So You Can't Afford a Waldorf School...

 (photos from my Kindergarten classroom where I used to teach at my local Waldorf school)

But what can you do? 

~ You can create a healthy rhythm to each day your children live within your home.

~ You can keep the television and radio off while you are living, loving and creating together.

~ You can choose a select few open-ended toys, a special doll and playthings made from natural materials... keeping electronic, battery operated toys and video games to a minimum - if at all.

~ You can sing and make up stories together.

~ You can do your schoolwork outside on the deck and incorporate artistic methods for practicing and learning.

~ You can focus on all you CAN provide and remember how very lucky you and your children already are.

~ You can remember that the study of Anthroposophy was never meant to be only for the rich... that anyone who longs and strives to know more about the layers of the Self and the Universe around them is welcome to seek and find their own truth REGARDLESS of the educational model they choose for their children. It is not a club. It is for all to enter...Welcome.

~ You can cherish your role as caregiver, homemaker and Your Child's Very First Teacher as a spiritual task and sacred work to be done and set a beautiful example for your children as you do so.

~ You can choose to live within this world on YOUR terms, protecting what you hold to be sacred and true for your family. It is OK to say NO to what seems the rest of the world is doing but feels wrong for you... in doing so, you set the stage for others to follow - and will soon see that there are many more parents like you than you originally thought and you will find your clan wherever you are.

~ You can take care of your own health, interests, desires and creative energies first and be whole and complete to be the amazing parent you long to be for your children.

~ You can accept the fact that we cannot create a perfect world or scenario for ourselves or our children as much as we try. This world is imperfect and so are we. BUT we can work with what we have to create a BEAUTIFUL and FULL existence while we are here. There is beauty in diversity, embrace the world for what it is.

~ You can celebrate the Festivals and Holidays with song, crafting, recipes and community... creating memories and traditions that your children will carry with them forever.

~ You can choose natural fibers when dressing your children and always remember the importance of warmth.

~ You can be an advocate for all children in your community, your school and home and speak up to help create the change you hope to see in our world.

~ You can slow down... pass on a few after school classes, keep your weekends open and pull out a bunch of board games or go on a hike instead.

~ You can teach your children to appreciate creativity... to use their hands even when not using them may be easier... to knit.. to sew... to cook from scratch.

~ You can keep a seasonal table in your home and encourage your children to add to it with the changing seasons and festivals.

~ You can approach learning, homework or study more holistically - practicing multiplication by using rhythm sticks or sharing fairy tales that incorporate spelling words.

~ You can encourage and inspire your children's teachers and board of education with articles, suggestions, example and ideas.

~ You can volunteer to teach your children's class how to knit.

~ You can host advent spirals, lantern walks and other celebrations for your community or school.

~ You can light a candle and say a sweet blessing at mealtimes.

~ You can have special afternoon for beeswax play, another for watercolor painting, another for baking and so on...

~ You can spend a good amount of your time outdoors with your children.

~ You can remember that the World is ultimately GOOD and seek to find the goodness in all you do and wherever you are. Look for the beauty. It is there. 

~ You can be proud to be a Waldorf Afterschooler or Waldorf Homeschooler.

~ Oh! And a shameless little plug... you CAN use our Afterschooling Enrichment Program or other Little Acorn Learning guides to supplement your child's education AND you can joint our Waldorf Afterschoolers Facebook Group for support!

Good luck on your journey - whatever it may be.

I'd love to add to this list - please feel free to do so in the comments section below...

With love.

xoxo

Eileen is a former Waldorf Early Childhood teacher, work at home mother and the owner and publisher of Little Acorn Learning. The Little Acorn Learning guides have captured the hearts of caregivers and children all over the world. Based on seasonal themes and festivals, Little Acorn Learning inspires a love of nature and the home arts while supporting the caregiver's soul. Be sure to join the mailing list to receive special offers, FREE lessons, verses, songs, recipes and much more each month right in your inbox. And please follow Little Acorn Learning on Facebook and Instagram to continue to be inspired in your work with children. 

Candlemas and Goddess Brigid

Quiet, quiet, do not make a sound,

Holding now the string so tight

We all make some winter light

Quiet, quiet, do not make a sound.

