Comments on: all my waldorf guilt http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/ where a mother tries to cultivate creativity and a sense of wonder in her kids—and does a whole lot of wondering herself in the process Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:36:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: wonderfarm · they don’t all want to tell a story http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-2868 wonderfarm · they don’t all want to tell a story Thu, 16 Sep 2010 17:17:08 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-2868 [...] descriptions of the armor and weapons of different species (ignoring my waldorf guilt) [...] [...] descriptions of the armor and weapons of different species (ignoring my waldorf guilt) [...]

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-762 patricia Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:00:23 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-762 Barrie, so good to hear from you again! I'm glad you found the "Waldorf Guilt" post--it's one of my favorites, close to my heart, I suppose. It was the third post I wrote, but it didn't get a comment until months later, and now every once in a while someone finds it, relates to it and leaves me a comment. I love that. I'm glad the article was helpful too. Hanging out with other homeschoolers is another big help to give one confidence--hope you get to join us in the fall! And I'm glad I'm not alone in my love of words. But I do admit to relying on ridiculous punctuational faces from time to time! ;-) Barrie, so good to hear from you again! I’m glad you found the “Waldorf Guilt” post–it’s one of my favorites, close to my heart, I suppose. It was the third post I wrote, but it didn’t get a comment until months later, and now every once in a while someone finds it, relates to it and leaves me a comment. I love that.

I’m glad the article was helpful too. Hanging out with other homeschoolers is another big help to give one confidence–hope you get to join us in the fall!

And I’m glad I’m not alone in my love of words. But I do admit to relying on ridiculous punctuational faces from time to time! ;-)

]]> By: Barrie http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-757 Barrie Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:19:35 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-757 Once again I find myself at your blog, and as the previous poster said, it was exactly what I needed right now! This post echoes so many things I've been thinking and wondering all along, and it's good to know that your kids still turned out to be intelligent, creative people in spite of intrusions from the ubiquitous technology that is, for better or worse, a part of this generation's world. I also read your Mothering article, and it, too, speaks to so many of the things that are going on with us--dust thickening to velvet, kids not reading until they're 6 and then devouring whole series of books at 8, similar transformations around math, and so on. At least, I'm hoping such transformations occur for us, as my eldest is only 5--but it's your kids' experience that gives me the hope and reassurance I need right now, all wrapped up in an article I can hand to my supportive yet at-times skeptical husband to reassure him as well. I also like how your writing encourages me to consider mine, rather than leave a slap-dash comment as I am increasingly prone to do. You prove that we can hold on to our love of words and our commitment to using them well instead of leaning on the crutch of inane acronyms and--my personal El Guapo--ridiculous punctuational faces, and I aspire to your example. Thank you! Once again I find myself at your blog, and as the previous poster said, it was exactly what I needed right now! This post echoes so many things I’ve been thinking and wondering all along, and it’s good to know that your kids still turned out to be intelligent, creative people in spite of intrusions from the ubiquitous technology that is, for better or worse, a part of this generation’s world. I also read your Mothering article, and it, too, speaks to so many of the things that are going on with us–dust thickening to velvet, kids not reading until they’re 6 and then devouring whole series of books at 8, similar transformations around math, and so on. At least, I’m hoping such transformations occur for us, as my eldest is only 5–but it’s your kids’ experience that gives me the hope and reassurance I need right now, all wrapped up in an article I can hand to my supportive yet at-times skeptical husband to reassure him as well. I also like how your writing encourages me to consider mine, rather than leave a slap-dash comment as I am increasingly prone to do. You prove that we can hold on to our love of words and our commitment to using them well instead of leaning on the crutch of inane acronyms and–my personal El Guapo–ridiculous punctuational faces, and I aspire to your example. Thank you!

