Any Waldorf-insprired HSers looking to get back on the wagon?

[annettemarie]

So, I've been pregnant and sick and sort of grouchy and have left a lot go. One of my New Year's resolutions is to get back on the Waldorf wagon. I want to get my newsletters going again because they really kept me grounded, I want to get back into the habit of circle time (we've been hit or miss lately), I want to get back in a weekly rhythm. Anyone care to join me in a supportive thread?

[chfriend]

I'm kind of waldorf-y. Kind of unschool-y. Yes, I know those are really different things. Best description: we have a value of having a "real childhood," value play and time spent outside. We learn a lot of real things together and tell each other wonderful stories.

I'd love to be supportive/get support from other families doing this!

[Cassiopeia]

:

[annettemarie]

Just bumping...

[dillonandmarasmom]

Originally Posted by chfriend

I'm kind of waldorf-y. Kind of unschool-y. Yes, I know those are really different things. Best description: we have a value of having a "real childhood," value play and time spent outside. We learn a lot of real things together and tell each other wonderful stories.

I'd love to be supportive/get support from other families doing this!

Us, too!

Trying to get things going here with my kiddos. Today we have cabin fever...rainy, yucky day...no gas to go anywhere

[jessicaSAR]

I'll join your support thread! We still use your preschool materials almost every week. In fact we just had lots of fun making up jack frost stories trying to get jack frost to visit a bit more (it has been ridiculously warm here).

I am planning to begin a scaled down first grade with my 6yo in Jan, and still continue with the preschool stuff for my 3yo, so I could use the support as well. I need to tinker with our rhythm a bit to fit in the first grade main lesson and still do circle.

Oh, and we have been pretty hit or miss with the circle since about halloween. I am planning my Jan circle now, and will post it as soon as it is finished.

[konamama]

almost 4 year dd, also lean towards a waldorfy-unschooling method of madness... would love to join this thread.

[damselfly41]

I've actually just recently been trying to research waldorf and unschooling methods. I find it all completely overwhelming and I'd love to have a place to come and get ideas!

[scorch_dc]

We are Waldorf/Unschoolish too. I would love to chat a bit and have some ideas and support getting more rhythm in our day.

Denise

[wonderactivist]

Dear Annette,

This is a great idea! We've been sick - first me for over a week, then my eldest, now my husband...and my extended family arrives tomorrow! Despite our efforts to stay in rhythm, we have fallen into a sort of sloppy daily rhythm with only a couple of elements staying firm through the holidays. Our weeks have totally been off as we've had to miss almost all of our activities.

We'll be needing support as we work our way back into a healthy rhythm.

Lucie

[sofysmommy]

[jessicaSAR]

We had a lovely waldorfy solstice celebration last night that the kids just loved (much of this is inspired by and "stolen" from Lucie's wonderful site).

While we were at ballet, dh turned off all the lights, laid out a cold supper, and lit one candle in the living room. When we got home we all gathered in front of the fireplace and the girls, dh and I each lit another candle and said a solstice prayer. Then we read the festival of lights story from the tiptoes lightly Festival of Stones book. We have been reading these stories throughout the advent season. We did not do the advent spiral as described in the book, but maybe next year I can get my act together to do it. Then we had a cold supper by candlelight from the advent wreath. We kept all the lights out until the girls were asleep, so they got to take a bath and do their nightly stories by candlelight.

This morning we made pumpkin/squash muffins and watched the sun come up. They each got a felted sun necklace from the christmas elf.

So thanks Lucie for all the inspiration!

[wonderactivist]

Dear Jessica,

Thank YOU. You know, people are always sharing such beautiful ideas with Wonderfest, I just feel really honored to be able to host it. I have learned SO much from all of the reverent family experiences...sort of like learning from each other here, but in a different vein. I am so grateful! Grasping something sacred so regularly is my fave part of Waldorf.

Happy Solstice for those of you celebrating today! Happy Hanukkah for everyone who's celebrating tha miracle, and Merry Christmas!

Lucie

[mother culture]

I would like to begin again too! I think the first of the year is a perfect time. We have been doing mostly crafts all day for the last week and I want to get into telling more stories and having the children chime in with their beautiful imaginations. I would also like to have a morning dream circle time where we can share anything or our dreams together with a candle for illumination.

[annettemarie]

Jessica, that was beautiful!

And thank you all for being supportive. I feel like such a hypocrite lately. I believe so much in this, but I've been so, so sick that I just haven't been able to devote the time and energy. We've been using k12 for Katie Grace because I felt like it was the only way I could keep her home, and now I just want out. And I want to get back to the gentleness and mindfulness of it all. I want this baby to have the gentle infancy and toddlerhood the other two have. I want the TV and computer to be less of an influence. I was things to be peaceful again.

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Jessica, that was beautiful!

And thank you all for being supportive. I feel like such a hypocrite lately. I believe so much in this, but I've been so, so sick that I just haven't been able to devote the time and energy. We've been using k12 for Katie Grace because I felt like it was the only way I could keep her home, and now I just want out. And I want to get back to the gentleness and mindfulness of it all. I want this baby to have the gentle infancy and toddlerhood the other two have. I want the TV and computer to be less of an influence. I was things to be peaceful again.

Our wants seem the same.

Do you have any links to learn more about some of the concepts of waldorf? Honestly....I haven't looked into a lot because it kinda spooked me out. : I think I am ready now though

[mommy2abigail]

I'm also hoping to do waldorfy/unschooling with dd. So far we just try to spend a ton of time outside (we are in FL so it's about 80 degrees right now!) and doing our daily chores inside together. I try to use as little mechanical help as possible, like sweeping vs vacuum, cooking from scratch on the stove/oven, ect. She's only 21 months now, so we aren't really 'doing' activities other than living life yet! I am stumped sometime as to what a day in the life of a waldorf/unschooling house looks like....I'd love to see a list or link of things to do with toddlers/3's-5's that are Waldorfy...

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Us, too! We are Waldorf-inspired though we don't practice much of it. We mostly unschool but the boys are at a friend's Waldorf-homeschooled house 2 days each week so they get in some great nature walks and creative play there. At home we mostly just live life. They are active participants in the housework and cooking.
I would like to get a little more Waldorfy in that we have to prepare a portfolio for the school board review and that will be Waldorf inspired work.
Great idea for a thread!

[chfriend]

AngelBee, a good place to start for Waldorf homeschooling info on the net is www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com and the link to wonderactivist's page in her signature.

[damselfly41]

I've just visited Winter Winderfest! Yay! I love it and so will my babes!
ETA: I love, love, love the Winter Spiral!