Paideia Conversations

Have you taken the time to survey your children about things like truth vs. tradition when it comes to your family's holiday observances? Specifically asking what they actually remember year by year? Have you ever giggled at their responses or given yourself a face-palm for what they say? Have you taken it to heart and humbly learned at the feet of your children? Melissa from Paideia Northwest and Jenn from Paideia Southeast took a chance on their kids, and are happy to share a little insight with you! It is fun to hear what these seven kids had to say when asked about the meaning of Advent or the traditions & atmosphere in their homes during this season. Maybe this will inspire you to ask your children some similar questions and get the conversation going around your dinner table.

Melissa and Jenn also then took the time to share with one another (and with you!) about some of their own favorite ways to cultivate a specific paideia in their own homes during Advent. Everyone pursues traditions (for marking of days or celebrating annual events or creating memories) differently from family to family, and we love to learn from one another as well as just pause to reflect on why we do what we do. Why do my kids love the Jello their grandmother makes? Why are Advent countdown calendars such a thrill? Why do we love getting presents? How do these tangible, practicable, experiential things point us toward Christ as we repeat them year over year?

This isn't about teaching anyone to do anything particular: rather, this episode is all about sensing the atmosphere in two homes (three thousand miles apart), and how these particular mamas seek to bring their children with them into the unnecessary-yet-completely-lovely practice of Advent. It is our hope that it will simply serve to inspire you to pursue a godly paideia with your own kids, think about your traditions, and maybe give you some new ideas or ring with familiarity.

Spending the season of Advent cultivating an atmosphere of Savior-centered conversation is a goal many of us mamas have, which can honestly feel a little counter-cultural during the weeks before Christmas when the world around us is spinning with gharish decorations and messages of materialism under the guise of incredible sales your holiday can't exist without. In Cindy Rollins' book Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions With Handel's Messiah, we are encouraged to keep things simple, humble, doable. She writes, "I highly recommend that you do not complicate it too much... Advent is a time of anticipation and joy. What I love most about using Messiah as an outline for the season is that it is just so simple."

For this paideia conversation, Melissa and Jenn get to visit with Cindy Rollins to talk about the changing dynamics of life seasons from year to year while seeking to cultivate the foundation of a family culture which fosters familiarity, community, and anchors us in Christ. Cindy encourages us that "we do all these things, and we want to be faithful, but it's Christ that gives the increase."

While you are wrapping Christmas gifts or taking a walk on a crisp Advent morning, listen in and be encouraged. As Cindy said, "the plodding along as a mom with a family is more important than the actual accomplishing of some great feat of getting it all in during the holidays."

Katie Westenberg joins Paideia Northwest's Melissa Cummings today in a dialogue about motherhood, family culture, book writing, and resting in the peace of the Lord. Katie will be speaking at the Paideia Northwest conference in one week, and this is a sneak peek into the energy, joy, and passion she will bring to our day of Rest. While all the time sharing about the need for open hands and extra measures of grace, Katie has words of wisdom and perspectives of gratitude which translates into exhortations not to grow weary in the good word of raising children in the nurture, admonition, and enculturation of Christ. From resurrecting picture books in her read aloud rotation to digging in to deep conversation with her teens, Katie tells us what the atmosphere of Christian family life looks like in this current season of their home. To the Kingdom!

Paideia Northwest's Melissa Cummings is joined in this conversation by Paideia Southeast's Jenn Discher, with guest Rachel Jankovic. From the paideia principles found in Rachel's books to the webinars she hosts on topics of Christian living and domesticity to learning from her hospitality every weekend for a Sabbath kickoff with multiple dozens of people around multiple tables... we knew this would be a conversation bursting with fresh ideas and classic reminders. Go to worship every Sunday. Read the Scripture continually. Obey God. Be joyful. Engage in hospitality. Rest according to God's ways.

In advance of Rachel speaking at Paideia Northwest's 2021 conference Rest, we got a special glimpse into what Sabbath hospitality, Sunday rest, and "getting to not" looks like in the Jankovic home. There's a little bit of microphone static (sorry!) and a handful of laughter (you're welcome!), but mostly just a lot of practical conversation about building Christian culture and resting in the work of the Spirit. To the Kingdom!

For this Paideia Conversation, Jenn Discher from Paideia Southeast joins Melissa Cummings from Paideia Northwest in a conversation with today's guest, Mystie Winckler. Protecting family margin on the calendar, prioritizing Lord's Day rest & fellowship, and picking soul-filling books like God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis are some practical ways Mystie encourages us to pursue godly paideia as well as rest... and don't overlook her tips of quieting the mind by learning how to nap and honing the skill of brain dumping! 

This conversation between Melissa Cummings from Paideia Northwest and Kristen Kill, author of Finding Selah, is a contemplation of beauty, Christian culture, and making space in the midst of busy life to purposely rest in the Lord. If you are anticipating the upcoming Rest conference with Paideia Northwest, this ought to really whet your appetite. To the Kingdom!

In this episode, Paideia Northwest's Melissa Cummings reconnects with longtime friend Jen Carlson of Hysa House. Jen shares what godly paideia includes for her young family, emphasizing hospitality, music, Sabbath... and ultimately a variety of ways to make the gospel centered home nothing less than delicious. Including specific book and music suggestions, and personal insights on how to live Christianly while pursuing all that is good and true and lovely, this is a golden conversation. To the kingdom!

Join today's conversation as Paideia Northwest's Melissa Cummings chats with Amy Sloan from Homeschool Conversations with Humility and Doxology. Listen is as they chat about godly paideia from the philosophical to the practical, and glean wisdom from Amy's experience as a second generation Christian homeschooling mom with recommendations for habits, routines, and books. Take notes! Because this is a Paideia Conversation you won't want to forget. To the Kingdom!

In Episode 1 of Paideia Conversations, join Melissa Cummings from Paideia Northwest in a conversation with Jenn Discher from Paideia Southeast discussing paideia. What does that mean? Who is it for? And how can we pursue a godly paideia in our homes? Using Douglas Wilson's essay, The Paideia of God, as a springboard for this conversation, Melissa and Jenn open our upcoming ongoing conversations about the paideia of the Lord.