I was introduced to Waldorf Education several years ago, but just recently developed a real interest in its philosophies, mainly because of my 3 year old daughter. I stay home with her, which I am so grateful for, and I think she needs it. But, I feel that, like most people, I can use some guidance in making the time that I am at home with her more valuable.
The entire Waldorf world seemed so difficult to grasp for me at first. It was the same way for me with cooking. My sister-in-law told me one day that I was over-thinking it. She was right. And after perseverance, watching other cooks, and a few good cookbooks, I've grown to LOVE cooking and nutrition- not that I can stay away from chocolate, or anything! So it was the same way with Waldorf-ian ideas. I'm slowing getting the whole concept, I think. I realized that simply being with my daughter, reading and telling good stories to her, encouraging play, imagination, and creativity, limiting the television and computers...and actually doing and moving with her and around the house was the biggest piece of what the Waldorf philosophies were based on.
I found a really good blog, The Parenting Passageway, which has been a good resource. It is teaching me how to become a better, more respecting and patient parent. Our children teach us amazing things! Before I had my first daughter I thought I was the most patient person. Now I'm finding that I pray for more patience each night! Bless her!
Like anything though, I choose to take it in baby steps. Last week I decided a good place for us to start was on our daily rhythm. For me, it was hard to go to sleep and wake up at the same times. Did I succeed all those days? No way! Not even close! But at least I was aware of my actions and what I chose to be doing with my time, and I saw the effects that the routine had on my daughter, on days when we stuck to our routine better, and on days when we didn't. I also saw by the end of the week, huge spurts in her imagination! While I was cooking dinner one night with her in the kitchen with me, as usual, she turned a cup upside down and put a plate on top of it and started cooking some food on her "stove". I was so impressed! And call me crazy, but I think it had to do with the fact that I turned off the TV this week!
I also noticed that on the "better" days, I was able to more fully enjoy and just be in the moment of whatever we were doing because I knew that I didn't need to be doing something else at that time. I was in the moment and wasn't worried about what I "should" be doing instead. It was very relaxing to my mind and I think helped me connect to my daughter more in those moments.
This week I am still working on rhythm, but also focusing on watercolor painting. Excited to see how that turns out!
