Today, I went to a puppet play in the Morning Glory classroom. Miss Anne Marie invited me along with her class and the Golden Roses. It was about an old lady named Babushka, who worked and worked all day, day after day...feel familiar?
I sat in a rocking chair, in line with all the other audience members who did their very best not to wiggle, or fall off their chairs.
I had had a morning where I had accidentally broken everyone's CWS email accounts, had to learn how to fix it with some IT stuff that I am still confused about, lost something I later found, accidentally launched our new website before I did the final check (that was a product of trying to fix the email), lost internet connection in the middle of the email fiasco, and temporary lost my "to do list"...all before 12noon. Needless to say, I was a bit frazzled by the time the puppet play came around.
For any of you have have never been in a Waldorf kindergarten classroom, it is one of the most nurturing, healing, magical and beautiful spaces which are not found in the pages of a fairy tale, or in a mind's eye, but here, on earth. As I sat in a fleece lined, wooden rocker, the scent of lavender and baking wafted through the air, the lights were soft and supplemented by the natural light that found its way in through the pink silk curtains, the colors of the walls and playthings were soothing and delicate, a portrait of the Madonna looked lovingly down on us, it is truly a lovely place to find yourself. It is like when you were a child and you imagined the dwellings of such wonderful characters as Grandma or perhaps a wee family living in an enchanted forest, like a house lovingly tended and carefully decorated with handmade things of all kinds; that is a Waldorf early childhood classroom. My headaches of the morning soon forgotten as I sat there patiently waiting for the play to begin.
Children sat on both sides of me, finding it hard not to spontaneously hug one another or lean their heads on each other's shoulders, other children helped a classmate get up on the bench or smoothed the hair of a friend. The play began and all the children joined in verse, singing a song about Babushka. Loud and confident they sang and then did their best to stay quiet when the song ended.
Ahhhh, how lucky I am to be able to walk into those classrooms. There is so much love, joy and beauty in early childhood years and I am glad to see it celebrated as it is here and in various Waldorf classrooms all over the world, everywhere.

And so we begin the long climb up and over the winter mountain into the valley of spring. It is hard not have moments of blaahhh and winter funk when the good ole days of summer still seem so far away.  This reminded me of something I read once in that we should praise the rain and sun because in doing so we can help to create a balance between flood and drought, and that we should not talk about the weather in an egotistic manner. Very hard to do in the middle of a year harboring some of the coldest, wettest, and harshest winters on record.
While at first read this seems a bit silly and idealistic but what would really happen if we only praised the weather? So much of our language regarding weather is egotistic and so much we hear about the weather is egotistic. It is either too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, too much snow or not enough, what would happen if we just appreciated it? Certainly we could not stop the horrible and tragic weather related catastrophes and emergencies but could we change our day to day reality about the weather? Could we change the meaning of the word drought or flood, or change the feelings we have about rain or sun? And what would the weather reporters talk about if they can't complain about the weather? What would we resort to talking about when making small talk with strangers? Would we have to strech a little to come up with something new or would we just be silent? Sort of like if we gave the world a Coke-a-cola would we all love one another and find ourselves in "perfect harmony"?  Is the gesture, or an act of kindness, powerful enough to change perspective on a global level or all we all just thirsty? Would it last or just be a fleeting moment?
Silly but some how provocative.

Happy and Joyous New Year to all our Families and Friends!
I, for one, am glad to see 2010. Although it means I will be a year older, my daughter, Phoenix, will leave us to go to college, and my dog, Smokie, will  officially become an "old, old dog" I am still positive about the future and what it will bring.
We have come a long way as a school this past year, we have welcomed many more new families than in years past, we are approaching a student body of over 130 children, our Pre-K class is full of wonderful little ones, we are busting at the seems with new families and possibilities, our new Spanish Teacher is already adored by her students, our school store got a new location and is full of new products, our office got a make-over by Traci McMerrit, we welcomed new office staff, and we are looking forward to our prosperous future!
Yes, 2010 may just be our year and it would not have been possible with out all of you who help, support, drive in car pools, get to class on time, teach, volunteer, market, the list is endless but you know who you are! Thanks again, and in the words on my old neighbor and friend:
ONWARD!