Breaking Patterns, Building Trust & Beating Boredom

Breaking Patterns, Building Trust & Beating Boredom

Author: Mark Gregston April 20, 2026 Duration: 26:22

As summer break draws closer, we’re revisiting an episode with Mark and Wayne about setting your teen up for success. Boredom isn’t harmless — it can open the door to unhealthy habits if teens lack structure and purpose. Mark shares practical ways to create balance through responsibility, work and meaningful family connection. You’ll also hear from Jared, a teen at Heartlight, who explains how addressing addiction, anxiety and broken trust helped him begin rebuilding his life and relationships. His story is an important reminder that behind every behavior is a deeper need. This episode will help you move your teen from drifting to growth. Check it out!

Learn to identify the real reasons behind your teen’s lack of motivation and get practical steps to help them move forward here: bit.ly/how-to-motivate-an-underachiever

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 parentingtodayteens.org.


Raising a teenager can feel like navigating uncharted territory every single day. Parenting Today's Teens is here to walk that path with you, offering a steady voice amid the chaos. Mark Gregston brings more than four decades of direct experience working with families to each conversation, translating complex adolescent behaviors into understandable insights. You’ll hear honest discussions about defiance, screen time, emotional withdrawal, and the search for identity, all framed with a perspective that is both pragmatic and hopeful. This isn’t about quick fixes or perfect formulas; it’s about building a lasting, authentic connection with your teen even when it’s difficult. Mark’s approach is grounded in real-world application, offering strategies you can consider and adapt the very same day. The podcast draws from a well of wisdom that respects the spiritual and personal growth of the entire family, recognizing that parenting a teen often means revisiting your own beliefs and reactions. Tune in for a resource that feels like a thoughtful conversation with a trusted guide, one that acknowledges the struggles while consistently pointing toward practical solutions and renewed understanding for the modern parent.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Parenting Today's Teens
Podcast Episodes
Managing Your Teen's Phone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
Managing your teen’s phone use starts with recognizing that phones aren’t just distractions — they’re a primary way teens connect, feel entertained and stay tied to their world. While excessive phone use can interrupt at…
A Parent’s Most Important Message: 'You Are Enough' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:18
Mark Gregston explains that today’s self-help culture constantly tells kids they’re “not enough,” fueling anxiety, confusion and a relentless pressure to perform. He reminds parents that Scripture points to God’s suffici…
Teen Stories: Fleeing Hurt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:53
Sometimes what looks like rebellion or risky behavior in teens is really just a signal flare for something deeper going on inside. On today’s episode, Mark sits down with two Heartlight residents, each with a different s…
How to Support Your Teen with ADHD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:20
Today, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur discuss how parents of teens with ADHD may need to adjust expectations and recognize that their teen may struggle with focus, impulsivity, follow-through and rela…
Helping Teens Develop Their Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:42
A teen’s purpose isn’t discovered in a single moment or from sitting at home; it unfolds through exposure, experience and exploration. In today's show, we explore how parents play a vital role by expanding their teen’s w…
Unconditional Love and Grace Over Performance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:38
Parents want the best for their teens, but good intentions can backfire when love feels tied to performance. This conversation reminds parents that kids need to know they are loved unconditionally — especially when they…
Teen Stories: Battling Low Self-Worth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
Many parents might be surprised to learn that the behaviors and struggles their teens exhibit often stem from deep-rooted issues with self-worth. On today's episode, Mark sits down with two young women, each sharing hone…
Strategies for Raising Responsible Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:11
In today's episode, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur explain that raising responsible teens isn’t about perfection, but about preparing them for real life. Parents are encouraged to shift from constant…