I also take what Steiner says with a grain of salt. Some of what he says is a reflection of the time in which he lived.
Homeschooling is what makes it easier for me to maintain a good rhythm until 2-3:00. After that the kids run off to play together. I usually have a computer break. Then we all do some chores before dh comes home at 4. The kids spend some time with Daddy while I go to the post office or work on a project.
Then comes dinner. I'm working on reeling this one back in. During December I was just too busy with holiday orders. I worked on my orders from about 4:00 until I went to bed. I had dh bring home fast food most nights. If he didn't we had sandwiches. Bedtime routines got tossed out the window.
So, I'm working on dinnertime being special....with a real meal, setting the table with placemats or a table cloth and a candle, a blessing. And I'm working on bringing back a bedtime routine with books read together in bed and our nightly verses recited while holding hands and ended with a big group hug.
I also used to take the time to set an evening mood in the house. I'd turn off unnecessary lights, light candles, pick up clutter, get beds ready....maybe play some soft soothing music if there's too much *energy* around....or engage the kids in a relaxing craft or puzzles.
That's what I'm working toward bringing back. I don't believe it's my job to be my children's playmate. I do play with them when they ask but it's not often. I think they tend to use playtime as a break away from me LOL!
Thing do run much more smoothly when I take the time to be the *keeper of the mood of the house*. It is easy to slack on this because it's hard to not get caught up in the overall mood of the house.
For instance, say it's around 5:00. The kids are starting to bicker. Dh is sacked out in front of the tv. It's time to start getting dinner together. *If* I allow myself to get caught up in it I might find myself yelling at dh to go deal with the kids because I'm trying to make dinner. Then he's crabby and doesn't deal with the kids well and the whole thing escalates. *If* instead I assess the situation as *keeper of the mood* I would maybe respond by remembering dh had a hard day at work. I might give him a hug and let him know dinner is in the works and remind him he might want to get in the shower (he works outside and a shower always perks him up). Then I might get the kids and have them help with dinner and setting the table (definitely more work for me but gets them focussed on a task and is a teaching moment).
It is a lot of work to be mindful of how just my attitude and my actions can affect the whole family. I'm sure it will always be a work in progress...LOL! But this is what I'm trying to focus on right now. Hopefully that's more clear.
"Jeanne, I think that part of the rhythm of the day includes "adult work". Steiner felt that it was important for children to see the adults in their lives as role models for imitation and that it is highly beneficial for children to see parents fullfilling adult work, which could be knitting, or cooking, or cleaning. Can you bring Lucy into the kitchen with you while you make dinner and let her play on the floor? Or read half of the book before making dinner, and the other half after dinner?"
Yes, ITA. Lucy does, indeed, play on the kitchen floor a lot (while I'm in there). Also, her daddy works at home, so he is available to "take over" when I need to go do something else. We have a small house, so she definitely observes and imitates us cooking, cleaning, etc.
We haven't really begun establishing solid routines yet other than nap time, bath time, and bed time. I'd like to get her outside to play at a certain time each day. My husband usually takes her to the playground while I'm at work. Anyway, my point is we pretty much let her follow her muse, so to speak, in terms of mixing play with reading, nursing (usually read and nurse at the same time, unless it's daddy reading ) and other activities. I figure she'll need more structure as she gets older, and we'll gradually add more.
What I've understood about Anthroposophical opinions on breastfeeding is that around the first birthday, when the child begins to walk and be upright, he reaches a significant milestone in separating from his mother, so maybe that would be an opportune moment to wean. But, I've also read that the child is still housed within the mother's "etheric sheath" until about age three. So, I figure, if the child is still spiritually connected to the mother, weaning could wait until that age when spiritual separation is complete. Does that make sense? I'm not saying I'm definitely going to wean Lucy when she shows signs of spiritual separation from me, but rather that maybe the two things will naturally go together. Anyway, just wanted to share my thoughts on the matter....
Originally posted by Dannielle
Thing do run much more smoothly when I take the time to be the *keeper of the mood of the house*. It is easy to slack on this because it's hard to not get caught up in the overall mood of the house.
It is a lot of work to be mindful of how just my attitude and my actions can affect the whole family. I'm sure it will always be a work in progress...LOL! But this is what I'm trying to focus on right now. Hopefully that's more clear.
Yeah - ditto for me - - that much more clearly describes what I was getting at in some of my posts.
Dannielle - You are very insighful and wise mama!
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I have been reading this thread while at my parents in NY and keep coming back to it, and I'm glad.
Thanks for your last post, Danielle. I struggle with the exact same thing, but you framed it so perfectly..."keeper of the mood." As mothers we do hold a special role in the family and this captures the crux of it. We are the mirrors through which our children see themselves, and we have a strong influence on their perceptions of life. How we act during challenges gives them guidance on how to respond when they face challenges.
I don't have much to contribute right now, and I am super busy getting caught up on work and house after 2 weeks away, but I didn't see Seven Times the Sun mentioned. It's a great book with rhymes and verses for each transition of the day, as well as general thoughts on creating a flowing rhythm to the days and weeks.
I wish I had more time to post. Maybe in a few days.
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Jeanne, as for when to wean. IMO that's something that is between you and your child. Personally, I didn't base my decision on when to wean on Steiner, or my pediatrician, or my MIL (LOL). I followed my heart and my child's lead and he weaned peacefully at 33months. I'm sure there are those who feel it's more appropriate to follow Steiner's suggestion to wean by one year. My son wasn't one of them
Last edited by Dannielle : 01-05-2004 at 08:23 PM.
