Orthodox Christian Parenting

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:
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Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
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“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”

Listening can be hard, even for adults. So how can we raise children who listen well—to us and to the other people around them? In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast to share his best advice for modeling and teaching the art of listening. He explains why actions matter more than words and reminds us that our goal should be learning, not just compliance. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.
Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about teaching our kids to listen.
How do we get our kids to listen?
What does good listening look like?  
How can we model listening for our children? 
What would you say to parents who feel like they don’t have enough to give?
What does it mean to teach through actions, not words?
How can grandparents build meaningful connections from afar?
How can listening to others strengthen our relationship with God?

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

Have you ever yelled at your kid to stop yelling? Same. This week we're revisiting our conversation with Fr. Ted Pulcini about anger: the kind that shows up in our own kitchens and the kind we see in our culture. He traces anger back to a self-protective reflex we all share, explains why God never gets angry the way we do, and offers a question you can ask your child in the middle of a blowup.

Listen to the full episode.

Episode Recap:
Today we're talking with Fr. Ted Pulcini about anger. (0:00)
Why are people with a strong sense of self less threatened by people who differ from them? (1:14)
From a Christian perspective, what's happening in us when we get angry? (3:48)
Is anger always a sin, or is there such a thing as righteous anger? (6:59)
Susie in Nashville asks: What should I do in the moment when one of my children is angry? (8:55)
How do we get our kids to a heart posture of compassion instead of self-protection? (10:56)

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There are seasons when the most honest prayer you can manage is asking God to help you get through the next hour. This week we're revisiting highlights from our conversation with Dr. Rick and Dema Esper about the year that followed Rick's stroke. Rick tells us what got him out of bed on the mornings his body wouldn't cooperate, Dema describes how gratitude took the place of pride, and both explain why apologizing to your children teaches more than any lesson on forgiveness.

Listen to the full episode.

Episode Recap:
Today we're talking with Dr. Rick and Dema Esper about parenting through Rick's stroke and the year of recovery that followed. (0:00)
What happened the morning Rick's stroke began? (1:00)
What was it like for Rick to wake up in the ICU unable to move? (5:15)
What did it take for Rick to get out of bed each morning during his recovery? (7:42)
How did Dema find enough resolve to see them both through Rick's recovery? (8:01)
How did Rick's anger at God eventually give way to acceptance? (10:25)
What did Dema mean when she said suffering can lead to gratitude? (12:06)
How does Rick apologize to his daughter when he loses his temper? (14:57)
Resources:
 Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
Download the free Discussion Guide
Share your feedback on our Listener Survey 
Donate to support the podcast