A Mom Put This in Her Phone Contract—Was It a Good Idea?

18-Year-Old Son’s Honest Take on My Parenting

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1063321/fan_mail/new] What actually helps teens talk openly with their parents?  In this special episode, Mandy sits down with her 18-year-old son, Carter, before he leaves for college to hear his honest perspective on parenting, communication, phones, boundaries, and growing up in a digital world.  Together, they reflect on what helped build trust in their relationship, why creating a safe space matters, and how parents can balance rules, accountability, and connection with their kids.  They also discuss:  • Why rewarding honesty helped communication early on  • The downside of overthinking and constantly asking “what if”  • Why parents apologizing matters more than we realize  • Phones, social media, and earning trust gradually  • Why short conversations often work better with teen boys  • Family traditions, games, and staying connected  • Why parents should stay curious about their child’s world  This episode is honest, funny, practical, and encouraging for parents navigating the teen years.  RESOURCES What my parents got right … and wrong - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/what-my-parents-got-right-and-wrong/]  The first nextTalk kid: an interview with Mandy’s 20-year-old daughter - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/the-first-nexttalk-kid-an-interview-with-mandys-20-year-old-daughter/]  Teach Red Flag Reporting - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/teach-red-flag-reporting/]  Avoid Crazy-Parent Mode - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/avoid-crazy-parent-mode/]  Four reasons I kept screens out of my kid’s bedroom and bathroom - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/four-reasons-i-kept-screens-out-of-my-kids-bedroom-and-bathroom/]  Parent Question: This world is so sexualized. How do I approach these conversations with my son? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/parent-question-this-world-is-so-sexualized-how-do-i-approach-these-conversations-with-my-son/]  Free Guide: Red Flag Reporting (Faith-Based) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/red-flag-alert/]  Support the show [http://www.nextTalk.org/donate/] KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org [https://www.nexttalk.org] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextTalk] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextTalkOrg/] Contact Us... admin@nextTalk.org P.O. BOX 160111 San Antonio, TX 78280

How To Help Kids Navigate Risky Friendships

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1063321/fan_mail/new] What should parents do when a child’s friend starts making unhealthy choices?  When kids open up about what their friends are watching, saying, or experimenting with, many parents instinctively want to immediately end the friendship. But reacting too quickly can shut down communication and teach a harsh kind of “cutoff culture” instead of wisdom, discernment, and healthy boundaries.  In this episode, we share five practical ways to help kids navigate risky friendships with both love and truth. We talk about how to respond when friends introduce inappropriate language, pornography, vaping, hookup culture, and other unhealthy influences—and how to help your child process those situations without fear-based parenting.  You’ll also learn:  * Why there is no perfect friend   * How to avoid “level four” reactions to “level one” problems   * Biblical conflict resolution from Matthew 18   * The difference between inner-circle and outer-circle friends   * One-way vs. two-way friendships   * How your own friendships model relationship habits for your kids   This episode will give parents practical language and biblical tools to help kids build healthy relationships, set wise boundaries, and navigate friendships in today’s culture.  RESOURCES Teach Red Flag Reporting - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/teach-red-flag-reporting/]  Develop Moral Compass and Default to Love - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/develop-moral-compass-and-default-to-love/]  Look in the Mirror - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/look-in-the-mirror/]  Build a Safe Place - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/build-a-safe-place/]  Adopt a No-Secrets Family Policy - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/adopt-a-no-secrets-family-policy/]  Your family is the most important team you will ever lead. - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/your-family-is-the-most-important-team-you-will-ever-lead/]  Parenting Advice with Pastor Robert Emmitt - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/parenting-advice-with-pastor-emmitt/]  A kid is confiding in me. Do I tell the parent? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/a-kid-is-confiding-in-me-do-i-tell-the-parent/]  Is this Gossip? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/is-this-gossip/]  My kid is telling me everything. Do I speak up? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/my-kid-is-telling-me-everything-do-i-speak-up/]  FOMO is real. How do I parent it? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/fomo-is-real-how-do-i-parent-it/]  TALK: A Practical Approach to Cyberparenting and Open Communication [https://a.co/d/0ccyVAgj]  Free Guide: Red Flag Reporting (Faith-Based) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/red-flag-alert/]  Free Guide: Family Pact Teen Version (13+) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/nexttalk-family-pact_teen/]  Free Guide: nextTalk10 - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/nexttalk10/]  Support the show [http://www.nextTalk.org/donate/] KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org [https://www.nexttalk.org] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextTalk] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextTalkOrg/] Contact Us... admin@nextTalk.org P.O. BOX 160111 San Antonio, TX 78280

