Self-Esteem and Presence

Dear Families,

    As I prepare to speak about Eckhart Tolle, Rudolf Steiner, and Waldorf education, favorite chapters and articles come to mind which I wish to share.  I have recommended "Genuine Encounter" from Your Child's Self-Esteem by Dorothy Corkille Briggs, and I do so again.  We have several copies in the Kathrine Dickerson Memorial Library.  Rather than send you a pdf that is hard to read, I am sending you three excerpts from the book from this web-site.  If you scroll down past the table of contents and list of praise from critics and journals, you will find 3 brief excerpts from different parts of the book that give not only an excellent taste of the book but also--for me, at least--a reminder to slow down, be present, accept the now, and appreciate with quiet reverence what my child and the children are doing or not doing.

     I can feel like a failure if I decide to provide my sons complete presence and attention every moment of the day.  Briggs and Tolle and others remind us that it is quality, not quantity, that can be so nourishing.  Remembering and finding that one moment to slow down and just watch without judgment, praise, criticism, worry, thoughts of my past or future, is an incredible gift--even if it starts as just the briefest of moments.

With gestures toward presence,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Songs and Verses

Dear Families,

     Per some requests, here are words to the verses and songs I share when we gather at the table.  If there are other elements from the class you would like in writing, please let me know.

Cheers,

William Geoffrey Dolde

Welcome to the Spring Session (starts tomorrow)

Dear Families,

Welcome to our spring session of our parent & child classes at the Whidbey Island Waldorf School.  I look forward to seeing you from 9 to 11am this Thursday or Friday, April 15 & 16.

For families new to our program, this synopsis of the parent & child morning may help provide a sense of what your child and you will experience each week. We try to make the class meet the needs of the children and parents, so I will adjust the rhythm if, for example, one of the classes has more younger or older children. Over the years, I have witnessed children of many ages thrive in a rhythm like the one described.

Here is additional information about our program:

Our classes take place in the Butterfly Room, the first room you come to when you go down the stairs in the main building.

Vegetables and Extra Clothes -- We will make vegetable soup and bread every week; children love to explore, play, and help when their parents and teacher join together in community work such as cooking. Please bring a vegetable if possible. Our classes try to make activities such as washing dishes inviting for children (and their parents). While I try to keep splashing to a reasonable level, your child may get very wet. Please bring a change of clothes.

Children will do well to have slippers or thick socks--we try to leave our wet and muddy boots out of the play area.

Our 7 class session run without pause from April 15 & 16 to Thursday & Friday, May 27 & 28.

All current, past, and future families are invited to our summer festival on Friday, June 4.

At 5pm on Wednesday, May 24, adults are invited to an hour long parenting talk in the Butterfly Room in which I weave together the wisdom of Eckhart Tolle and Rudolf Steiner as it relates to being present with young children.  More information will come separately about this talk.

Here are songs and verses I say throughout the morning.  After we have had a week of class and I have confirmed that my spring circle feels right for our children, I will share those lyrics as well.


With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde