October 26, 2025 — Episode #93
Content note: this episode includes a discussion of self-harm (cutting) among teenagers.
Jerry and Becky Drace kick off a new list of “possible signs of rebellion” in teenagers, and bring in an unusual expert to help define the term: their 11-year-old grandson, Levi.
Levi defines rebellion in his own words as “going against what your parents tell you,” and shares his thoughts on choosing good friends and standing up to bullies. From there, Jerry and Becky begin working through a list of warning signs gathered from parents at their conferences over the years: an absence of remorse after wrongdoing, body piercings, breaking curfew, a sudden change in fashion style (illustrated with a story about a teenage girl who came downstairs dressed head-to-toe in black overnight), a shift in friend groups, and cutting as a way some teens express emotional pain they can’t otherwise voice. They close the hour on two subtler signs — deep sighing and eye-rolling as forms of quiet disrespect — and a broader disregard for family values.
Topics discussed:
- An 11-year-old’s own definition of rebellion
- Choosing good friends versus dealing with bullies
- Absence of remorse as an early warning sign
- Body piercings and what they may (or may not) signal
- Breaking curfew and setting consequences
- A sudden change in fashion style as a possible red flag
- Cutting and self-harm in teenagers
- Deep sighing, eye-rolling, and quiet disrespect toward parents
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