Lay it down

THEME Themis - goddess of law and justice “that which is laid down or established”

Numerous trips, imminent holidayS and a berserk number of school proceedings, ceremonies, volunteer opportunities… 

Waldorf education has a classic and constant natural, beautiful inherent theme and feel. I adore coloring within those traditional lines. The more confining the constraints, the more the creativity pours. 

Outside of establishments, though, the choices are maddeningly infinite.

So fix yourself upon a THEME

EG these weeks for me : 
“Sweater Weather - Eastcoaster style” for Cleveland with family
“Romantic, Intimate - Lingerie” for 40th Birthday
“Helpful Elfin” for everyday style & overall mood
“What would a French woman do?” for a couples jaunt to isle St Maarten
“Hershey’s Kiss” in the advent calendar 
“Vintage Niwot” for Christmas
“Fuck it” for family photo, it might just not happen this year ;)

The tighter the theme the better. Don’t you just love a party where the hostess takes you on a very specific journey? And expects you you to show-up primed for said experience! 

Shortie from Scottie

 

It’s that wonderful time of the year !! Shortbread from Scotland. 

Kids love to use it as their cut-out and embellish cookie dough; so easy to mix up we do it nearly every weekend of the season. 

It’s really not very boring

 Forty - fancy party !

“It’s really not very boring,” my Parisian Aunt says she dreams to travel Stateside as to witness our daily (family life) happenings for herself.

A decidedly undaily occurrence - a meaningful affair with Very Important People !!!

 

Regent

Snowboard break from Monarch duties 

To do today :

- Run household 

- Run land

- Symbolize identity, unity and pride 

- Maintain stability and continuity 

- Officially recognize success and excellence 

- Support the ideal of voluntary service

- Engage in politics and ceremony 

- Act as intercessor (wherever needed)

- Use diplomacy and tactical finesse 

- Patroness art and education 

- Innovate culture

- Supervise staff

- Model piety and chastity

- Produce male heir 

- Secure husband’s hold

- Hit the slopes

Know no bounds

Shapeless, limitless light. 

At a recent introduction to Compassionate Communication (also known as NVC, Nonviolent Communication), questions kept arising regarding boundaries. Each time the speaker politely tried to steer us clear of drawing lines explaining that compassion arises when border delineations dissolve. The questioners would have none of it “surely I MUST have LIMITS as to how much I’m willing to take…” The speaker listened compassionately.

Chatter around boundaries entered my field in the following days and I so enjoyed being equipped with this fresh take on the topic. NO BOUNDARIES ! It also reminded me of my dear Yoga School - Kripalu Yoga - where our fantastic teacher said the best way to describe Kripalu Yoga, and therefore the essence of teaching we would impart thereafter, was COMPASSIONATE.  

100’s of elves

How many elves to bring into the workshop ?? Of course there is no right answer !!

“Two is twenty”; you hear the sayings - expect each additional family member to increase the whole lot exponentially. 

Here is a real-life EG from our family:

0 children - mom cleans small apartment solo.

1 child - cleaner comes 1x every 2 weeks in streamlined new home.

2 children - mom begs cleaner to come 1x per week. Cleaner cannot. OK.

3 children - new cleaner hired, comes 1x per week.

4 children - cleaner comes 2x per week at much higher rate. Extra help is hired. She comes the other 3 days for laundry, kitchen and everything else on ‘the list’. That’s 5 days of housekeepers. 

🫣

It’s everything

I will write that down.

Agenda - ‘matters of practice’ ‘things to be done’

Credenda - ‘matters of faith’ ‘things to be believed’

THE MOM BOOK. My agenda is my everything. There were a few consecutive mornings I was in a whirlwind and neglected THE BOOK. What happened? I confused pizza day, ‘handwork’ was left behind, husband was likely blamed, frazzle mania, a few extra trips to school… 

Goldie’s friend was at our home looking for a special pen she brought, we didn’t find it before her departure so I said “not to worry it will turn up, I’ll write it in my book”, to which Goldie proclaimed “if it’s in her book it always gets done!” When we found the pen I put it in Goldie’s backpack AND wrote down in the book that I had done so to remind Goldie in the AM to return it. I kid you not! It seems insane, right? But writing things down lifts them off of your brain so you can focus on the present moment, the task at hand. The past/future minutiae is otherwise debilitating. Write it down - consider it done. It is extremely satisfying to dot one’s i’s and cross ones t’s. 

- Ongoing grocery lists are on a separate portable notepad.

- Completed items are always fully crossed out!

- I love highlighters

- Pen vs Pencil depends on the season, but stick to one or the other.

- This book is SACRED and OFF LIMITS to anyone but you. They can 👀, but they can’t touch !

- Mostly business, not so much a diary. But certainly keep a separate journal as well. 
 

Dancing in the dark

 

Lean into your lesser used senses.

Caregiver superpower : seeing in the dark.

Close your eyes to navigate an unlit room. Literally ! Try it ! It’s magic !! It’s also an endlessly applicable metaphor - CLOSE YOUR EYES TO SEE IN THE DARK. 

YOU are the LIGHT in light’s absence.

Tada

Escape - ‘get out of one’s cape’.

There are times to flee, but more often, chances to REMEDY. 

Remedy - re-med - heal again.

Good to see You

 

Apparently, it can’t all be rainbows and butterflies ?!?! 

Realization : if a situation continuously reoccurs, it’s likely due to expert avoidance and adroit dodging. FACE the facts, gradually unearth the ROOT, expose the TRUTH and conclude the past.

 

My lantern walks with me

 

Glimmer Lantern, Glimmer

SOOO many SHINING reasons to WALDORF. ‘MARTINMAS’ is just one BRIGHT one. 

Much to come

The horizon is looking chaotic and I’m finding it tricky to cope! Activities, appointments, meetings, pick-ups, drop-offs, friends-over, evenings out, parties, trips … lists, phone calls, conversations, follow-ups, check-ins … schedule tweaks, unforeseen events, overlaps … When the sailing is smooth, this ship is a beautiful sight to behold, but when the weather takes an inevitable turn for the worst we are keeling, reeling, and taking on water. 

No reminder to BE HERE NOW is necessary as laser focused presence is a matter of survival in precarious conditions. The body, heart, mind and spirit come together to navigate the squall.