Ds is 3 1/2 and is just starting to wean. We tried to wean him before he was 1 and then again when he started walking; but, he wasn't having any of it (he is a very stubborn little dude). So, for all of our sakes, we finally decided to allow him to wean when he wanted to (although we have been gently encouraging him to wean for some time). Most of my Anthro friends weaned their children around 1 or so although I was just surprized to find out that a friend of mine weaned her dd at 3 1/2 - and she's an early childhood teacher.
Oh, and for the sake of full disclosure, dh is a Waldorf class teacher (currently 6th grade).
Kathy,
I'm glad to hear that your family is following a weaning time that fits your son. At the school I work at, I think all of the teachers with children weaned around a year, but many of the mothers weaned much later. I'm not so into Anthroposophy that I follow everything Steiner ever said and like you, my son is a "very stubborn dude", LOL. I feel like he'll never give up nursing, although I would like him to cut down. He still needs/wants to nurse more than he wants to eat real food, although very slowly he is eating more solids.
This is sort of off of the recent topic, but at another forum I belong to, a Waldorf homeschooling mother said that knitting (or crocheting or other handwork) replaces the esoteric energy lost by caring for children all day. I found it so interesting because since I've had Saige, I've been knitting or crocheting non-stop...somedays more than others. Does anyone have any more information on this topic?
I get overwhelmed sometimes reading so much about Waldorf Education! Does anyone else feel that way? It's just soooo much info for me to process sometimes! I guess I'm more into the aspects of it that focus on reverence for nature and I really like the focus on natural and home-made playthings and also the music, lol. I could learn new songs to sing all day!
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~Amoreena~ artist momma to baby Saige and 2nd grader Akaya!
Originally posted by kayasmommy
This is sort of off of the recent topic, but at another forum I belong to, a Waldorf homeschooling mother said that knitting (or crocheting or other handwork) replaces the esoteric energy lost by caring for children all day. I found it so interesting because since I've had Saige, I've been knitting or crocheting non-stop...somedays more than others. Does anyone have any more information on this topic?
Gosh, with the day I had today, I'd better knit a sweater tonight! I've never heard that, but, I'll ask some friends. I wonder if it really is more doing something physical that you can zone out on (than knitting or handwork specifically). I found that playing my banjo really re-charges me.
Quote:
Originally posted by kayasmommy
I get overwhelmed sometimes reading so much about Waldorf Education! Does anyone else feel that way? It's just soooo much info for me to process sometimes! I guess I'm more into the aspects of it that focus on reverence for nature and I really like the focus on natural and home-made playthings and also the music, lol. I could learn new songs to sing all day!
I go in phases. The last few years (since Izzy was born) I re-read alot of books on early childhood (and made lotz of new toys ), before that I was on a jag studying biodynamic farming and anthroposophical art. But now I am re-reading the basic anthro books. Currently I am plodding away at "The Philosophy of Freedom". After I finish that I think I'm going to read some of the books there are on the teen-age years as my ds #1 is almost there - eek!
I don't know if it replaces lost esoteric energy or if it's more of a mental escape from reality...lol. Whatever...it works for me.
I would imagine you'd have to be the sort of person who find handwork relaxing/rejuvenating in the first place. I've met many people who find it extremely frustrating. Don't think it would work for them.
In "You are your child's first teacher", Rahima Baldwin Dancy emphasizes the importance of mothers engaging in some kind of creative work every day to recharge their spirits. It doesn't have to be handwork, but can be painting, drawing, writing, pottery, anything creative.
I happen to love knitting, but I usually try to go out to the garage to make glass beads, or I make jewelry while Lucy sleeps, or sometimes I paint. I've also made quite a few dolls in the past few months for Lucy, her cousin, and some other babies we know. I am also lucky that the work I do for a living is also a creative outlet for me. I find creativity in massage!
Would anyone like to suggest some Anthroposphical/Steiner/Waldorf essential books? I've really read very little and would like to read more! Thanks!
I can tell you a book I am going to read(thanks nanci!)
Understanding Waldorf Education-teaching from the inside out, Jacvk Petrash
Waldorf education a Family Guide, Pam Fenner is a good informative book, covers festival and home life.
Mothering with Soul, ? Salter(lent my copy out ) this is a book about child bearing and the changes related.
Again I would suggest Work and Play in Early Childhood, Freya Jafke, right now this is my favorite book!
The book they used to call study of man. Now its called Foundations of the Human Experience. Any special aspect of Asthroposphy you are intrested in? education?
trisha
I just finished reading Understanding Waldorf Education by Jack Petrash. It's a good book to read initially, I think. It's more of a kind of book you might want to read if you are thinking about enrolling your child in a Waldorf school because it gives a good look at the grades. I think I already mentioned this book, but I really, really liked The Encarnating Child- it's another book about Child Developement for ages 0-7, focused primarily on the early years. I borrowed it from our school library so I don't have the author but I think you can get it on Amazon or actually Barnes and Noble online has a ton of Waldorf books, including all of the books teachers read in training.
) and other activities. I figure she'll need more structure as she gets older, and we'll gradually add more.
- that much more clearly describes what I was getting at in some of my posts.
) this is a book about child bearing and the changes related.
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