Rambling: This is How We Play

Curiosity. Delight. Pleasure. Nature.

These we take seriously around our house. Or at least we’re beginning to! And thanks to this little person in our lives, everyday becomes an opportunity to Grow in these things, Play a whole lot more and be a bit closer to the Child we once were.

I’m growing more and more passionate about Waldorf Education the more I learn about it (and the more I let go of my Perfectionist Way of pursuing it.) It was the ideas from Rudolf Steiner about child development that solidified my decision to have less toys in the house, choose beautiful simple open-ended play things, opt out of TV and commercialized childhood as much as I can, really slow down and find our inner rhythms for our days, embrace the natural cycles of the earth and celebrate the seasons. I’ve really come a long way considering where I started: clueless and unaware like you wouldn’t believe.

I know I’m happiest with my little girl when we are out and about in the “woods” (not really the woods but pretty close) or the beach,  when we make something creatively together and when we connect over stories, music and food. I have to remember how happy this all makes me feel so I can work towards making this happen more often. Not just once in a blue moon random day. In fact, I’d like this to be our Everyday Reality, please.

Because I really get sucked so quickly into the chores and the ever so adult stuff that demands my time. I’m a real neat-organized freak (not so much a clean freak though) and I get close to panic attacks when the house is in certain amount of disorder.

The Waldorf Philosophy draws me out of my OCD adult tendencies  into the more magical and whimsical world of children.

There’s so much to learn and apply and incorporate into our lives, but I’m finding that when I remember to take it one easy and gracious step at a time, things fall into place like one piece of a puzzle finding its way into its rightful spot. The whole picture is not quite clear yet, but as long as I can visualize it in my mind and heart, I can keep adding the pieces each day and plug away faithfully until the work is done.

It’s really about intention. And I think for the longest time, I wasn’t clear on my intention that this is what I wanted. The Perfectionist Part of me (a.k.a. The Resistance) wanted an either/or approach. It wanted me to be all Waldorf now or bust. But oh how I learn!

Oh dear Resistance, you do have a lot to teach and I’m learning how to outsmart you! Yet ever so Slowly.  And Graciously.

So I let go and let my daughter be. I try not to teach so much because there’s already so much Presence in Life that one learns from.

Or at least I try to teach by Being.

Which means I have to learn to Be.

And it comes full circle because Being is what I’m learning most from my little one.

She is teaching me that just because there’s a playground and a slide doesn’t mean it’s what you have to play with if you are really interested in something else (like making a wee little home for our imaginary friends). You follow your Heart and the arrows pointing to Pleasure and Play that is Life.

It’s the most magical thing ever, really. If we only have eyes to see.