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-580 patricia Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:03:41 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-580 Lynnie, it's always great to hear that there are other people out there who think like I do! I'm so glad you were able to take what you wanted from Waldorf, but also to follow your daughter's interests. I think that would have been harder for me if my son was actually enrolled in a Waldorf school. Good for you for listening to your instincts! Like I said in the post, years ago I especially worried about how my oldest son embraced our computer. So I kept the Waldorf lifestyle in mind, and I <i>limited</i> his computer use--but I'm so glad I allowed it. Now he's following his trajectory into filmmaking, which he never would have done if I hadn't allowed him time on the computer when he was younger. So, ironically, computers have absolutely fostered his creative life. I don't think the Waldorf philosophy would allow for that. Thanks for the kind words about following my kids--it's always been one of the most fascinating parts of parenting for me. Lynnie, it’s always great to hear that there are other people out there who think like I do! I’m so glad you were able to take what you wanted from Waldorf, but also to follow your daughter’s interests. I think that would have been harder for me if my son was actually enrolled in a Waldorf school. Good for you for listening to your instincts!

Like I said in the post, years ago I especially worried about how my oldest son embraced our computer. So I kept the Waldorf lifestyle in mind, and I limited his computer use–but I’m so glad I allowed it. Now he’s following his trajectory into filmmaking, which he never would have done if I hadn’t allowed him time on the computer when he was younger. So, ironically, computers have absolutely fostered his creative life. I don’t think the Waldorf philosophy would allow for that.

Thanks for the kind words about following my kids–it’s always been one of the most fascinating parts of parenting for me.

]]> By: Lynnie http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-576 Lynnie Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:26:19 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-576 Had to read this when I saw your linked phrase in the Easter post! We were attracted to Waldorf early on when our oldest was begging to go to school. We thought a Waldorf preschool would be simple and home-like and a good fit for our farm family, etc., but it turned out our girl was interested in much more than what they could offer! She was really into Geography and China and learning to read and they were all about fairies and following precise directions to finger knit (neither of my kids is really into precise directions to do anything!). So, we accepted the bits we liked, eventually took her out, followed her lead which has been TOTALLY a ROCKING good time, and tried not to feel guilty about anything! Kids are such amazing combinations of needs and obsessions and special skills and gifts. It's hard to box them into one philosophy. And if anyone is good at following her kids amazing minds, it's you! Reading what your kids are up to totally amazes me! Had to read this when I saw your linked phrase in the Easter post! We were attracted to Waldorf early on when our oldest was begging to go to school. We thought a Waldorf preschool would be simple and home-like and a good fit for our farm family, etc., but it turned out our girl was interested in much more than what they could offer! She was really into Geography and China and learning to read and they were all about fairies and following precise directions to finger knit (neither of my kids is really into precise directions to do anything!). So, we accepted the bits we liked, eventually took her out, followed her lead which has been TOTALLY a ROCKING good time, and tried not to feel guilty about anything! Kids are such amazing combinations of needs and obsessions and special skills and gifts. It’s hard to box them into one philosophy. And if anyone is good at following her kids amazing minds, it’s you! Reading what your kids are up to totally amazes me!

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-479 patricia Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:36:55 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-479 Hi Carrie! Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm not one to use "LOL" when I write online, but I did actually laugh out loud when I read this line of yours: "...I was experiencing a great deal of guilt about my inability to create a predictable rhythm in my house and my general resistance to woolen crafts and talking about math operations as trolls or whatever Waldorf people say you’re supposed to do." Ha--talking about math operations as trolls! Yep, that's just the sort of Waldorf-y thing that would never fly at my house. I'm so glad my posts have been helpful. There's so much to embrace in Waldorf methodology--but so much that just doesn't work for our family. I do feel guilty about it sometimes; I'm glad to hear I'm not alone. I'm off to check out your blog... Hi Carrie! Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m not one to use “LOL” when I write online, but I did actually laugh out loud when I read this line of yours: “…I was experiencing a great deal of guilt about my inability to create a predictable rhythm in my house and my general resistance to woolen crafts and talking about math operations as trolls or whatever Waldorf people say you’re supposed to do.” Ha–talking about math operations as trolls! Yep, that’s just the sort of Waldorf-y thing that would never fly at my house.

