I know this is a big topic on our blog right now, I promise to get back to more schooling posts, but we keep writing about it because we feel so called to share this with as many people as we can. Some of our readers are veteran homeschoolers and some are brand new to Waldorf. We are serving both in our new program. We are getting some common questions that we are intending to put all in one FAQ page so that we can get back to more fun posts on the blog and also putting up more lessons for those upper grades. Keep reading this post, it might surprise you :)
I have an older child, how will this new program help me? When we started the program, we knew we would be helping moms that are in different places on this journey. We knew that we would have some that are brand new with very small children that aren't yet ready for the kindy lessons we have included and we knew that there would be some moms with older children, either coming to Waldorf late or they have been with Waldorf a while. Some needed fresh perspective, others never gained a firm ground so they have wavered and dabbled here and there, never feeling like they really got it even though they were going through the motions. We are serving ALL OF THE ABOVE. During the first week, I could see that there would be a great many with older children or both older and younger. Their tasks are different, they want to know how to integrate all of this information and why it matters. They want to know how to put themselves fully into this method without burning out. They know they shouldn't be pouring over pretty blogs but are tapped out and in need of inspiration. They might need a cheer leader or a drill sergent... I have become both, lol. Some moms just want someone to help them reflect and others are wanting someone to give them a firm kick in the pants when they whine.
Does it matter what month I join? No! You can join when ever you want. This program is designed to be on going. Everyone starts with Mom Lesson 1 and goes from there.
Why should I join now? Well that one is a personal decision. My questions to you are these... are you comfortable with your days? do you feel like you are providing rich lesson content for your children? do you hold proper authority in your home? do you feel like you have a command over handwork and can fully teach it to your child? do you feel like your inner work is in a good place? is your rhythm in a good place? are you feeling burned out at the enormity of the task? do you get to the end of the week and wonder where it went and why you didn't get things done? These answers should be your indicator - while I can't and won't do the work for you, I can help you do it in manageable pieces so that they become second nature and you learn to feel like you are in a good spot. It takes time and active work on your part.
Can I have a preview of what is to come? Yes! I will give you a hint at some of the Mom Lessons! Everyone starts with Lesson 1 on Rhythm, exploring yours, getting it feeling right, realizing it is tied to you and no one else. We are covering the curriculum in depth, each year, each stage, step by step. Inner work will be covered in depth, form drawing, temperament, painting, modeling, drawing, planning....so much more. Each Mom Lesson also has the potential to be much more than what I have planned as I am constantly adding to the content based on what the participants have asked for. I have spent hours and hours in the early mornings on the phone with moms in consulting calls over the last 6 weeks, I am so impressed with how much work all the participants are doing. It is manageable and we are working together to create priority lists - they tend to be a bit different for each family. We are customizing curriculum, altering plans to fit the specific needs of each family. I am so proud of the work each family is doing. I hear from many participants each day and the feed back is amazing.
I will say that it isn't roses for everyone... some moms are really struggling, it is a battle within themselves, but one that I am glad to walk with them. I firmly believe this work is the key to keeping families on the Waldorf path. Support is as easy as an email to me or a phone call.
How do the kindergarten lessons compare to your kindergarten curriculum that you already offer? Our kindy curriculum was our first book, it is a lovely book and neck to neck with our math curriculum as our best seller BUT this program is LEAPS AND BOUNDS ahead of the kindergarten work we have done in the past. Thinking Feeling Willing is COMPLETE... all you do is add the materials and the WILL. The materials will be for the handwork and the baking, the rest is there... all the stories, the recipes, the songs (and recordings of how to sing them and video of the actions), all the patterns.
When I sat back and realized what I had learned through the years, from doll making and knitting to painting, modeling and window stars to holding and planning a circle to XYZ... you name it, I have been at this a long time, lol. We have a local group and I keep finding myself saying "oh I could teach that." LOL - I feel like a little know-it-all sometimes and it is never my intent to come off that way - I have just been at this a long time. So... I've dipped candles... I've held lantern walks...I've made window stars... in fact, I have to say that this program is a GIFT to my own children because I am doing things that in some cases I haven't done in years... since the big kids were small... they are loving it!
My aim is to teach you not only how to do the externals of Waldorf, the painting, the handwork, etc., but to also teach you how to put it all into practice in a happy home. My home isn't always happy, but when it isn't, I know the culprit... ME. I am at the root of it all. My ex will always have times of not agreeing with me, my sons will always be doing something bone-headed, my daughter will always be mostly sweet but somewhat snarky... the only thing that matters is how I react and how I deal with it. What matters is how I carry myself. Do I really want this peaceful life full of wonder for my family? Then I have to do it. No one else will.
I look at the world around me...so crazy, so busy, so centered on self... if I don't teach my children to care and to provide wonder for each other - to be a light... no one else will teach them. I have to be willing to get up and create it. I am blessed to have been at this a long time, I have perfected much of it but am still learning and striving each day. This program is about me sharing with you.
How can you provide all this at such a good price? Well... that is the question I keep getting, lol. I know there are other programs out there that don't provide half of what we do and they charge 3-5 times a much as we do... that doesn't both me. Those people will always be out there. We have always been the company that provides more and costs less. Some people find that out only after assuming we aren't as good so they look elsewhere, many return to us and let us know just how much they appreciate that we provide what we do at the price we do.
I learned long ago that I needed to treat others the way I want to be treated. I am by no means perfect, but I appreciate a sincere heart and spirit. I appreciate a good, FAIR price. I appreciate someone with knowledge sharing with me because they love what they do and not because they are thinking about their wallet. I have to be the change I want to see in others. I have grown so much from this work.
It starts here. It starts with me believing that this is very important work and if I could give it all away and still feed my family I would... right now that isn't the reality of this world, so I will give it away at a very fair, reasonable, low price. I will do it with the knowledge that it is appreciated and loved by those who receive it. We have walked this walk and still walk it daily. We are right there with all of you... with a nursing infant that is teething, a kindergartner that works to control his will, a preteen daughter that sometimes makes her mother cry, a crazy tween son that makes me want to investigate ways to duct tape him to one spot and a teenage son who is exploring parts of himself that are just waking up. I am there. Everyday. Planning lessons. Holding lessons. Being in love with my husband because he is fabulous. Struggling with extended family and their odd idea of boundaries. I am there.
Is there more to the program? More? Yes. Everyday I am finding more to add. You can spend a little time each day on the computer reading or a bit of time once a week as you are planning... there will always be more information, but you have a whole YEAR... not just a school year, a FULL YEAR to soak it all in. It isn't a race. Just come and enjoy it.
What about stories for other climates and festival help for the southern hemisphere? We are getting a lot of requests from all over the world. We are working on stories for the world. I want to serve those with a different seasonal schedule than we have. The meanings of those festivals are just as beautiful to you as they have become to me and my celebrating them in the north. Over the next few weeks we will be deeply working on providing more and more content that doesn't seem so horth minded :)
I love this program, I feel so blessed that I was inspired to put it together. I love working with the families in Waldorf edcuation each day. It is such fulfilling work. Thank you all for your support and love.
For those struggling with the full payment of $100 upfront, we have another option, we are taking two payments through the end of the year. One now and one sometime in January, you name the date.
One time payment
Two payments
I welcome more questions! Love and blessings!
Melisa
