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Matt

@waldorfdads

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Husband of @my_seasonal_treasury. Providing a platform for Waldorf dads to connect. Winter SLC: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

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What a lot of people don’t know is that I went to a Steiner School…
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The teachers believed in educating the individual rather than making the individual fit into a system.
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For me my principal and parents agreed to send me bush with @darren_h_peters so I could learn how to be a trapper.
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That’s how I found my path in life and given the twinkle in my eye and the fun loving mischief I was into at the time I’m really glad they did.
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This book is a great book for young people with short chapters, big pictures and a whole lot of stories about finding your path even if it’s not a conventional way of finding it.
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If you would like to give a signed copy of my book to a young person in your life feel free to go to my website www.samthetrapman.nz (link in bio) because when we are connected to our ecosystems the whole world benefits.
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#waldorfeducation #waldorf #waldorfinspired #steinereducation #steinerschool #steinerinspired #biodynamic #biodynamicfarming

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We celebrated Martinmas a few nights late tonight.

It was simple, we were tired after three days of solo parenting. We didn’t make it outside. But we did carry our lights to each room in the house, bringing our kindled flames to burn in each corner of our home. We sang our verses as we walked.

We talked about the darkness around us that comes with winter and that we need to keep our lights burning bright.

Next year I’d like to emphasize the beauty of St. Martin of Tours a bit more.

I mentioned to the children that the young soldier saw the light in a poor man shivering in the cold and was moved to give him his clothing.

But perhaps next year, when we’re older, we can spend some more time contemplating that… I know I want to, personally.

For now, I’m going to keep this warmth tight and be grateful that I get to do life with these little beings who bring the light (sometimes a scorching flame 🔥 😂) to our home.

I’m so grateful the children have a place outside their home, their school, where they are filled with this Goodness. They made these gorgeous lanterns there and I’m so glad 🕯️

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🍁 Fun with Fall Color 🍁 A few window transparencies I’ve been working on. The two gnome scenes are older but recently rehabbed with new kite paper. The adorable pumpkin friends are a template from the Etsy shop Light of the Stone. #seasontable #seizoenstafel #seizoentafel #jahreszeiten #jahreszeitentisch #jaartafel #lottesievershahn #waldorfinspiredhome #waldorfhome #steinerinspired #windowtransparency

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What a gift this book has been! Few things shake me to the core and describe my experience of mothering like this does. 10/10 recommend “You Are Your Child’s First Teacher.”
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#youareyourchildsfirstteacher #waldorf #montessori #waldorfinspired #waldorfeducation #woodentoys #waldorfschool #waldorftoys #waldorfkids #waldorfhome #waldorfhomeschool #homeschooling #openendedplay #montessoriathome #waldorfkindergarten #steiner #waldorfteacher #waldorfschule #openendedtoys #learningthroughplay #homeschool #steinerschool #overtherainbowbridge #
#invitationtoplay #waldorfhomeschooling #playbasedlearning #rudolfsteiner #steinereducation

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Do you find yourself having to raise your voice louder and louder until you’re yelling to get your children to listen?

One of the most helpful things I’ve learned in Waldorf education is this one little phrase:

“You may.”

I’m not one of those parents who doesn’t believe in saying “no” to my kids. I say it plenty. But the more I say it, the less effective it is. And ”no” is a word I want to save for when I really need them to listen in a safety situation.

Instead, when I use the phrase “you may,” my children sense the gentle guidance and the strength in my proposal to them. And most of the time, they’re happy to follow.

My job as a mother is not to control everything. My job is to guide my children to what is true, good, and beautiful. By telling them that they may do something, I’m not being cross but I am being stern. I am being firm in front of something that must be done. Little ones need this kind of solidity.

So why do I love “you may:”
💫It’s clear
💫it removes the power struggle
💫It shifts the focus on privilege and the positive
💫It guides gently

Some examples:
🕯️ you may put your coat on now
🕯️after a sibling hits- you may keep your hands on your lap
#homemaking #homemaker #sahm #wearethehomemakers #homemakers #steinereducation #slowliving #simpleliving #homestead #motherhood #stayathomemom #thisisparenting #thisismotherhood #natureschool #natureplay #wildandfree #waldorfinspired #letthembelittle #waldorfhomeschoolingmom #motherhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged #raisinglittles #respectfulparenting #gentleparenting #waldorfeducation #waldorf #homeschooling

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Y’all, we worked so hard on these! The children and I prepped the spiced dough, dehydrated the oranges, strung the popcorn + cranberries and had so much fun.

It’s these little repetitive, meditative gestures that build the magic for all of us. I’m convinced that these little handiworks are powerful tools in regulating our nervous systems by creating rhythm.

So go light a candle, put on some Christmas classical music + sit at the table together!