I’m so glad my posts have been helpful. There’s so much to embrace in Waldorf methodology–but so much that just doesn’t work for our family. I do feel guilty about it sometimes; I’m glad to hear I’m not alone.

I’m off to check out your blog…

]]> By: Carrie Pomeroy http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Carrie Pomeroy Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:04:04 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-469 I don't know how I stumbled across your "My Waldorf Guilt" posts, but I read them at just the right time, when I was experiencing a great deal of guilt about my inability to create a predictable rhythm in my house and my general resistance to woolen crafts and talking about math operations as trolls or whatever Waldorf people say you're supposed to do. I do think the Waldorf folks have some wonderful ideas. But when I get too focused on thinking about what I'm supposed to be doing or how my kids should be developing, that is the road to major, creativity-crimping anxiety for me. You captured that well. I enjoyed your "Mothering" essay, too. Glad to find your blog, and look forward to reading more. I don’t know how I stumbled across your “My Waldorf Guilt” posts, but I read them at just the right time, when I was experiencing a great deal of guilt about my inability to create a predictable rhythm in my house and my general resistance to woolen crafts and talking about math operations as trolls or whatever Waldorf people say you’re supposed to do.

I do think the Waldorf folks have some wonderful ideas. But when I get too focused on thinking about what I’m supposed to be doing or how my kids should be developing, that is the road to major, creativity-crimping anxiety for me. You captured that well.

I enjoyed your “Mothering” essay, too. Glad to find your blog, and look forward to reading more.

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-375 patricia Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:54:23 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-375 Woah, Kristin, you're getting sucked into Blogland and leaving comments now! Thank you for the kind words. It's rewarding when readers appreciate the "craft" that goes into a post. Keep blogging! Woah, Kristin, you’re getting sucked into Blogland and leaving comments now!

Thank you for the kind words. It’s rewarding when readers appreciate the “craft” that goes into a post.

Keep blogging!

]]> By: patricia http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-374 patricia Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:30:32 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-374 (I'm double-posting this response so folks who might visit this page later will know what happened with the house.) Gina, regarding your question about whether or not our sunflower house worked: it didn't exactly. The problem was that I got negligent about watering it. The sunflowers could handle the piddly amounts of water I gave them, but the morning glories couldn't, so few of them grew as high as the web of strings. Of course, I didn't realize what was going on until it was late in the season. So...I would definitely recommend trying a house of your own. Just make sure to keep watering it well. And if you have more space than we do, I'd aim for a large, square house, not the long rectangle that we had to settle for. (I’m double-posting this response so folks who might visit this page later will know what happened with the house.)

Gina, regarding your question about whether or not our sunflower house worked: it didn’t exactly. The problem was that I got negligent about watering it. The sunflowers could handle the piddly amounts of water I gave them, but the morning glories couldn’t, so few of them grew as high as the web of strings. Of course, I didn’t realize what was going on until it was late in the season. So…I would definitely recommend trying a house of your own. Just make sure to keep watering it well. And if you have more space than we do, I’d aim for a large, square house, not the long rectangle that we had to settle for.

]]> By: Kristin http://patriciazaballos.com/2008/07/24/all-my-waldorf-guilt/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Kristin Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:21:58 +0000 http://patriciazaballos.com/?p=91#comment-373 What great ideas. Yes, to the sunflower house. Yes, to the clever title that made me want to find out what the heck you were talking about. Yes, to the humor, "I caved. And My Waldorf Guilt screamed in my ear." Nicely woven piece. What great ideas. Yes, to the sunflower house. Yes, to the clever title that made me want to find out what the heck you were talking about. Yes, to the humor, “I caved. And My Waldorf Guilt screamed in my ear.” Nicely woven piece.

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