Just checking in.
Extremism
This message board on Mothering tells of the "darker" side of Waldorf.
It's a little depressing. I feel slightly disillusioned, like when I had a crush on a Mormon and then
read everything about Mormonism I could, and fell into threads where people mentioned being physically threatened and ostracized by former family and friends. I guess anything one can get too deeply into runs the risk of going too far.
Naturally I still love wooden toys and fairy tales. But I will keep my disclaimer "waldorf-inspired" and not adopt the philosophy. It's the wooden toys and colors that attract me, anyway.
It sounds like some of the schools are breeding ignorance. Sad.
I doubt that Liam cares if our table is light or dark wood. Although on a side note, we are sanding it down, and I hope it looks decent enough for meto wax it, and enjoy the natural wood look. I will probably just paint the legs, instead of sanding in the grooves. I'll post a pic when it is done.
It's a little depressing. I feel slightly disillusioned, like when I had a crush on a Mormon and then
read everything about Mormonism I could, and fell into threads where people mentioned being physically threatened and ostracized by former family and friends. I guess anything one can get too deeply into runs the risk of going too far.
Naturally I still love wooden toys and fairy tales. But I will keep my disclaimer "waldorf-inspired" and not adopt the philosophy. It's the wooden toys and colors that attract me, anyway.
It sounds like some of the schools are breeding ignorance. Sad.
I doubt that Liam cares if our table is light or dark wood. Although on a side note, we are sanding it down, and I hope it looks decent enough for meto wax it, and enjoy the natural wood look. I will probably just paint the legs, instead of sanding in the grooves. I'll post a pic when it is done.
/// Leave a Reply
Thoughts
Friday, July 1, 2011
I have been reading a lot on waldorf lately. Well, mostly online, because my book budget is gone. Okay, I did order a few books from Amazon. Totally irresponsible. And don't tell Karl-he doesn't understand. But hey, he smokes, so he can't say too much.
Anyway, I like a lot of it. I like fairy tales and archetypes; I think it's important for kids to embrace and participate in the rhythms of the day. I was scheduled when the kids were young. Not strictly, but everything fell into a natural place. After my divorce, though, everything sort of slowly came unraveled. Meals took place in front of the TV, if I even bothered to make a meal. Often we just grabbed stuff. I didn't mind this. I was going to college, and I was going to be "something important". I was depressed. I can see now that sitting in a dark , dirty house, with no rhyme or reason probably didn't help much.
My point is, it is hard to break old habits. It is hard to start eating meals at the table, and stay off the computer most of the time. But it is important to help Liam organize his brain. Waldorf helps.
I also agree with the heavy emphasis on the arts. As much as I love "science", we are more of an expressive genetic line. This includes Karl. I think he got this from his mom, because his dad is the most "SJ"ish person I have met. He is nice, of course, aside from the whole being a republican thing, but still not .... of the same mindset. Karl struggles to please him.
But I don't agree with some of the spiritual stuff. I do believe in guardian angels, but I don't think we should ask them for help.That's weird. Ask God, and let him send. I don't believe in reincarnation, simply because I don't want to keep coming back to this dark world where I don't belong. I am eager for the light of heaven.
If I homeschool, I will not use delayed academics. Although I believe kids can catch up academically, intellectually its has been shown the earlier a student is introduced to academics (appropriately, of course) the higher IQ they have. If IQ means problem solving ability in one's cultural paradigm, then I certainly want my child to have that.
There is a weirdness to Waldorf. Like the the homesteading pages, where people blog about their life, Waldorfers show the waldorfy things they have. The handmade toys, the watercolor paintings, etc. I, in fact, can't wait to jump on this bandwagon, which is why I have this blog. But....it's a little weird, isn't it?
Anyway, I like a lot of it. I like fairy tales and archetypes; I think it's important for kids to embrace and participate in the rhythms of the day. I was scheduled when the kids were young. Not strictly, but everything fell into a natural place. After my divorce, though, everything sort of slowly came unraveled. Meals took place in front of the TV, if I even bothered to make a meal. Often we just grabbed stuff. I didn't mind this. I was going to college, and I was going to be "something important". I was depressed. I can see now that sitting in a dark , dirty house, with no rhyme or reason probably didn't help much.
My point is, it is hard to break old habits. It is hard to start eating meals at the table, and stay off the computer most of the time. But it is important to help Liam organize his brain. Waldorf helps.
I also agree with the heavy emphasis on the arts. As much as I love "science", we are more of an expressive genetic line. This includes Karl. I think he got this from his mom, because his dad is the most "SJ"ish person I have met. He is nice, of course, aside from the whole being a republican thing, but still not .... of the same mindset. Karl struggles to please him.
But I don't agree with some of the spiritual stuff. I do believe in guardian angels, but I don't think we should ask them for help.That's weird. Ask God, and let him send. I don't believe in reincarnation, simply because I don't want to keep coming back to this dark world where I don't belong. I am eager for the light of heaven.
If I homeschool, I will not use delayed academics. Although I believe kids can catch up academically, intellectually its has been shown the earlier a student is introduced to academics (appropriately, of course) the higher IQ they have. If IQ means problem solving ability in one's cultural paradigm, then I certainly want my child to have that.
There is a weirdness to Waldorf. Like the the homesteading pages, where people blog about their life, Waldorfers show the waldorfy things they have. The handmade toys, the watercolor paintings, etc. I, in fact, can't wait to jump on this bandwagon, which is why I have this blog. But....it's a little weird, isn't it?
/// Leave a Reply
