Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about rhythm and
balance. With the autumnal equinox rapidly approaching, I'm more aware of the balance of light
and dark, of day and night, and the transition into fall. I’ve been planning curriculum for the very
limited amount of formal ‘school’ I ask from Skyler (I know, I know, I’m
late!!!) and trying to find a way to fold teaching into our day -- or to fold
our day around teaching -- while still enjoying these beautiful days outside.
Rhythm is an idea I’ve embraced since first learning about it
through Waldorf education. Rhythm is our
movement through the day, repetition, the balance of in breaths & out
breaths. Of all the many wonderful
things I’ve learned from Waldorf, this has been perhaps the most
helpful, and not just to homeschooling, but to parenting in general. I like thinking of our days, not in terms of
schedule or structure, but in terms of rhythm.
How do we begin & end each day?
What is the pace of the day? When do we socialize, stay outside? When do we come in and embrace quiet? What do our transitions look like? Rhythm is not rigid, it’s paying attention to
the flow of your day, finding the balance.
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Beginning our day with Yoga
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As parents, I think we all recognize those days (or weeks)
when the rhythm is working. Those days that
we move through with a certain amount of ease: things get accomplished without
feeling rushed; it feels like everyone’s (even mamas!) needs are getting mostly
met. We have moments to breath, enough
time alone, enough time outside, enough time with others. Perhaps even clearer are the days (or weeks,
or MONTHS) when our rhythm isn’t working: when everything feels rushed but
nothing really gets done, we’re all crabby, we’re too busy, too alone, or
bored. Those days when things just feel
‘off’.
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| Morning work - Skyler math |
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| Morning work - Gryffin math |
When the boys were babies, their very clear needs dictated the
rhythm of the day. Even last year our
rhythm was dictated by early risers, a need for a lot of physical activity, and
Gryffin’s very important afternoon nap.
The boys were up at 5:30, leaving Skyler time to eat breakfast, get
dressed, play, & still do an hour or so of mama-directed school work BEFORE
we left the house @ 9:00. We filled our
morning with activities, playground time, library, science museum, adventures,
and then would head home for lunch & nap – when Sky & I (both
introverts) would retreat with our books to opposite ends of the house. About
once a week we would go out again after nap, but mostly that time was spent
playing, doing ‘projects’, cleaning and cooking dinner. This
rhythm was easy for me to hold, Gryffin’s nap was a precious and necessary (for
all of us) priority. The balance of busy
morning and quiet afternoon felt right.
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| Homeschool meet-up - Playing 'Capture the Flag' with 20 other homeschoolers |
Then, this summer Gryffin rather abruptly outgrew his nap. Both boys started going to bed later &
sleeping later (until almost 6:30)! We
let go of any formal lessons as the weather got warmer and the rhythm of our
days changed. We started hanging out at
home longer during the still cool and comfortable mornings, playing, cleaning, and
cooking. I started packing our lunches
to go, and we’d leave the house around 10:30 or 11 for afternoon adventures –
to Walden, the beach, the woods, or just park hopping around the neighborhood. We would come home late – usually right
before dinner – cook something fast (to not heat up the kitchen), eat and take
long lukewarm baths. This rhythm sometimes
left us a little too busy to work on projects or keep the house tidy, and I
have to say we welcomed those few rainy days to balance all the sun and
fun.
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| Lunch at home on the backporch |
Now it’s time to find a new rhythm. The weather is changing once again – autumn brings
a return to our home, to cooking, inside work, crafting and ‘school’. But without the strong dictates of naps and
weather, it’s a rhythm I will have to create – a HUGE challenge for me. I like a certain amount (read – ‘lots’) of
floating through the days. Without structure
imposed externally, I easily become un-tethered. I will start writing here & not notice
that the kids haven’t eaten in hours…until I hear them start to fall apart in
the other room. Some of the rhythm of the week is determined
by activities, but the internal rhythm of our days is imposed by me, & I
find this sooo challenging. And although
Skyler easily floats through the day with me, Gryffin (because of his age and
who he is) desperately needs a strong rhythm to lean against.
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| Late afternoon playtime with Cousin Bea |
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| Working on a project at the 'Fountain Park' |
So I try to find the balance. I try to make sure we have time to work on mama-imposed
work AND time for the boys to create their own wonderful projects and explorations. I try to find the right rhythm between
activities and time to read and play and imagine. I am
trying to make sure that we have time to breathe and notice our breath. That we have time to socialize, make friends,
play with other children, explore being a team and time to be alone. That built into the rhythm of our day and
week and year are moments of stillness, time to honor the change of seasons,
time to pay attention to the natural world, and time to recognize the sacred rhythm
in ourselves.
What does the rhythm of your day or week look like? Do you find it changing for fall?
