Orthodox Christian Parenting

We fill our days with permission slips, practices and bedtime prayers—and hope our marriage will hold on its own. Dr. John Delony hoped the same thing until the moment he turned to his wife and said, “I don’t want to be married like this anymore.” In this episode, he shares what it takes to build a marriage on purpose and why loving your spouse well is the greatest gift you can give your children. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Dr. John Delony about why investing in your marriage will benefit your whole family.How do we build a marriage that feels like a choice instead of something that’s happening to us?Why is marriage worth it?What does it look like to be seen, known and challenged by your spouse?How do we avoid feeling like roommates in our marriage?What’s the problem with setting goals as a couple?How can couples decide what to focus on each year?What can we learn from a marriage that lasted more than 70 years?How do we make time to focus on marriage when our kids keep us so busy?How can husbands help ease the mental load for their wives?How can couples handle very different discipline styles?Resources:Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeDownload this week’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesPreorder “Raising Orthodox Christians”Help us shape season 4“Building the Marriage You Want” by Dr. John DelonyListen to “The Dr. John Delony Show”

Your child asks who St. John Chrysostom is, and you realize you know the Liturgy is his and not much else. How do you introduce your kids to someone you barely know yourself? In this episode, we talk with Fr. George Dokos about who the Church Fathers and Mothers are and how their wisdom can guide our lives today. He shares some simple steps for getting started with young children and finding a saint whose story draws you in—without it feeling like homework. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Fr. George Dokos about why the Church Fathers matter.Who are the Church Fathers and Mothers?How should we think about the teachings of the Church Fathers?Why were you drawn to St. Nikodemos?How can we help our kids discover the Church Fathers?How do the Fathers and Mothers pass down wisdom?What role should Tradition play in our reading of the Bible?Where can we start today?Resources:Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeDownload this week’s free Discussion Guide“Made for Union” by Fr. George Dokos“Paterikon for Kids” book series“Wounded by Love” by St. PorphyriosExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesPreorder “Raising Orthodox Christians”Download The Encounter appHelp us shape season 4

You’ve always prayed that your kids will grow up to love and serve the Church. But are you so focused on who they’ll become that you’re overlooking the role they can play right now? In this episode, we talk with Fr. Gary Kyriacou about raising kids who love the Church—not just someday, but today. He shares real-life examples of the ways our children can serve at any age and reminds us they’re learning from how we live. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Fr. Gary Kyriacou about the role our children can play in the Church right now, not just someday.What was it like to come back and serve the church you grew up in?What’s the problem with saying that children are the future?How do we help our kids embrace the Church as their own?What does it look like to teach our children stewardship?How do we help our kids find their unique role?What pitfalls should parents try to avoid?Should we push our kids if they don’t want to be involved?If my son is shy, how can I encourage him to get involved in the Church?What should I do if my teenagers are pulling away from the Church?Resources:Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter appGet the Divine Liturgy course

Your daughter says she’s the only one in her friend group who isn’t allowed to wear a two-piece bathing suit. You’ve said no, but is that the Church’s teaching—or just your gut? In this episode, we talk with Kh. Susan Wallace, who has raised three daughters and taught many women about their identity as the Bride of Christ. She shares how to talk about modesty at different ages, raise sons who treat girls with respect and respond when your kids compare your rules to another family’s. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Kh. Susan Wallace about teaching our children modesty.Why is identity the first step in conversations about modesty?How do we teach humility, and why is that so important?Why does it matter what we wear?What does it mean to dress for eternity?How can women and girls escape the trap of comparison?Is it OK for Christians to care about fashion?Where do we start teaching modesty?What role does confidence play, especially in the digital age?Why do you recommend that preteens and teens have mentors?How do we support our kids as they become adults?How do we talk about other people’s choices without being judgmental?Can you share some advice for talking to boys about modesty and respect?Where should we start the modesty conversation with young children?Resources:Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesPreorder “Raising Orthodox Christians” by Cindy and Paul KarosDownload the free “What Is Your Family Climbing Toward?” Check-In“Good Pictures Bad Pictures” by Kristen A. Jenson

Cindy and Paul Karos noticed during Liturgy that some families had their adult children standing beside them and some didn’t. Their own three were 6, 4 and 2, and this question wouldn’t leave them: What can we do now to help our children love Christ and His Church when they’re grown? Their new book, “Raising Orthodox Christians,” shares the answers they found over the next 20 years of searching Scripture, studying the Church Fathers and learning from other Orthodox families. In this episode, they tell us where to start—whether we’re chasing toddlers, raising teenagers or sending kids off to college. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Cindy and Paul Karos about what it takes to raise Orthodox Christians.What is the summit our families should be climbing toward?How do we keep from getting distracted by other good things as we climb?Why is it so important for our kids to stay engaged in the Church?What tools does the Church provide to help us with the climb?Where do we start if we feel like we’re already behind?Why do you focus so much on finding the Middle Way between two extremes?What would you say you got right, and what would you change?What would show us what our family is really climbing toward?What is your biggest hope for parents who read the book?How do you make time for church when your child is a competitive athlete?Why do you hope parents will read this book in a group?Resources:Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter appPreorder “Raising Orthodox Christians” by Cindy and Paul KarosDownload the free “What is Your Family Climbing Toward?” Check-InDownload “Navigating the Digital Tsunami” 

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 YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter appDownload “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 YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter appGet the Foundations of Faith CardsDownload 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 YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesGet the Foundations of Faith CardsDownload 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 YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter app“10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know”“Doing Life with Your Adult Children” by Jim BurnsMagnolia 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 YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter app“10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know”