Orthodox Christian Parenting

Some days the sacred feels impossibly far away—buried under the laundry, the backpacks, the dishes in the sink. In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast with practical wisdom for parents worn thin by the chaos of daily life. He reminds us that a peaceful parent is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, and offers a way to leave guilt and shame behind for good. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking about finding peace in the midst of chaos with Dr. Philip Mamalakis.
• How can we stay focused on the sacred when we’re surrounded by mess?
• Our kids don’t need a clean house, but they do need a peaceful parent.
• How should we respond when we feel we’re about to snap?
• What might it look like to build a little breathing room into our days?
• How can we combat guilt and shame to show up as healthier parents?
• Where can we find peace when we’re feeling stressed or anxious?
• When things feel dark, how can we respond with light?
• How can we support single parents who are doing the work of two?
• How can we walk alongside our kids as they explore new ideas?

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast 
• Get the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Download The Encounter app 
• “Parenting Toward the Kingdom” by Dr. Philip Mamalakis

When their daughter needed a heart transplant, Elias and Joy Hajjar learned what it looks like for an Orthodox Church community to truly show up. In part two of this conversation, they share the next chapter of their journey including the remarkable relationship they built with the donor's family. They also speak directly to parents caring for a sick child and to the communities trying to love them well. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re continuing our conversation about parenting through a child’s illness with Elias and Joy Hajjar.
• Tell us about your transplant experience. 
• How did you build a relationship with Rosie’s donor’s family?
• How can we best show up for people as they’re walking through hardship? 
• What would you say to someone going through this experience right now? 
• What do families in the middle of a crisis need most? 
• Can you give us an update on Rosie? 

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast 
• Get the Foundations of Faith Cards

As parents, we all have a plan for how our lives will unfold. But how do we hold onto faith when those plans shatter? In this episode, Elias and Joy Hajjar share their story of raising a child with a heart defect and navigating surgeries, hospital stays and eventually a transplant. They explain how their Church community held them up during the most difficult moments and discuss the steps they’ve taken to keep their marriage strong in times of chaos and calm. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss part 2 of this conversation, and download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Elias and Joy Hajjar about holding onto faith in the midst of a child’s illness.
• Tell us about your experience of giving birth to Rosie.
• How did your Church family surround you in such a challenging time?
• How did Rosie’s health impact your younger daughters?
• Did navigating these challenges together make your marriage stronger?
• How did the lessons of faith you grew up with carry you through?
• Did you ever find yourself feeling angry at God?
• Can you tell us about the transplant process?

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast 

How do we raise children who love the Faith and aren't afraid to talk about it? Fr. Constantine Nasr, a ninth-generation priest, shares why we don't need to turn our children into little evangelists. Instead, he says, we need to live the Faith with enough joy, humility and love for them to see something worth embracing. He also reveals three questions his father passed down to him that are simple enough for children to remember but deep enough for all of us to live by. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Fr. Constantine Nasr about teaching our children to share their faith.
• There’s enormous power in sharing our faith stories.
• How do we help our children confidently share their faith?
• What would you say to parents who are too hard on themselves? 
• How do we make the Faith a thing of joy and not obligation?
• You can’t save the world, but you might be able to save one person in your world.
• How do we help our children handle questions from people outside the Orthodox Church? 
• What’s the one thing you want parents to teach their children about the faith? 

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Order the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Donate to support the podcast 
• Father Nasr’s podcast

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is a healthy marriage. In this episode, Paul and Karen Kinan join the podcast to explain how investing in their marriage has helped them raise a family who loves God and each other. As parents of adult children—and now grandparents—Paul and Karen also reflect on what worked well when they were raising their kids as well as what they would do differently if they could go back in time. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we're talking with Paul and Karen Kinan, who have what most of us are desperate for—the hindsight that comes from decades of parenting experience.
• Tell us about your family and how you met.
• When you look at your adult children, what tells you something went right?
• How did you surround your family with other Orthodox Christians?
• Why is leading by example so important for parents?
• What is village living and how do you create it?
• Why did focusing on your marriage make you better parents?
• How have you established a peaceful home?
• What role does forgiveness play in your parenting?
• How do you use the Jesus prayer in your daily life?
• If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
• How do we help our kids develop relationships with the saints?
• Has becoming a grandparent changed your perspective on anything?
• What would you say to young parents today?
• Can you share advice for parents when kids don’t want to go to church? 
• What do you do when your kids ask questions you don’t have the answers to?

