A mother describes how she and her husband are juggling jobs and care for their daughter and asks about Waldorf resources for mothers who work outside the home:
"While I consider this the absolute best arrangement that we could provide for my daughter, I am of course torn because I miss the rich time at home with her. I work because we need me to, and for no other reason.
I have been looking for Waldorf-oriented resources for a woman in my position, and am coming up with a complete blank.
When I was at home I found fantastic Waldorf resources for us stay at home mommies--and now that I am out in the work world I need that same sustenance. Do you have any suggestions?
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As an aside--if no resources are to be found for us Waldorf mommies working out of necessity, I suspect I might have to create something because this is a very challenging existence, just as the transition to motherhood and homemaking was!
Rahima replies:
I'm wondering if any readers know of Waldorf resources that relate specifically to supporting families where both parents work outside the home? My book, You Are Your Child's First Teacher provides guidelines for choosing childcare programs, as does LifeWays. And certainly the understanding of child development and the use of rhythm are both tremendously important in creating a harmonious home life. But, it sounds like what is missing is finding one another in community and sharing concerns and insights. Although there are many on-line resources for mothers who work outside the home, I don't know of any such Waldorf groups. I hope readers will use the "Comments" section to share specific questions, concerns and resources, and maybe something will develop!
Comments (3)
To the working mama:
In March I began working as the pre-k assistant in my daughter's 3-day class at a Waldorf school. It was a welcome job change. Even though I'm with her, it sometimes feels like we have such separate days and we're missing an amount of that rich home time. How wonderful the resource of a community of working mothers could be!
I have taken to heart the words of Shea Darian in her book SEVEN TIMES TIMES THE SUN. She talks about how important it is for working mothers to get a break -- some personal time, every week, to breathe out and regroup and clear the head. I've found this to be so important now that I'm working, even though I'm only gone 3 days a week.
If any working mothers have some ideas on how I can transition better between workdays and offdays, specifically having more ENERGY, please leave me a comment!
:)Becca
Posted by Becca | March 31, 2005 2:08 PM
This is a big gap in the Waldorf communinity. I have loved and studied Waldorf since before my son was born, but have struggled with several issues that are rarely addressed in Waldorf circles. I have been either a full-time student or working full-time since he was 15 months old, and spent most of his childhood as a single mother. Now I am dealing with issues of a blended family and visitation schedules.
I realize that the ideal would be to stay home and fully devote yourself to raising your children. This is in itself part of the basis of the waldorf philosophy. Taking into account that this goal is unachievable by many, many families, is the alternative to abandon Waldorf ideas altogether?
There have been so many issues that I needed help or guidance with, most recently being the difficulty in finding after-school care or a babysitter that will not allow rampant tv and video game consumption.
I recently discovered Melisa Nielson's books, and they are a breath of fresh air to me because they do address divorce and blended families for a very enriching and spiritual perspective. If only there were more resources out there!
Posted by Shannon | August 18, 2007 10:43 PM
Thanks for continuing the discussion here. I agree that resources for working parents is, indeed, a gap and wanted to direct readers to the resource you sited, Melisa Nielsen at www.alittlegardenflower,com. Warmly, Rahima
Posted by Rahima | February 7, 2008 9:16 AM