Raising Them Right

A Saint’s Advice on Raising Children

By: Saint Theophan the Recluse

Narrated by: Kristina Wenger

Saint Theophan, while from a different era and country, has an uncanny ability to communicate with modern Westerners. Raising Them Right provides both practical and spiritual insight into a variety of areas of concern to parents, such as baptism, guiding the spiritual and psychological development of children through their teens, and preserving grace in a child’s life.

A fresh redesign of a spiritual classic.

©2019 Ancient Faith Publishing (P)2019 Ancient Faith Publishing

Essential for all Parents

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I feel I have a better glimpse into how to handle raising my children within the context of the One Holy Catholic Orthodox Church ☦️

So good

Definitely something to read or listen to yearly. Very good basic advice. Easy to comprehend.

Very good

I really enjoyed this book on the Orthodox Christian approach, or perspective, to raising Christian children. It was most informative and discussed virtues to cultivate in children and pitfalls to avoid.

An absolute treasure!

What a perfect short and to the point parenting book! So happy to have stumbled upon this gem on Orthodox child rearing.

Just as the title sounds...

First let me start by saying Kristina does a LOVELY job of narrating this book. It was a pleasant listen.

The content of the book, however was very cerebral. I'm very much a visual learner and when an author speaks in so many metaphors and in such heady terms, I sometimes wander in my own mind. I believe I'd have a very different outtake on this book had I read it as physical print. Despite taking a bit longer than I thought to get through this book, as I'd find myself re-listening to each chapter, I have found myself taking a step back in day to day parenting of my 11 month old. I would wonder, "oh is this going to set her up for success? What did St. Theophan say?"

I believe this book would be the perfect book to sit and physically read. I feel it would have given me the ability highlight sections that lost me, or made me feel like such advice was too lofty or felt unattainable in our current time. There are many points made that feel a bit out of touch with our century. As an Orthodox Christian, I realize that should be our goal in so many ways. But as a functioning member of society, I don't always agree with all of the advice presented. And I found myself thinking, "Says the man who probably didn't have to coax his almost toddler to eat food while they're teething and don't want anything other than comfort food..." or "Says the man who lived alone..."

Overall, this book has great concepts that I'd never really considered or had not thought through before listening to this book. It's much like any other book containing advice, you'll discern what you feel is something worth utilizing and those things that are beyond your desire or ability to implement. I would recommend this to a study group. It would definitely enable some heavy and much needed conversation about encouraging children's growth in the faith.