A mother inquired:
Hi, we have a Waldorf co-op and have been faced with some differing views regarding colds, sickness and when to bring and not bring your children. Do you have any waldorf guidelines for colds and sickness to protect or children or philosophies around protecting them I could share with the group?
We have a few of us that feel it is very important to keep our children home to heal when they are sick, keep them bundled and conserve there energy. There are the others who feel like it's important to build the immune system by being sick and feel very comfortable bringing their sick kids to co-op. Any thoughts? We could really use some waldorf mama help! Blessings -JH
ps. Love the Homemaking 101 video you recommended!
Rahima responded:
Thank you for your question! Any time children come together in childcare (or co-ops) there will be increased colds/illness (spreading to the adults as well--bleh). When children are sick they need homecare that nurtures their etheric (life) forces and gives them the calm and support they need to muster their forces.
It sounds to me as if some people are misinterpreting an idea from "Waldorf" that it can be good for children to have the childhood illnesses (chickenpox, measles, etc), because they can strengthen the individual "I" forces as the child's body and spirit fight and overcome the disease. But with these illnesses it is even more importance that the parents be prepared to nurse the child at home (potentially for 8 weeks with whooping cough) and to provide professional help (homeopathics, Anthroposophical compounds, etc) if the child needs help in overcoming the onslaught.
Parents would do well to start practicing up on their homecare skills with minor illnesses, rather than making their children work twice as hard by continuing to take them out when they are sick. There is no advantage to exposing others to colds and flus--everyone has more than enough opportunity for this through daily life.
Our instincts are lacking about what supports the etheric when a child or adult is ill--we tend to go on with "business as usual." This can be a disastrous pattern if the child actually contracts measles, etc. Care during illnesses involves seeing with new eyes and being willing to interrupt our lives long enough to give space for healing. A rule of thumb used to be "an extra day in bed/at home for every day there was fever"--not take antibiotics and return to work or school after 24 hours because you're no longer contagious.
It's not easy to stay home with a sick child--the society and economics work against it. But please don't use "Waldorf" as a reason to bring your children to school/groups when they are ill!
Rahima