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Order the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Download The Encounter App
• Donate to support the podcast 

Church camp offers an incredible opportunity to give your children a break from the noise of the world and surround them with a community of believers. In this episode, Father Andrew Andrews explains how camp can transform lives and form a faith that lasts beyond the weeks of summer. He also shares practical guidance for parents about who camp is for and how to overcome common fears around sending your kids to camp. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Fr. Andrew Andrews about the role of church camp in spiritual formation. 
• What sets this generation of Orthodox kids apart?  
• How can camp strip away some of the falsehoods of the modern world?  
• Can you share a story that exemplifies why camp matters?
• What does liturgical life look like at camp? 
• How can parents extend the impact of camp when kids come home? 
• What would you say to parents who are scared to send their kids to camp?
• How do we teach our kids to love people while holding firm to their beliefs?
• How can church camp help kids who don’t have Orthodox friends at school?
• Is camp helpful for kids who are new to the Church?
• How can I get my spouse on board with the idea of camp?
• What if my teenagers don’t want to go to camp? 
• Lightning round camp questions 

 
Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Download The Encounter App
• Order the Foundations of Faith Cards

It's easy to get caught up in perfectionism in a world that gives us so much to worry about and so many "perfect" families to measure ourselves against. The question is what to do about it—and the Church, it turns out, has a lot to say. In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis is back to share his advice for overcoming perfectionism, building life-giving relationships with other parents, and finding the freedom to stop caring what everyone else thinks. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we're talking with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about how the Church helps free us from perfectionism. 
• What does the Church teach us about responding instead of reacting? 
• How can the Church community support parents? 
• How do we avoid the comparison trap? 
• What can we do to stop fearing judgment as parents?  
• How do we navigate a betrayal of trust?
• What can we do when our kids are feeling hurt or excluded?  
• How do I balance motherhood, work and the life of the Church? 
• Can you share tips for fasting with children? 
• I’m scared my kids will grow up and leave the Church. What should I do? 

 
Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Download The Encounter App
• “10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know”
• “Parenting Toward the Kingdom” by Dr. Philip Mamalakis

Whatever schooling option your family has chosen, you are your children’s primary educator! In this episode, Liz Caddow joins the podcast to talk about her work as the founder and head of school at Trinity Classical Academy. She explains why education is ultimately about a child’s formation, shares advice for parents on understanding their school’s curriculum and offers guidance on supplementing schoolwork with the Church’s wisdom. She also reminds us that education is not just about what our children are learning but also who they are becoming. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Liz Caddow about education as formation and transformation.
• When did you realize education could be more than grades and test scores?
• What advice would you give to parents with children in public school?
• How can parents continue learning in the home?
• What should we do when we don’t feel qualified?
• What role does community play in our children’s formation?
• How can parents evaluate what their kids are learning and absorbing?
• How do you teach Scripture and history in tandem?
• What fruit have you seen in the lives of your students?
• What are you most excited about right now?
• How can we help our children redefine success?
• What’s the biggest mistake parents make about education?
• What is one thing listeners can start doing today? 

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• “Navigating the Digital Tsunami”
• Get The Relationship Project
• Learn more about Trinity Classical Academy

We were never meant to raise our children alone, and one of our most valuable resources is one we often take for granted: grandparents! In this episode, Dr. Josh Mulvihill joins the podcast to break down the biblical role of grandparents and explain why the grandparent-child relationship is so vital. He also answers some of your most pressing questions about navigating the sometimes complicated but always important relationships between parents, grandparents and the children we’re called to disciple. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Dr. Josh Mulvihill about the importance of grandparents when raising children in the Church.
• What does the Bible say about the role of grandparents?  
• How can families find the grandparenting “sweet spot”?
• Why “How can we help?” is the most important question for grandparents to ask.  
• How can grandparents play an intentional role in discipleship? 
• When might parents need to set boundaries with grandparents? 
• What do you say to parents who wish the grandparents would be more involved? 
• How can parents navigate relationships with grandparents who aren’t believers? 
• What can grandparents do when there’s estrangement? 
• What role can adoptive grandparents play in the Church? 
• How can grandparents set expectations and draw healthy boundaries? 

 
Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Download The Encounter app
• “10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know” 
• More resources for Christian grandparenting 
• Find Josh’s work at Renew a Nation 

Paul and Cindy Karos are back—and this time they're talking about one of the most quietly liberating teachings in the Orthodox tradition: the Middle Way. What does it actually mean to avoid the extremes of overzealousness and apathy? And what does that look like in the middle of an ordinary day with kids to feed and a thousand things pulling at your attention? Paul and Cindy bring the theology down to earth with practical, real-life examples that make the Middle Way feel not just possible but genuinely inviting. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking about the Orthodox teaching of the Middle Way with Paul and Cindy Karos.
• What is the Middle way, and why is it important for parents?
• What does it look like to walk the Middle Way in the daily lives of our families? 
• How do we raise children who have character, not just worldly success?  
• Can you share some examples of what the Middle Way looks like in practice? 
• What role does discernment play in walking the Middle Way?
• What are some signs we might be drifting to one extreme? 
• How do we avoid making the life of the Church feel like a checklist?  
• If we want to start walking the Middle Way, where do we start?  
• How do we find the Middle Way in our parenting styles?
• How can parents find peace and discernment in the chaos of daily life?
• What does the Middle Way look like when spouses don’t agree?
• How do we avoid being too harsh or too lenient?

Resources:

•  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• “Navigating the Digital Tsunami”
• Download The Encounter app