Orthodox Christian Parenting

Faithtree Resources
  • 5.0 (34)
  • Parenting

Orthodox Christian Parenting, hosted by Faithtree Resources Executive Director (and mom of four!) Michelle Moujaes, is a weekly podcast for parents and grandparents navigating the holy struggle of raising kids in the Orthodox Faith. Each episode offers honesty, encouragement, and practical wisdom from the Church—creating space to exhale, freedom from the pressure to be perfect, and openness to grow as you raise children who are deepening their knowledge and love of Christ.

  1. 2h ago

    Three Grown Kids Share What Made Their Orthodox Faith Stick

    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”

  2. Sep 1

    How To Get Your Kids To Listen Without Yelling With Dr. Philip Mamalakis

    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 YouTubeDownload this episode’s free Discussion GuideExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload The Encounter app“10 Things Every Orthodox Parent Should Know”“Parenting Toward the Kingdom” by Dr. Philip Mamalakis

  3. Aug 27

    What To Do When Your Child Is Angry | Season 2 Favorites

    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) Resources:  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload the free Discussion GuideShare your feedback on our Listener Survey Donate to support the podcast

  4. Aug 25

    How Suffering Can Change the Way You Parent | Season 2 Favorites

    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 YouTubeExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload the free Discussion GuideShare your feedback on our Listener Survey Donate to support the podcast

  5. Aug 20

    What Your Kids Learn From the Way You Spend | Season 2 Favorites

    Your kid begs for a new toy, plays with it for a week, and then starts begging for the next one. Rachel Cruze, a bestselling author, financial expert, and mom of four, joins us to talk about how gratitude—not more rules—can break that cycle. She explains what contentment really means, shares how small everyday moments shape kids' money habits, and responds to a parent asking how to hold the line on a tight budget. Listen to the full episode. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Rachel Cruze about raising content kids in a culture that's always telling them to want more. (0:00)What does contentment actually mean, and how do we know when we've found it? (1:00)How did Rachel's parents teach her the value of money without ever sitting her down for a lecture? (4:21)Why does gratitude toward God change the way we handle money? (7:05)What's really driving that urge to buy something new? (8:46)What's the one question to ask yourself before making a purchase? (10:52)Christine asks: How can I cultivate contentment for my teenage boys while we're on a tight budget after my divorce? (12:26)Resources:  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload the free Discussion GuideShare your feedback on our Listener Survey Donate to support the podcast

  6. Aug 18

    How to Find Balance When Everything Feels Important | Season 2 Favorites

    One of you is strict, the other is more relaxed, and the kids are watching you sort it out in real time. In this episode, we revisit a favorite conversation with Cindy and Paul Karos about the Middle Way, the Orthodox practice of finding the path between two extremes. They explain how spouses who disagree can learn from each other, share a plan for scaling back an overloaded family calendar and offer practical advice on how to decide which shows are worth your kids' attention. Listen to the full episode. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Cindy and Paul Karos about the Middle Way. (0:00)What is the Middle Way, and why do the church fathers teach it as a tool? (1:01)If humility is the middle, what do the two extremes look like? (2:30)Is the Middle Way just for the virtues, or does it apply to everyday areas of life like sports and screen time? (4:01)What false summits does the world tell us to chase, and why aren't they the goal? (5:55)What are the two extremes on entertainment, and what does the middle look like? (8:59)What do we do when we realize we've overcommitted as a family? (9:50)Hiba in Pennsylvania asks: How do we find the Middle Way together when one of us leans stricter and the other more relaxed? (12:06)Resources:  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload the free Discussion GuideShare your feedback on our Listener Survey Donate to support the podcast

  7. Aug 13

    When the House Is a Mess and You Feel Like You’re Failing | Season 2 Favorites

    If you believe that being a Christian means a clean house, well-behaved kids and mostly happy feelings, this week's episode with Dr. Philip Mamalakis may come as a relief. We're counting down to the launch of season three by revisiting some of the most practical moments from our archives, and this conversation is one of our favorites. Dr. Mamalakis explains why peace isn't the absence of chaos, shares why our kids need a peaceful mother more than a spotless home and reminds us that naming our guilt out loud can loosen its grip. Listen to the full episode. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about how to stay peaceful when life at home feels chaotic. (0:00)How do we stay focused on the sacredness of parenting in the middle of chaos? (1:25)What's a practical way to let go of wanting an Instagram-worthy home? (3:16)Can our kids have both a clean house and a peaceful mother? (5:25)How do we deal with the guilt and shame of feeling like we're failing everyone? (7:27)Why can't we heal from what we can't see? (10:35)What does Christ's peace look like on a night when nothing is going right? (11:49)How can a broken washing machine become part of our path to the kingdom of God? (12:40) Resources: Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload the free Discussion Guide Share your feedback on our Listener Survey  Donate to support the podcast

  8. Aug 11

    When Your Child’s Life Is in God’s Hands | Season 2 Favorites

    If you've ever sat across from a doctor and heard news you weren't prepared for, you know how quickly your world can come apart. This week we're revisiting some of the most meaningful moments from our conversation with Elias and Joy Hajjar, whose daughter needed her first heart surgery at a week old and a transplant years later. They tell the story of a priest who came to pray over her in the middle of the night, explain what it looks like to show up well for a family in crisis and offer encouragement to any parent sitting in a hospital room today. Listen to the full episode. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Elias and Joy Hajjar about loving a child through a medical crisis. (0:00)What did the doctors tell you the first night of Rosie's life? (0:57)What was it like to see your newborn after her first heart surgery? (2:03)How do you keep going when nothing in your life has prepared you for this? (3:58)What words got you through that first week? (4:59)Tell us about the night in the ICU when a priest came to pray over Rosie. (5:45)What happened when you reached out to your donor's family? (8:51)What was it like to meet the family whose son saved Rosie's life? (11:23)What do you want to say to a parent sitting in a hospital room right now? (15:52) Resources:  Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTubeExplore the full library of Faithtree ResourcesDownload the free Discussion GuideShare your feedback on our Listener Survey Donate to support the podcast

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About

Orthodox Christian Parenting, hosted by Faithtree Resources Executive Director (and mom of four!) Michelle Moujaes, is a weekly podcast for parents and grandparents navigating the holy struggle of raising kids in the Orthodox Faith. Each episode offers honesty, encouragement, and practical wisdom from the Church—creating space to exhale, freedom from the pressure to be perfect, and openness to grow as you raise children who are deepening their knowledge and love of Christ.

Information

  • Creator
    Faithtree Resources
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Faithtree Resources
  • Show Website
    Orthodox Christian Parenting

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