Orthodox Christian Parenting

Your daughter sits alone at lunch every day, and you’re lying awake wondering whether she’s going to be okay. You’re both struggling—but in different ways. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about why your first move should be calming yourself down, not solving her problem. He also walks through the fears he gets asked about most: the phone your kid won’t put down, the teen who doesn’t want to go to church and the spouse who isn’t Orthodox. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.
Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about what to do when our kids are struggling.
How do we separate our struggle from our child’s struggle?
Are our kids facing more dangers than we did?
What can a kale salad teach us about raising kids?
How can we set boundaries and guardrails?
What do boundaries around technology look like?
How does leaning on our community teach our kids to be adults?
What do we say to teenagers who don’t want to go to church?
How do we teach our kids the faith when our spouse isn’t Orthodox?
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
Download “Navigating the Digital Tsunami”
“Parenting Toward the Kingdom” by Dr. Philip Mamalakis

Your 10-year-old daughter tells you straight up that Bible reading is boring. So do you push back or let it go? Tripp Prince, head of content at Dwell, says there’s a third answer—and it starts with taking her seriously. He explains why repetition matters more than quizzes, how Sunday readings can carry into the rest of the week, and what to do when a child finds the Bible hard to understand. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.
Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Tripp Prince about how we can help our kids love Scripture.
Why listen to the Bible instead of only reading it?
How should we be thinking about Scripture in our daily life at home?
Is there a way to read Scripture together that doesn’t feel like homework?
How can we help our kids connect Liturgy and daily life?
What does a Scripture habit look like in a real family?
How do we help our kids see the Bible as one story?
What can we do to grow our own love of Scripture?
What can Mister Rogers teach us about being present at home?
Where do we go when we want to understand Scripture better?
Why is repetition important?
What role should listening play when reading the Bible with our kids?
What do I do if my child thinks the Bible is boring?
Where should I start if understanding the Bible feels too hard?
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
Get the Foundations of Faith Cards
Download the Dwell app

Your son drapes a towel over his shoulders to bless the dog, and your daughter arranges her dolls on the bedroom floor for Sunday school. Are those just picture-worthy moments—or more? In this episode, we talk with Father Michael Prevas about cultivating our children’s God-given gifts. He explains what to do when gifts aren’t obvious, shares what brings them to the surface and walks us through helping a child find a place to serve in the Church. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.
Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Father Michael Prevas about recognizing and growing our children’s gifts.
What was it like growing up in a community that cultivated so many priests?
How do we keep our children’s attention on God when they’re pulled in so many directions?
How can we teach our kids to use their gifts?
Is it OK to redirect our kids when something isn’t a natural gift?
What should we say if our child feels called to the priesthood?
How did you make the Church the center of your children’s lives? 
What makes you feel hopeful about the next generation? 
What’s one concrete thing parents can do to cultivate their children’s gifts?  

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
Get the Foundations of Faith Cards
Download The Encounter app

Your son calls from his dorm and mentions casually that he hasn’t been to Liturgy for the last few weeks. What do you do when a call like that ends? In this episode, we talk with Pastor Will Browning about how to respond when a child walks away from the faith or makes choices we never expected. He names the shame that convinces parents they’re at fault, returns to the story of the prodigal son and offers ways to stay close without losing hope. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.
Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Pastor Will Browning about how we can respond when our children make unexpected choices.
Why is open conversation about this topic so important for parents?
Why do so many parents feel shame when a child struggles?
What can we learn from the story of the prodigal son?
How can we stay hopeful and prayerful while watching our kids make mistakes?
Why does our presence matter, even when it doesn’t seem to be working?
What are some internal pitfalls that parents should watch out for?
How do we find the balance between discipline and encouragement?
What does it look like to respond well to an adult child’s choices?
Is there ever a time to create distance from our own child?
What’s the next right move for a parent struggling 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
Download The Encounter app
“10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know”
“Doing Life with Your Adult Children” by Jim Burns
Magnolia Church

The hardest part of raising kids in the Church is that you don’t find out whether it stuck for another 20 years. In Season 2, we talked with Paul and Karen Kinan about what they got right and what they’d do over—and now we’re sitting down with their three adult children to learn the other half of that story. They tell us about the traditions that lasted, the rules they didn’t appreciate at the time and what they’re repeating as parents themselves. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.
Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Vanessa Farha, Lucas Kinan and Marcus Kinan about the parenting decisions that helped keep them in the Church. 
What was your household like growing up?
How much of parenting is learning, and how much is instinct? 
How did your grandparents instill a faith that would carry through generations? 
What did your parents do that you loved most?
How can parents present as a united front?
Is there anything you’d do differently as a parent now? 
How does each of you parent differently?
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”