Any Waldorf-insprired HSers looking to get back on the wagon? - Page 6

[wonderactivist]

MamaKass,



That was pure poetry - what a great way to start today's prep. It is so reaffirming to hear that others feel the same way I do, though I have to admit that I'm still working on the housekeeping end, but I'm doing much better than before. Waldorf has nourished my soul and healed my creative impulse. There is nothing more magical than watching the faces of young children as you tell a story from the heart.

Lucie

[mimiharshe]

Originally Posted by mama_kass

Hi Nancy,
I'd love to share!

Through Waldorf I have learned how to spend really peaceful, joyful days with my children. Our home does not have chaos. It has rhythm. I have learned that through rhythm our home flows peacefully and we live in harmony. It is a beautiful way to live.

Waldorf education has taught me to be a better homemaker, mother, and teacher. I have become a very good house keeper and this feels good. I've learned to knit. I've learned to felt, paint, and draw. I have become a regular baker. I have always enjoyed singing, but now have learned hundreds of songs. I have become a great story teller. Through Waldorf I have become an artist! I am always learning new things and working on myself. The Waldorf way of life is a journey for my own soul. Best of all, since it is Waldorf at home I can use what I want and leave the rest.

When I am engaged, my children become engaged and this is soul-enriching to us all. I wish I would have been raised in a Waldorf home. It is nourishing to me to give my children a way of life that I would have loved.

That is awesome! Now it's just a matter of us newbies learning exactly what Waldorf means as a whole...how to apply it to our daily rhythm w/our kids.

[KimberMama]

Holistic education has given me a way to continue the journey of attachment parenting and natural family living. It has slowed me down, helped me weed out the non-priorities, and taught me to find meaning in each day. Enki, in particular, has brought me to the place where I actively seek to find the wisdom, vitality, and compassion in myself and others.

Waldorf...Enki...Holistic Education: whatever you call it, I find that it is about relationships. Relationships with each other, relationships with plants and animals, really, relationships with the world. It is about spending your life focused on relationsips instead of superficialities.

The crafting, singing, and baking...that was already part of who I was; Waldorf helped validate me. Waldorf really helped me to connect to the person I was when I was younger and so alive, and not jaded from the work/money treadmill. I have a new sense of purpose, a way of connecting with others that keeps the flame in my heart burning bright.

It has given me tools that keep me attached to my children because I understand them so very well.

Enki brought it all together for me, more so than Waldorf. Waldorf was much more about method for me, ideas about environment and rhythm. Anthroposophy didn't do it for me though - there was a disconnect. After a couple of years immersed in Waldorf, and then more than a year immersed in Enki, I have assimilated the philosophies and changed them to suit me.

Holistic learning and living has brought me peace.

[mama_kass]

Originally Posted by KimberMama

Waldorf...Enki...Holistic Education: whatever you call it, I find that it is about relationships. Relationships with each other, relationships with plants and animals, really, relationships with the world. It is about spending your life focused on relationsips instead of superficialities.

I love this! Yes, it is true for me too.

[mija y mijo]

I'm jumping on the wagon!

I'm so happy I stumbled across this thread! We use Oak Meadow and DD (5) and I love it, but I'm ashamed to admit that the past six months have been void of any real rhythm and consistency. DS just turned five months and I need to get back on track. I don't understand how I got this far off....:

Our lives were much more calm and peaceful when we followed our daily and weekly routines. The house was always clean, DD and I were both happier, and life seemed so much less chaotic. Starting tomorrow I'm going to quit beating myself up about how much I haven't gotten done and do what I can and enjoy it.

Thank you all for your inspiration!

[OakdaleMama]

could not find the quiet time I needed this week to plan, so how's about you help me "cheat" here . . . give me one or two great ideas for a fairy tale/story this week? I have Seasons of Joy (winter), plus a great library at my disposal. I will get there, but I figure this easy "push" from one of you in the know might jump-start us this week. can't hurt to ask, right? thanks! --Nancy

[fluttermama]

OakdaleMama...last week we did The Story of the Snow Children by Elsa Beskow and we made snow children pictures and did snow children dances and hung the pictures on our front windows welcoming the snow children to our home.

As far as getting into things again after a month of holidays and sickness here, I created a chart with our days and hung it up in our dining room...I started with the week days...Monday Baking Day, Tuesday Painting Day, etc. for each day of the week. Then next to that I wrote down a general daily rhythm that I would like to follow again....breakfast, circle time, play time, art time, nature walk, etc. That way it is right in front of me and my dd and I've always found that helpful when we are seeking a new rhythm or getting back into one after some time off....

It really helped me this morning when I woke up because I don't have to expend effort at 7am to think about what we are going to do that day and I don't feel overwhelmed and lazy just thinking about all that I want to accomplish. I truly am working on being mindfully focused on the task in front of me and giving my children true focus so they feel mama has given them proper attention and not just "flighty" attention.

[jessicaSAR]

Originally Posted by OakdaleMama

could not find the quiet time I needed this week to plan, so how's about you help me "cheat" here . . . give me one or two great ideas for a fairy tale/story this week? I have Seasons of Joy (winter), plus a great library at my disposal. I will get there, but I figure this easy "push" from one of you in the know might jump-start us this week. can't hurt to ask, right? thanks! --Nancy

We are doing "The Mitten," which is in Annette's winter book and is great to act out with winter animals. We are also doing "The Shoemaker and the Elves," which is a continuation of the christmas spirit. The Russian folktale "The Snow Child," or the book The Snow Children are also great for Jan, although we have been calling King Winter for Snow and he has not responded. That reminds me, Elsa Beskow's book Ollie's Ski Trip is another nice winter story.

[annettemarie]

Wrong thread, LOL!

[Mom4tot]

Annette, that sounds great We've been sloooooowly getting back to our roots here. I am beginning some FIAR with Ben this week to incorporate into our circle time, puppet play and handwork. This week we are doing Owl Moon. I wonder if FIAR or Story Stretchers would have some math or LA lessons to try? I also ordered your Winter curriculum and am figuring out if I should just print it or keep coming back to it online. I really like it so far.

[ajv714]

I would like to join this group. I have recently been thinking of sending my daughter to pre-school but what I would really like is to form a co-op. I haven't found too many other Waldorfy people in my area - South Texas.

One of the things I have a hard time with Waldorf in Texas, is the seasons - we only have one - HOT!

Also, I'm kind of new to message boards - only on one other - so hopefully I'll do ok!

[annettemarie]

Come join us over on the February thread!
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=607524

And welcome to MDC!