When Your Teen Doesn’t Want to Go to School

When Your Teen Doesn’t Want to Go to School

Author: Mark Gregston May 4, 2026 Duration: 27:30

Is school only about grades — or is there something more important your teen is learning there? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur explore the bigger purpose of school. From social development and resilience to responsibility and real-world skills, education goes far beyond academics. They also discuss what to do when your teen resists school, how to uncover what’s really behind the struggle and when alternative paths may be a better fit. Because helping your teen thrive isn’t just about report cards — it’s about preparing them for life.

Do you know what's behind your teen's aversion to school? Read more here: bit.ly/how-important-is-school

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
Teen Depression and Its Consequences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:19
Depression among teens is rising rapidly, with major studies showing increasing rates of persistent sadness, anxiety and even suicide. Today, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd explain that depression doesn’t always have o…
God Is Bigger Than We Think [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:24
Today, Mark Gregston shares a personal story about being unexpectedly fired, leading him into a painful season that left him feeling rejected and questioning God’s presence. Over time, he realized God was still at work,…
Teen Stories: How Honesty Builds Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:49
We all want to be seen, heard and valued — our teens are no different! In today's episode, Mark Gregston sits down with two Heartlight teens whose stories reveal a powerful, common thread: the desperate search for connec…
Does Your Teen Smile Anymore? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
Join Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd today as they discuss what it means when your teen no longer smiles — and why parents shouldn’t ignore it. Mark explains that a missing smile is often a sign of deeper sadness, frust…
I Mustache Mark a Question: Rules, Rebellion and Recovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:42
In today's episode, Mark takes on more of listeners' most pressing questions about parenting adolescents in today’s world — from setting limits on screen time and understanding the difference between rules and boundaries…
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…