Orthodox Christian Parenting

Ask most people what school is for, and they'll say it's about getting into a good college and landing a well-paying job. But Liz Caddow, founder and head of school at Trinity Classical Academy, says school is really about who our children are becoming. In these highlights from our full conversation with her, she shares the advice she now gives mothers of teenage sons, explains how education forms the whole child—heart, mind and soul—and reflects on what our children lose when we step in to rescue them.

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Episode Recap:
Today we're talking with Liz Caddow about why school is about more than what our children are learning. (0:00)
What does it mean to think of education as formation? (0:54)
What is virtue, and what does it have to do with schooling? (3:03)
What advice does Liz give parents of junior high and high school boys? (5:11)
What does it look like for a dad to take the lead with his son? (6:20)
Why is it so hard to let our children fail? (6:55)
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If you've ever apologized to your spouse in front of your kids, you've taught them something about forgiveness no lecture ever could. This week's episode revisits some of the best parts of our full conversation with Paul and Karen Kinan, who joined us to talk about how a strong marriage helps kids learn to love God and each other. They explain why the love between a husband and wife outweighs a lot of parenting mistakes, share what they'd change about their Sundays if they could go back, and reflect on what happens in a home when kindness gets offered before it's felt.

Listen to the full episode.

Episode Recap:
Today we’re talking with Paul and Karen Kinan about what your marriage teaches your children. (0:00)
How do the friends you spend time with change the way you see your spouse? (1:23)
What happens in a marriage when one person serves the other without being asked? (3:03)
How do children learn strength and gentleness from watching their parents? (5:12)
Why is loving your spouse one of the most important things you can do for your kids? (5:52)
What if you don't feel like being kind to the person you're irritated with? (6:33)
Why does apologizing first take more strength than standing your ground? (8:08)
What does it look like to apologize when you know you were right? (10:01)
What would Paul change about his family's Sundays if he could go back? (10:48)
How do you help a child who doesn't want to be in church? (13:45)

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If you've ever struggled to keep a wiggly four-year-old quiet during the Anaphora, you know how easily our sense of success as parents can get tangled up with how our kids behave. This week's episode revisits some of the best moments from our full conversation with Dr. Philip Mamalakis, who joined us to talk about what success really looks like for Orthodox Christian parents. He walks through how to handle a meltdown in church without losing your peace, why asking questions works better than lecturing, and how modeling our own mistakes as parents might be one of the best gifts we can give our kids.

Listen to the full episode.

Episode Recap:
Today we're talking with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about what success really looks like for Orthodox Christian parents. (0:00)
What's the real win for us as Orthodox Christian parents? (0:52)
What does long-term success look like for our children? (2:13)
How do we stay peaceful when our own kids are the ones melting down in church? (5:10)
Why does asking questions work better than lecturing? (7:32)
How can modeling our own mistakes prepare our kids for adulthood? (8:58)
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If you've ever snapped at your child over nothing and then watched their face fall, you know how much damage one harsh word can do. This week's episode revisits some of the best moments from our full conversation with Father Stephen Muse, who joined us to talk about repentance. He tells a personal story about repairing a hard moment with his grandson, walks through how fear can quietly take over a household, and explains how our own children often help us heal the exiled parts of ourselves. 

Listen to the full episode.
Episode Recap:
Today we're talking with Father Stephen Muse about repentance, fear, and healing within our families. (0:00)
What does it look like to repent to your own child after a moment of harshness? (0:44)
How does fear take hold of our inner life, and how do we keep it in its place? (3:09)
George in Michigan asks: How do we repent of patterns we didn't choose but still carry into our parenting? (5:21)

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If you've got a teenager, you know how quickly the college search can take over: the rankings, the essays, the pressure to get into the "right" school. But what if this season is really a chance to help your child discern who God is calling them to be? In this episode, we talk with Christopher Chiakulas, a high school counselor and the founder of Orthodox Christian College Counseling, about walking through the college search with faith at the center. He shares the framework he created to guide Orthodox families, offers practical ways to keep your child connected to a parish while away at school, and reminds us that the goal is never a brag-worthy acceptance letter—it’s raising a child who stays rooted in Christ. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.
 

Episode Recap:
Today we're talking with Christopher Chiakulas about approaching the college search from a faith-first perspective. (0:00)
When did you realize the college process looks a little different for Orthodox families? (2:02)
What are the six P's you walk families through in your book? (3:33)
How do we keep from tying our child's worth to where they attend school? (8:00)
Why does being near a parish matter so much? (12:02)
How can families lean on organizations like OCF and Crossroad Institute to build support before their kids ever set foot on campus? (14:39)
How should families weigh a major against the cost of a school? (17:32)
What does a genuine win actually look like at the end of the college search? (25:16)
What can a family do if their child is already at a school with no nearby parish or OCF chapter? (29:45)
What is one practical way to recalibrate when the whole process starts to feel overwhelming? (32:38)
Daniel in Virginia asks: My son wants to attend a large secular school with no Orthodox parish or OCF chapter nearby. Am I wrong to push back? (34:00)
Nadia in Tulsa asks: Every acceptance letter on social media makes me panic that we're behind. How can I protect my son's peace and my own? (38:25)
Where can listeners learn more about Orthodox Christian College Counseling? (40:51)

Resources:
 Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
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Learn more about Orthodox Christian College Counseling
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
CrossRoad Institute
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