Coming Back

I think I am about to be well! This has really gotten me down (being sick). I was very depressed yesterday, which is unusual for me. The kids cooperated after my daughter and I had a huge argument! I finally just told her I was feeling down and sad and was sorry that I couldn't get up and do things with them. She was very understanding and the day went fairly well.

I am feeling fine today. Today is my son's birthday party! He was 6 on July 30th but we were on vacation and he wanted a party with his friends....it's taken this long to find a weekend that works for everyone. Poor guy....but very patient!

So, we are off to do party chores!

I am looking forward to getting our rhythm back next week. One person on my list commented that when we get off rhythm (due to illness or whatever) that rhythm becomes the children's rhythm! That makes so much sense to me as our children live in the moment, not in the looking forward to next week. I have also had wonderful suggestions to introduce the rhythm back in slowly, doing some crafts, games, small things we do for school. And, this is a great idea. How can I expect them to just jump right back into school when they have not only had 2 weeks of no school but 2 weeks of fending for themselves?

I plan to take all the comments and suggestions that I have gotten from my list, and appreciate everyone letting me "vent".

Back to "normal" soon!

Karen

I Blew It!

Well, I have been in bed sick for almost 2 weeks. Today I decided we had to have some school time. First I sat with my son to knit, and he was upset because we couldn't play another board game after we were knitting, so he grumbled through knitting. Then, since it's Michaelmas I read them the story of Knight Michael in The Seven Year Wonder Book.

I then invited my son to make a Wonder Book for the rhyming elves to leave him poems and picture (it all goes together with the Seven Year Wonder Book). I told my daughter she needed to do some math.

Both were running around and not paying attention. I tried to find the place for my daughter to work on some fraction worksheets. She was practically bouncing off of me. My son kicked a ball against the wall. I pounded my fists on the school table, walked out and slammed my bedroom door. I fear I slammed it so hard a picture fell off the wall.

Is it too much to ask them to spend some school time when they haven't had to do anything for almost 2 weeks? Am I crazy? Or am I just tired from still being sick and now have a painful problem in my hip and my shoulder? The pain is more than I can easily tolerate.

So here I sit in my bedroom, venting to all of you. It's 2:25 and my daughter has a piano lesson at 3:00 so the day is blown.

Oh, and my daughter called my husband to "tattle" on me.....as she always does. She loves to tell him how it's all my fault and how I did this and that, she,of course is innocent.

The joys of being sick! The joys of raising a bipolar child! The joys of mothering!

Karen

Recovering

Well, my cold or flu or whatever it is still hangs on! It's Wednesday and I'm wiped out. I finally went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics for a sinus infection and a great decongestant! I'm a bit better but still dragging. In fact, my husband offered to take me out to dinner tonight but I sent the kids with him and I stayed home.

So, school is still being ignored. We did work on spelling words for the spelling bee on the way to the therapist today! And they have been attending classes at the charter school. Tomorrow afternoon I hope to get them back on track for school.

Rest, Karen rest.....

Karen

Sacramento Waldorf In The Home Conference

This past weekend my husband and I attended the Waldorf in the Home Conference in Sacramento. If you ever get the opportunity to attend, do it!

It was a wonderful conference and my husband was able to join me for the first time. We counted up and I have now been 6 times! I guess I'm an old timer and didn't even know it. It was a good experience to have my husband along. He seemed to enjoy all of the conference except the first keynote speaker, Michael Minezza (spelling isn't right...he wrote Magical Child Magical Parent). We were a bit put off by his words, it seemed he didn't really understand Waldorf and Waldorf's definition of "freedom". He had some ideas that didn't sit right with my husband who is deep into study of philosophy. But my husband was able to put that aside and enjoy everything else.

We attended 'Anthroposophy 101' which was a good introduction for him and explained things he had heard about but never had a good explanation for. I enjoy this one too, as I find many of the things that are talked about in Waldorf people assume you know what it is, when often you don't!

I went to Lee Sturgeon Day's 'Picturing Your Child' workshop. This may have been the most powerful workshop I attended. And it was very simple. Lee had us picture out child, simply that. We weren't to picture them doing anything or picture anything we wanted for them, just picture them. And when I did this I had such a clear picture of my daughter's struggle. She is bipolar. I always am able to see the struggle my family and I face, but because of her behavior I rarely see how she struggles with being bipolar. I was so very, very touched to see her struggle. Lee suggested that we picture our child every night. She said that the child will benefit greatly from this without even knowing you are doing it.

The second keynote speaker was Betty Staley who wrote From Form to Freedom. She was great! We were able to see our 10 1/2 year old who is moving toward adolescence in much of what she said. Betty talked about several principles and how different age children should be treated.

Regina Mason was the third keynote on Sunday. She has 6 children and lives on a farm. Her child-rearing is very practical! She has been a Waldorf teacher and homeschooled her children. She believes that our generation was "given everything" and except a good work ethic. I have really had to think about that one, but I think she may be right. It makes me glad we moved to a farm where my children can walk to grandma's house and are shielded from playing with just anyone in the neighborhood. And gave me even more focus on how important it is for my children to do their chores every day and participate in the family responsibilities. We also went to her workshop which continued on this theme of managing your children.

My husband went to Bruce Bichoff's (Live Ed) workshop on teaching history. Bruce admitted he didn't get into all he wanted to get into and that it became more of a discussion. But it was a good, as my husband reported.

I went to a workshop with Betty Staley on The Wizard of Oz and adolescence! It was great. Dorothy and the tornado are the nine-year change. Dorothy wants to go 'home' (back to her childhood). The scarecrow, tin woodsman, and lion can't accept that the wizard can't give them what they want because they aren't human....Dorothy, however, is better able to understand this and work it out. There was so much more, it was an interesting look at The Wizard of Oz.

Lastly, I went to a needle felting workshop. I have found that an art workshop at the end of the conference is a welcome 'rest' for my brain. My husband was burned out and went to Starbucks! I started working on a needle felted blanket for the Autumn Blanket story. I plan to work on it while telling the kids the story, one of my favorites.

Well, that's a general overview of what we did at the conference. If anyone wants more info on any of this, you can email me at karen@starliteschool.com .

Rahima is selling CDs and DVDs of some of the workshops from the conference. You can go to her site www.waldorfinthehome.org for a list of what is available and a way to order.