Reflections on the eve of my sons birthday

Today has been candle making day ahead of my sons birthday Friday...almost 13 years old! How the years pass us so fleetingly, leaving whispers of memories deep within us.

Some of those memories live within us so vividly, much like the sounds and smells of the seasons the seasons of our life can leave great impressions on us, I can still hear the echoes of my sons gentle murmurs and the smell of his new born hair all those years ago. How I gazed at him all night in wonder that first night of his life here on earth wondering what he was thinking as his gaze took in my blurry face and the dimmed hospital nightlight ...and I still do wonder that...as I check on him before I go to bed, him lay soundly asleep, getting as long as his bed, I wonder what he’s dreaming of.

It’s sad, but living in a relationship which was toxic and abusive a lot of those early years I have forgotten - or are at the back of my mind somehow - moments which should be crystal clear are shrouded. I never got chance to really wallow in those moments of motherhood when my ex-husband demanded so much from me. Supporting our inner life and harmonising that with the world is so so important in enabling us to be fully present in life. To live.

One of the things that has struck me and deepened my love for Waldorf Education is how it strives to support the inner development of the child. It’s not merely focused on their physical and cognitive abilities meeting their learning - it focuses on strengthening the child’s inner life with thoughtful introduction of certain stories and subjects