Dipping, dipping, candles smooth and round

Holding now the string so tight

We all make some winter light

Quiet, quiet, do not make a sound.

~shared to parents from my daughter's Waldorf Kindergarten Teacher at Housatonic Valley Waldorf School

Today is Candlemas. A beautiful festival celebrated in many cultures as well as Waldorf families and schools across the world. It is the midway point of winter when we can look ahead with anticipation of the coming of Spring. It is a festival of candles and the warmth of the hearth. Many schools and parents choose to make homemade beeswax candles on this day or decorate candles. See an old Candlemas post of ours here with many ideas.

Candlemas (and Groundhog's day which is also today) both stem from very the ancient festival of Imbolc which is one of the four Celtic fire festivals and the very word means 'in the belly', as in a celebration of the life hidden within that will soon appear to us in Spring. For that reason, the lamb or newborn animals are very symbolic on this day. Imbolc honors the Celtic Goddess Brigid who's legend Christianity later took and evolved into St. Brigid.

To celebrate this day, you can make homemade candles with your family. It is also customary to eat pancakes (maybe for dinner?) . You can also make a Brigid's Cross (we did a paper version this year as show in the photo above)... put images of lambs, baby animals on your nature space and honor candles and creating a fire as Brigid was the Goddess of Fire and the Hearth.

Dear Saint Bridget of the Kine

Bless these little fields of mine,

The pastures and the shady trees,

Bless the butter and the cheese,

Bless the cows with coats of silk

And the brimming pails of milk.

Bless the hedgerows, and I pray

Bless the seed beneath the clay.

Bless the hay and bless the grass,

Bless the seasons as they pass,

And heaven's blessings will prevail,

Brigid, Mary of the Gael"

Trust

Today was Brianna's first day at her new Waldorf Kindergarten. She began public school Kindergarten in September and after the first day there had such extreme separation anxiety for over one month that it was affecting her eating, she was nauseous and shaking each morning and I just could not put her through another day of it.

We took a break for a few months and regrouped. I was open to whatever she needed whether that be homeschooling or a new school. When we visited the Waldorf school she was instantly drawn into its beauty and couldn't stop talking about it. She actually expressed interest in going to school again and was excited about it - something brand new for us.

I've wanted my children to go there since they were born, but Waldorf school is expensive and it just seemed out of our reach, especially with a large family. But Brianna has shown us that nothing is truly out of reach if we just *trust*... trust that each child has their own pace and path and they cannot all fit into one mold.... trust that the universe will provide us with what we need to do what is meant to be done.... and most importantly to trust ourselves, our instincts, our inner-knowing - that feeling within ourselves telling us what is right for us and for our family.

Maybe, just maybe it isn't out of reach for my other girls either. We will see.

And yes there were tears this morning... a lot of them. Brianna is highly sensitive in so many ways and any new school will bring those feelings up inside of her.

But there was such a difference in how we were received this time around. At her last school, when she was crying and raised her hand up to be held by the Principal - the woman held her books up higher and did not hold my little girls hand. She expected her to get through it. I remember feeling that it was such a cold way to receive a child who needs something more...

But here, I felt warmth. There were warm hugs (for both of us) and loving kisses - and there were caring and concerned new friends. And when I got home, there were phone calls from friends of mine who knew this was a special and difficult morning for both Brianna and I. And I feel ok inside. I know my baby is in the right place. I hope she feels it too.

On my way back to the car, her teacher gave me a little handwork project to work on to keep my mind off things... I have to embroider a little snail on Brianna's new canvas bag for school.

So off I go to try to replicate the one her teacher did on her new little napkins....

Wish us luck.

New Beginnings

A very shy snail in it's hard little shell

Keeping to itself with just no one to tell

Slowly growing stronger the desire to come out

Following it's own time, without any doubt

Don't rush it, move slowly and soon one smooth stride

Building upon each day more confidence and pride

Searching, expanding and finding it's pace

Have patience with shy ones, life is not a race

My sweet little Brianna begins her new Waldorf Kindergarten on Monday morning. Her teacher came to visit us at home today and told us that her symbol would be the Snail. After a very hard time transitioning to school in September, this was a perfect symbol for her. I know in my heart this new class is where she is supposed to be and I'm so thankful for Waldorf Education so my child can have this gentle beginning transitioning from home to school.