Josie’s Big Milestone and Other Matters

1. This past week has marked a huge milestone for my firstborn – she started the first grade, and she loves it.

At the end of this rainbow (and I do mean geographically) is her little school.

2. She now rides the school bus home and likes it very much – the fact that raised the eyebrows of every fellow Waldorf mom I spoke to.

But here’s the deal:

Besides our resolution to not own a second car, and my firm belief in the fact that mom does not automatically equal chauffeur, I value the opportunity to allow my child this wee bit of independence and the resulting boost in self-confidence.

Besides, her particular ride is very, very short.

3. One of the most satisfying things in my life is to be able to provide my children with the childhood I never had. I know this sounds totally cliche, but please believe that when I say it, I fully mean it.

Here’s what this childhood includes:

• a country with a good government and a strong economy
• a reliable, responsible father
• decent things to wear
• plenty of good things to eat
• a few siblings
• mother at home
• mother who pays attention
• mother who can bake and can afford to bake
• mother and father who have the patience to teach them how to bake, cook, clean, and navigate the world around them

None of these are taken for granted by anyone involved.

And speaking of first-world amenities:

4. I’ve got a new washing machine.

Like most things, we purchased it used, but that’s how we choose to live our lives. Foregoing shiny new things means that we are both able to pursue our true callings while ensuring that our children have the life we want for them (see above).

Here’s my old washer’s historic last load, characterized by my having to drain the full machine of water and wring all of these sheets and towels by hand before hanging them on the line, all with my husband out of town and my beef steers at large.

On the bright side, it broke during the rinse cycle.

I even washed a few items by hand between this one breaking and the new one coming – something I’m still good at – and let my kids try their hand at it as well (they literally demanded that I let them, copy-cats that they are). An impromptu perspective-building exercise ftw.

5. After a very hot and muggy Wisconsin summer (drought or no drought), characterized by the dirty-white sky, the weather is finally getting cooler, which means blue skies and bright stars. I am excited for fall!

6. Speaking of the weather, I had to run both the air-conditioner and the wood stove at different points this past week.

Can you believe it?