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

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?

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 YouTube Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources Download The Encounter app Preorder “Raising Orthodox Christians” by Cindy and Paul Karos Download the free “What is Your Family Climbing Toward?” Check-In Download “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 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?