In this heartfelt episode of the Orthodox Health Podcast, Dr. Michael Christian and co-host John sit down with new mother & recent Orthodox convert, Gwynne Hoffmaster, to talk about the beautiful chaos of entering the Church while navigating motherhood.

From midnight feedings to toddler wrangling in the nave, Gwynne shares her honest experiences of finding Christ in exhaustion, messiness, & motion.

Together, we explore fasting during breastfeeding, prayer in the midst of interruptions, & the gift of community that carries new families through the struggles & joys of life in the Church.

Takeaways

• New motherhood in Orthodoxy isn’t picture-perfect: it’s patient, messy, & sanctifying.

• Fasting & prayer rules adapt to health, seasons, and the needs of the child.

• The Orthodox parish family provides cross-generational support &love: “if the church isn’t crying, it’s dying.”

• Family prayer, even when short or chaotic, is a powerful foundation for children.

• Patience is the virtue learned in both motherhood & conversion.

Soundbytes

• “This is your liturgy... rocking the baby, chasing the toddler, it all counts.”

• “If the church isn’t crying, it’s dying.”

• “Patience: with children, with fasting, with ourselves... that’s what I’ve learned most.”

• “The Church is for the tired, the ones showing up with spit-up on their shoulders and a whisper of prayer in their hearts.”

Chapters:

00:00 Opener

01:30 Intro to New Motherhood & Conversion

03:21 Gwynne's Journey to Orthodoxy

05:43 Pews or No Pews for Toddler Wrangling?

07:08 Entering the Church as a New Mother

09:50 The Role of Godparents in the Orthodox Community

10:53 Fasting and Spiritual Growth

12:21 Living the Rhythms of the Church Prior to Orthodoxy?

15:14 The Ascetic Life of Motherhood

17:13 The Church as a Postpartum Hospital

21:03 On the Importance of Community, Especially Godparents

22:33 The Joy of Going to a Church Where Everybody Knows Your Name

24:19 Establishing a Personal Prayer Life

28:29 Come to Him as Little Children

30:34 Embracing the Sunday Morning Chaos

34:46 Craziest Toddler Experience in Church

38:48 Toddlers & Blessed Wine?

39:35 Toddler Excitement for the Eucharist

40:57 Orthodox Church Growth

42:09 Gwynne's Advice to New Mothers in the Church

45:56 Toddler Psy-Ops

49:23 The Most Important Thing Gwynne Has Learned on This Journey

51:11 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead

54:47 Outro

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Work with Dr. Mike: OrthodoxHealth.comPre-Order Orthodoxy & The Medicine of the Future: https://www.orthodoxhealth.com/bookIntro & Outro Music: St. John of Chicago Orthodox Church Choir (Arkansas) - Please support their building fund by buying the whole album here:⁠https://stjohnorthodoxchurch.bandcamp.com/album/come-ye-faithful-building-fundraiser⁠