Parenting Today's Teens - I Mustache Mark a Question: Setting Boundaries With Teens & Young Adults

March 27, 2026·23 min·2 clips

Mark Gregston explains why parents must refuse to pay for their daughter to live with her boyfriend, citing Theodore Roosevelt.

Mark Gregston hosts this Q&A episode of Parenting Today's Teens, answering listener questions about adolescent and young adult challenges. The episode focuses on practical advice for setting boundaries and addressing behavioral issues. Gregston draws from his experience leading Heartlight Ministries, a residential program for struggling teens. One parent asks about their 18-year-old daughter who wants the family to finance an apartment with her non-student boyfriend instead of a dorm. Gregston references a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt about acting on one's beliefs. He advises the parents to refuse funding based on their values, suggesting it could enable entitlement and distract from college completion. Another question involves a 37-year-old son with depression receiving a monthly "depot shot," an injectable antipsychotic medication, while isolating himself. Gregston states the man needs a more comprehensive treatment plan, possibly including a long-term facility. A mother describes her 12-year-old son creating fake accounts to send and solicit nude photos. Gregston connects this to another query about a disrespectful 12-year-old who threatens to run away when electronics are removed. He notes this age brings physiological changes but immature judgment. Gregston asserts children continue negative behavior until the resulting pain outweighs the pleasure. He recommends taking drastic action, like disconnecting home internet, to create consequential "pain." Further questions cite a daughter who feels overly controlled and a son who angrily refuses chores, claiming he is not a "slave." Gregston reiterates the principle of making consequences outweigh the benefits of disobedience. He suggests removing amenities like warm showers, new clothes, or cell phone data. The host emphasizes parents must first examine their own actions and whether they are meeting their child's needs. He recommends his book, "Raising Teens in a Contrary Culture," for self-reflection. A surprising claim is that parents should consider having a child evaluated in a hospital if they threaten suicide, even as manipulation. Gregston advises directly confronting a young man who would live with a daughter without the father's blessing. A memorable moment is the stark suggestion to take away warm water for showers to gain leverage over a rebellious pre-teen. The host balances his proclaimed love for kids with a firm stance against disrespect and dishonesty. The tone is direct, instructional, and rooted in Christian parenting principles. Gregston's style is conversational yet authoritative, offering rapid-fire advice. The episode is structured as a monologue responding to specific, anonymized parent submissions. Parents of pre-teens and teens exhibiting defiant or risky behavior would find concrete, if stringent, strategies. Listeners seeking psychological nuance or cooperative problem-solving might find the approach overly confrontational. Those with adult children facing severe mental health issues may find the guidance limited, as Gregston admits his expertise focuses on adolescents.

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