The Christian Parenting Podcast - Motherhood, Teaching kids about Jesus, Intentional parenting, Raising Christian kids

Have you ever wondered what happens to an Operation Christmas Child shoebox after your family packs it?
In this episode, Dania Andraos shares her incredible story of growing up in the Middle East, where her family faced persecution for their Christian faith, and how receiving a shoebox gift became a powerful reminder that God saw her and heard her prayers.
We talk about how that simple gift opened doors for the gospel in her community, how Dania eventually became involved with Operation Christmas Child herself, and practical ways families can participate in this ministry together.
If you've ever packed a shoebox or wondered how to help your kids develop a heart for serving others, this conversation will remind you that God can use even the smallest gifts to make an eternal impact.

Resources Mentioned
Operation Christmas Child
Learn how to pack a shoebox
Find a drop-off location
Build a shoebox online.
Christmas Gift guide
Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps
NiRV Question & Answer Bible for Kids
Midnight Mom Devotional Bible
Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation
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The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

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In this episode, Steph talks with Dana K. White, author of Procrastinators Get Stuff Done, about why procrastination isn't always laziness. Often, it comes from overwhelm, decision fatigue, perfectionism, and the feeling that we need to have everything figured out before we begin.
Dana shares her practical process for getting unstuck, starting with one surprisingly simple step: just look. They talk about why small wins matter, how “noncommittal experimentation” can help us move forward, and why making a big plan too early can actually become another form of procrastination.
Steph and Dana also talk about understanding your personal “commitment threshold,” resisting comparison, and helping kids who procrastinate without labeling them as lazy.
If there’s something you’ve been putting off, this conversation will help you stop overthinking it and take one small, doable step forward today.

Resources Mentioned
Procrastinators Get Stuff Done book
Dana’s website
Christmas Gift guide
Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps
NiRV Question & Answer Bible for Kids
Midnight Mom Devotional Bible
Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation
Sign up for Morning Minute

Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube!
The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Our Sponsors:
* Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Steph talks with psychologist, author, and Love and Logic expert Dr. Charles Fay about raising kids whose faith goes deeper than simply knowing how to behave like a Christian.
Charles shares why spiritually strong kids aren't perfect kids, why faith is ultimately a gift from God, and how parents can nurture faith without trying to control the outcome. They talk about allowing kids to make mistakes while the stakes are still small, holding boundaries with empathy, modeling repentance when we get it wrong, and helping kids learn to depend on God through life's struggles.
They also unpack the temptation to believe in a kind of "parenting prosperity gospel": that if we read the right books, follow the right strategies, and work hard enough, our kids are guaranteed to become faithful adults. Instead, Charles encourages parents to focus on what God has actually called us to do and trust him with the results.

Resources Mentioned
About Charles Fay
Love and Logic Institute
Raising Spiritually Strong Kids book
The Word in our Home
Christmas Gift guide
Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps
NiRV Question & Answer Bible for Kids
Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today!
Sign up for Morning Minute

Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube!
The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Our Sponsors:
* Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For many Christian parents, sending a child to public school can feel intimidating. Questions about faith, culture, religious freedom, and discipleship often create anxiety. In this episode, Steph sits down with Kori Pennypacker, CEO of Bible2School and author of Backpack Faith, to discuss practical ways parents can prepare their children to confidently follow Jesus in public school.
Kori shares why parents remain the primary disciplers of their children regardless of where they attend school, how Christian students can legally live out their faith at school, and why building relationships with teachers and administrators matters. She also explains why biblical literacy benefits children far beyond their spiritual lives and offers simple ways families can build everyday discipleship into their routines.
Resources Mentioned
Website
Backpack Faith book
Bible2School
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)
Liberty Counsel
Christian Parenting School Simplified digital download
(with links to school choice series and more!)
Don't Stress Talking Sex
The Word in our Home
Raising Spiritually Strong Kids
GO Bible
Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps

Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube!
Get your copy of our latest prayer journal Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation today!

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Our Sponsors:
* Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, therapist and author Sissy Goff joins Steph to talk about what kids really need when they're experiencing loss and how their grief can look very different from ours.
Sissy explains why grief isn't linear, how kids often revisit loss as they grow and reach new developmental milestones, and why behaviors like anger, anxiety, or even risk-taking can sometimes be signs of sadness underneath. She also talks about secondary losses, why consistency and boundaries still matter during hard seasons, and the importance of surrounding our kids with safe, steady adults.
If your family is walking through grief, or you simply want to know how to support your kids when loss eventually comes, this conversation offers practical wisdom, permission to grieve, and the reminder that God is still faithful even in the hardest moments.

Resources Mentioned
Raising Boys and Girls
Daystar Counseling
Helping Kids Through Grief book
Carpool Conversations with WinShape Camps
GO Bible
Faith in Action: Prayers from James for the Next Generation

Prefer video? Find this and other episodes on YouTube!

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Our Sponsors:
* Check out IXL and use my code ixl.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.ixl.com

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy