Inside The Polished Apple

As part of Elan Family Wellness Centre's August theme of Gearing Up, here's my own article covering a gentle routine for August.   Whether we are excited by the soon return of fall's routines, or sad about the end of the summer warmth, we can use August to bridge between both. Just as your family may be settling into summer, our thoughts turn to back to school and work. August is the perfect time to make sure we are fitting in our relax-time and prepping for life with a routine. Routines can be good for all of us, especially the little ones in our lives. It may even help to overcome some of the “I'm bored...” you've been hearing. During these last few weeks of summer and holidays, how about considering adding a morning and evening routine to your summer as a transition? (perhaps for those not already working or in a regular routine). Start by picking a consistent wakeup time and 1-2 important things you want to complete each day- If its important to y...

We had a Waldorf pre-school meeting last week where we discussed parenting and the different theories of human growth and human needs. Hearing our teachers, presenter, and other parents is inspiring to me. Parenting and teaching is a learning process in so many ways-getting to know our children, ourselves, and seeing how we grow into this role as parents. It is always encouraging to hear others going through similar growth and challenges. This weekend I had a chance to review my notes from last week. My favorite part comes from notes on the Stages of Development in Seven Year Cycles (from G. O'Neil The Human Life). As our daughter is on the first cycle, that's what this will be about. The first seven years is about the development of the physical body with their life being about their sense response (development of their senses). I think of this as the time when these precious little spirits or angels are coming into their bodies and learning about the physical body the...