.

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

I’ve seen kids pull all kinds of stunts to get questions answered about their past. Some have even tracked down their birth parents online, contacted them unexpectedly, and secretly set up a time to meet!

So if you’re an adoptive parent, don’t lose heart when your teen goes through a time of crisis. Their natural curiosity doesn’t mean they stopped loving you … or no longer appreciate everything you’ve done. They’re just a little confused about who they are.

So on the good days and the bad, continue to parent your child with the same kind of love you’ve always had. And keep following God’s example of patience, goodness, understanding, forgiveness, and grace.

For most families, seasons of conflict and tension are unavoidable. So here are the two words I offer to parents in pain: “Struggle well.”

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

As hard as you may try to protect your teen from negative influences, some things are just out of your control. Friends, teachers, Internet, the media … all of these factors are constantly vying for your child’s attention. With so many voices weighing in … no wonder our teens are overwhelmed!

However, struggles aren’t necessarily a bad thing!

James 1, verses 2 and 3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

So embrace the hard times when they come. They provide an opportunity for change … and a better future. Mom, Dad … “Struggle well.”

Kids and adolescents are playin’ around with dangerous substances … even the junk they find in God-fearing homes!

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

Parents are facing a difficult task of raising kids in a culture that’s bent on creative inventions. Look … teens are hunting for any possible way to get high. They abuse prescription drugs and common household items. And some of these substances are even riskier to use than the better- known street drugs!

The biggest danger, though, comes when parents refuse to believe that their child might be using in the first place. It’s called denial.

So Mom, Dad … don’t stick your head in the sand and pretend that your teen knows better than to experiment! Stay alert … and remain the protective parent your child desperately needs.

If parenting wasn’t hard enough already, parents now have to navigate the challenging world of cell phones. How old should kids be before they get a smart phone? And how can parents encourage healthy screen-time habits? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston conducts a practical Q&A about kids and cell phones.

Most of us wish that the positive transformation of our teens would happen overnight. But that’s not the way it works!

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

It’s easy to become so overwhelmed by the major problems with our teens’ behavior … that we fail to recognize progress. The key is to be patient … and celebrate the little victories.

Now, progress doesn’t mean “problem solved.” Rather, it’s a steady trend toward improvement. If your child was screaming at you every day … and now only yells at you every other day … hey, that’s progress! If your child finishes some of his homework … when he previously did none … that’s progress, too!

Remember, turnarounds rarely happen overnight. So make sure to applaud every step in the right direction … even the baby steps.

Are you the mother or father of a struggling son or daughter?

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

Most teenage problems are caused by hormones, immaturity, and brain development. So if your son or daughter is going through a rough time, here’s some good news: it’s just a phase! And it won’t last forever.

In the midst of the turmoil, continue to reach toward your teen with love and grace … even when they don’t deserve it. And over time, your relationship will change for the better.

Remember, God never gives up on us … even though we constantly blow it. Instead, He gives grace. As parents, we must be willing to do the same.

Mom, Dad, make it crystal clear to your teen … “I will never, ever give up on you … no matter what!”

No parent wants to see a child bring home an ugly report card!

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

Okay, not every student will earn straight A’s! But if your teen is failing to follow through on basic responsibilities … like completing homework on time or showing up to class … it’s time to deliver some consequences.

Let him know that from now on, he’ll lose privileges when he misses assignments or when his grades drop. A few weeks without a cell phone or videogames can go a long way in teaching responsibility.

Hey, I know it’s hard to step back and let your teen face the outcome of his actions. But believe me when I say he’ll be thanking you later!

Your son doesn’t need to be the valedictorian! But he needs to practice the basic disciplines of learning.