Spiced salt dough recipe:
-1 cup flour
-½ cup salt
-2 tbsp cinnamon
-2 tbsp ground cloves
-splash of vanilla
create your shapes and place holes in them for thread
For brown results- brush with oil
For white results- bake as is
Bake at 250F for 2 hrs.
*salt dough smells heavenly but is not edible. Thanks for the inspo @blossomandbranchfarm
🪡 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 + 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 “ 𝐬𝐞𝐰 🧵 “ 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲!
#christmastraditions #familyrhythm #handiworks #waldorf #waldorfeducation #adventprep #saltdough #saltdoughornaments #oranges #handmade #handmadegarland #sustainabledecor

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My favorite season is upon us! 🕯 🎄
When I was looking into ways to prepare for Christmas and live advent meaningfully, I came across many beautiful ideas. The typical advent calendar that gives you a little chocolate at every door you open was always a favorite for me as an only child. But now, as a mother of three, I lI wanted some thing more for my kids… Also splitting a single chocolate in two proved challenging.

Advent, which in Latin means “coming,“ is a time I want to live meaningfully. We’re preparing for Christmas, of course, but every day, in the midst of my messiness, the toddler tantrums, the changing of diapers, making of meals… The overall every day rhythms, we all have something to offer to make life a little more loving— a little more splendid.

I find so much beauty in Waldorf education and am intrigued by the advent spiral. I made one with my son in the hopes that every day can be an adventure and every day we can bring something to the spiral that brings us closer to Christmas. When we leave the house for our outdoor time in nature, we choose one “treasure“ to bring to the spiral. We bring a rock, acorn… a piece of pinecone. This creates a unity in our days and our time spent adventuring outdoors because we bring what we discover inside our home.

My oldest is also beginning to understand time. The spiral makes the days and their meaning tangible to him. I painted little peg dolls of Mary and Joseph who are walking the path to the birth of their baby. I made baby Jesus four years ago when my son was just an infant out of felt and a walnut shell not knowing what he would be used for one day. And here he is!

Together, we made the salt dough, flattened it, made a spiral, and added 22 holes to represent each day of Advent. I’m sharing this so that you too can try this out if you’re interested and also to show that the spiral existed at one point in time… Because I truly do not think it will survive until December 25 as my littles try to demolish it on a daily basis. So here it is, in all it’s imperfections and all it’s glory.
*cont. in comments

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It is such a privilege to spend my days with these little humans. They are so close to wonder and the tiniest things mean everything to them.

It reminds me of the Waldorf tradition that depicts our birth as crossing over “the rainbow bridge” to symbolize our transition from Heaven to earth. It makes sense: the children have just crossed the bridge; they’re new here. It explains why little children seem closer to Heaven and take so much time to marvel at this earth…and put on their shoes.

It’s a gift to see the wonder in their eyes. Perhaps my role as Mother is not so much to *create* as it is to *preserve* what’s already within us. It’s a gift to be the keeper—the protector— of this wonder.

It’s a gift to spend my days for these small people. Because after all, it’s the small things that hold Heaven.
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Here’s the whole poem from my reel:

Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself. ~William Martin
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#homemaking #waldorfeducation #rainbowbridge #steiner #montessori #homemaker #iammama #motherhood #holymotherhood #slowliving #intentionalliving #thesearethedays #holymotherhood #wearethehomemakers
#wildandfree #homeschool

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Obligatory Wiesn photos… so grateful for my tribe! It really does take a village…❤️❤️❤️
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#wiesn2023 #bestfriends #lovemyfamily

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Can you believe my hubby handmade this sweet snowy moving picture for our kids? ❤️❤️❤️
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Use the hashtag #fairytaleweeks to join our themed week with your own Mother Holle inspired creations, crafts, recipes, etc. Feel free to re-create what our wonderful hosts are sharing and be sure to follow hashtag #fairytaleweeks to keep an eye out for their fabulous creations this week.
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We will be sure to share some of your beautiful creations and ideas in our stories… all week long!
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❄️ Meet our fantastic hosts ❄️

@my_seasonal_treasury
@thewaywewaldorf
@mrsjasnamadzaric
@peacewithnaturehandwork
@onwillowsbend
@thegentlyfeatherednest
@mrsmollyp
@stories.from.the.alps
@becominghuman
@lindamydlak
@wineberryadventurescouts
@morningtimedrawing
@omeyearofwaldorfhomeschool
@two.little.boys.adventures
@jleejarrin
@our.life.learning.adventure
@ourhomeonthehill
@anna_wrens_nest
@the_peaceful_fox_shop

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Time is such a hard concept for littles to grasp. This weekend is my daughter’s birthday and we’ve been building anticipation by counting down the days with a #waldorfbirthdaycandle.

Making birthday candles is simple:
🕯️I rolled a candle from a beeswax kit I purchased on Amazon (I’ll link it in my storefront #linkinbio)
🕯️ I used Stockmar modeling wax to make five little moons for each day leading up to my daughter’s birthday.

You can decorate your candle with anything that honors your child. Little moons are so fitting for my CL 🌙🤍

Each afternoon this week, the children woke up anticipating the lighting of the birthday candle so they could watch one moon melt each day. They have been bustling with excitement about the upcoming event. M has even begun brainstorming what he would like on his candle come March!

Making time a visual, tangible, and creative notion they can experience joyfully changes everything for little ones…and honestly, for me too.

Let me know if you end up trying this out for your littles. I’m so grateful I discovered Waldorf and how simple and magical it makes daily life. I can’t wait to see what you come up with 💫

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