A Mom Put This in Her Phone Contract—Was It a Good Idea?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1063321/fan_mail/new] A mom asked a question at one of our live events that sparked a conversation on our team.  She created a phone contract with her kids that included mutual phone checks—meaning she could look at their phones, and they could look at hers. Then she asked: “Is that ok?”  In the moment, Mandy said yes—affirming the mom’s desire to build trust and model openness. But afterward, our team kept talking. Should phone rules go both ways? Are there situations where that might not be the best approach?  In this episode, Mandy and Merideth unpack both perspectives—exploring the balance between trust and leadership. They discuss real-life considerations like privacy, spouse conversations, work-related information, and the kind of content that can unexpectedly show up on a parent’s phone.  They also zoom out to digital safety—why “deleted” doesn’t always mean gone, the risks tied to sharing images, and how AI is changing the conversation for families.  You’ll walk away with practical guidance on creating a phone contract,  involving your kids in the process, and adjusting boundaries as they grow.  Create Guidelines - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/create-guidelines/]  Random Phone Checks? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/random-phone-checks/]  Free Guide: Phone Contract (Faith-Based) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/phone-contract/]  Is my kid ready for a phone? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/is-my-kid-ready-for-a-phone/]  Free Guide: Family Pact Kid Version (5+) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/nexttalk-family-pact_elementary/]  Free Guide: Family Pact Teen Version (13+) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/nexttalk-family-pact_teen/]  My kid has a phone with no guidelines. How do I go back? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/my-kid-has-a-phone-with-no-guidelines-how-do-i-go-back/]  Something Is Off with My Teen—Now What? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/something-is-off-with-my-teen-now-what/]  Build a Safe Place - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/build-a-safe-place/]  Support the show [http://www.nextTalk.org/donate/] KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org [https://www.nexttalk.org] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextTalk] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextTalkOrg/] Contact Us... admin@nextTalk.org P.O. BOX 160111 San Antonio, TX 78280

One Simple Parenting Habit That Builds Trust

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1063321/fan_mail/new] What’s one simple parenting habit that builds trust?  In this episode, Mandy shares why saying what you mean—and following through—can shape how your kids see you for years to come. When parents are consistent with their words, it builds credibility, respect, and a sense of security in the home.  She also shares two additional thoughts for parents in the early years, including staying connected in your marriage and staying grounded in your faith.  This conversation is a reminder that small, everyday moments matter more than we think.  Look in the Mirror - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/look-in-the-mirror/ We Read the Comments on our Viral Parenting Post - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/we-read-the-comments-on-our-viral-parenting-post/ 3 Things Not to Do if you want to Stay Married - https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/your-family-is-the-most-important-team-you-will-ever-lead/ Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Support the show [http://www.nextTalk.org/donate/] KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org [https://www.nexttalk.org] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextTalk] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextTalkOrg/] Contact Us... admin@nextTalk.org P.O. BOX 160111 San Antonio, TX 78280

We Read the Comments on Our Viral Parenting Post

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1063321/fan_mail/new] Last year, we shared a parenting story that went viral.  It was a simple moment—but it sparked a wide range of reactions.  In this episode, we go back and read real comments from that post and respond.  Some were encouraging.  Some were critical.  Some made big assumptions from a single moment.  We talk through what those responses reveal about parenting, marriage, and communication—and why moments like this matter more than we think.  At nextTalk, we believe one honest conversation can make a real difference.  Website Title: We Read the Comments on Our Viral Parenting Post  Website Description: A parenting moment we shared last year reached millions—and the comment section told a bigger story.  In this episode, Mandy and Matthew revisit that moment and read real responses from the internet.  Together, they unpack what people saw, what they assumed, and what it reveals about how families communicate—especially in tense situations.  This episode offers a thoughtful look at parenting, marriage, and the role each parent plays in helping conversations move forward.  RESOURCES Look in the Mirror - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/look-in-the-mirror/]  Your family is the most important team you will ever lead. - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/your-family-is-the-most-important-team-you-will-ever-lead/]  Three things NOT to do if you want to stay married. - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/three-things-not-to-do-if-you-want-to-stay-married/]  Fighting for Our Marriage with Matt and Mandy Majors - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/fighting-for-our-marriage-with-matt-and-mandy-majors/]  Marriage Advice with Pastor Robert Emmitt - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/marriage-advice-with-pastor-robert-emmitt/]  Parenting Advice with Pastor Robert Emmitt - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/parenting-advice-with-pastor-emmitt/]  Parenting High Schoolers into Young Adults - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/parenting-high-schoolers-into-young-adults/]  Something Is Off with My Teen—Now What? - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/something-is-off-with-my-teen-now-what/]  Putting Your Life on the Line - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/putting-your-life-on-the-line/]  Build a Safe Place - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/build-a-safe-place/]  3 Things Every Kid Needs (From a Youth Pastor) - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/3-things-every-kid-needs-from-a-youth-pastor/]  Body Changes and Attitude - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/body-changes-and-attitude/]  When I hijack the moment… - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/podcast_episode/when-i-hijack-the-moment/]  Free Guide: nextTalk10 - nextTalk [https://nexttalk.org/nexttalk10/]    Music: https://www.purple-planet.com [https://www.purple-planet.com/]   Support the show [http://www.nextTalk.org/donate/] KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org [https://www.nexttalk.org] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/nextTalk] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nextTalkOrg/] Contact Us... admin@nextTalk.org P.O. BOX 160111 San Antonio, TX 78280