Self-Care

Cynthia writes: There is a “My Favorite Birds Convention” going on in my backyard today.  My “Christmas blend” birdseed is gifting them and me by bringing them so near on this cold winter afternoon.  My soul is soothed by their vibrant color, nurtured by their shapes and sizes, and delighted by their movements.

I am not a philosopher. I struggle my way through any philosophical writing, rereading paragraphs and chapters, mostly due to my obsessive nature and need to know, understand, and remember every morsel of what I read. I feel I need to be an expert after reading something, or I should just give up. That said, reading Rudolf Steiner’s work is a huge challenge for me, and I confess I haven’t read too much of his plethora of work.

[NOTE: This insight from Faith seemed so timely, that I asked her if we could post it here. The letter originally went out to the members of Joyful Toddlers, as part of the ongoing support they receive from Faith. To learn more about the next Joyful Toddlers' Teleclass, starting Jan.

By Cynthia Aldinger

Sing choirs of angels

Sing in exultation

Sing all ye citizens of heaven above

In the spirit of wanting to support the anguished families of those whose children perished in the recent tragedy in Connecticut, I offer the following thoughts for us to hold on their behalf.

by Pamela Perkins

What value beyond personal enjoyment might there be for someone in her mid-sixties enrolling in a LifeWays training, especially someone who has ‘already been there’ with much of the content? Interestingly, the answers to this question arose only in retrospect, after I had finished my yearly round of the four sessions. When the initial opportunity to participate presented itself, my immediate and instinctive response was simply, spontaneously, “So how soon can I begin?” Through attending the four sessions on the mainland, I was looking forward to re-experiencing the seasons in the fullness of their contrast after so many years of the subtle transitions I had grown accustomed to in Hawaii. (At that time, the Hawaii training did not exist yet.)

The season of giving is upon us. Christmas Eve and Day have long been favorite holidays of mine, but over the years, financial constraints and a shift in philosophy have changed my views and feelings surrounding celebrating the holidays. Fortunately, it seems our families are also on board, limiting the amount of presents and focusing instead on the time we are spending surrounded by those we hold dear. This year, more than in years past, my husband and I are embracing the “Christ” in Christmas, and working at incorporating His birth and life into our family’s celebration of the holidays.

In LifeWays philosophy and daily care for children, we place a great emphasis on warmth. Dressing a child warmly is vitally important to a child’s physical health and development, and as caregivers we need to ensure they are prepared for the weather each season brings. Here in Wisconsin, that means below zero freezing temperatures in the winter and 90+ hot and humid days in the summer, making the task of ensuring warmth a bit challenging. Dressing a child in layers and wool in winter time, and breathable layers and shade-providing hats in the summer is one way.

The first time I read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book The Long Winter I was in fourth grade.  The impact of that book, if any, faded quickly when I picked up By the Shores of Silver Lake and began reading about Laura’s romance with a young and handsome Almanzo Wilder.

The next time I picked up The Long Winter, I was older and a parent. I was reading the Little House on the Prairie Series to my oldest children, Jenny and Ian. We finished On the Banks of Plum Creek late one August evening. The next evening, we picked up The Long Winter.

Here in the Midwest, September brings change. Fall winds begin to blow as the air grows colder. Farmers bring in the harvest as the days grow cooler, shorter and darker. Toward the end of the month the Autumn Equinox heralds in the beginning of darker days and a few days later, on the 29^th of September, we will celebrate Michaelmas.