Adapting Traditions by Jaimmie Stugard

“The cycle of the year is a mighty breathing of the earth in relation to the cosmos.” – Rudolf Steiner 

While we won’t be celebrating our traditional, community wide lantern walk this year, I hope your family will have a chance to take a lantern walk together. Adapting our seasonal celebrations and incorporating them into our home life is especially meaningful in these uncertain and unusual times. They provide an opportunity to lift ourselves out of the day to day, celebrate the earth and connect to the world around us. Including children in the preparation of simple, annual festivals creates a mood of anticipation and allows the children to experience and participate in the process of life. 

As the holidays approach, many families are considering how to adapt their holiday traditions for the safety of all while the pandemic continues. To be honest, I am really looking forward to a quiet and intimate holiday season at home with my husband and children. For years, the holidays have been a time of hustle and bustle, dashing from here to there, giving and receiving and lots and lots of eating. While I love spending time with my extended family and will surely miss them this holiday season, I think that a cozy, quiet year at home will be a nice change of pace. 

For Halloween, we will take a neighborhood walk in our costumes, light our jack o’lanterns, have a fire and warm apple cider in the yard, nibble on sweets, and watch some spooky movies. We made a candy chute in case any social distancing trick or treaters come by. In November, we’ll take a lantern walk in nature. And, we will cook together and enjoy a home-made feast of our favorite Indian cuisine this Thanksgiving. As a vegetarian, I am excited to celebrate a non-traditional feast day. And, I expect that a mellow Christmas at home may be almost as enjoyable as it is unimaginable! It has been years since I took the time to mail New Year’s cards to my family and friends and I look forward to taking the time to rekindle this tradition. I am grateful for the opportunity to slow down, adapt and deepen my experience of these family traditions. Then, when the time is right, we will once again enjoy the gift of being in community together.

Summer in the Violet Garden by Sandra Schmidt

Dear Parents, 

June has quickly turned into the middle of July for me. After the cold Spring, the warmth feels good. With the warm weather we’ve been able to run through the sprinkler during outside time in the morning. Our garden continues to grow lush with this warmth - tomatoes will soon ripen to nibble on and we have been feasting on raspberries these last few weeks. 

As we settle into our “new normal”, I’m sure my co-workers would agree that we weren’t quite sure what to expect with our reopening last month during a pandemic. I have found that the children and I are still the same. We enjoy each other’s company - we talk of what we’ve done at home and what we plan to do. We look ahead to our summer birthdays, and how the raspberries are red and tasty...how the mint is up to Luci’s bellybutton. In short, life carries on. This summer there are fewer children in my suite, this has given me the opportunity to implement the new health protocols into our daily rhythm with the least disruption to the children. I do wear a mask for most of the day, but it is not questioned why (it has become an accessory like my glasses). I do feel strongly that the world of COVID is not for the children. Their world is a dreamy one of fairies and gnomes, and all things magical. The pandemic has brought back memories for me, I remember being eight and watching the news...listening to the adult conversation and being terrified that an unknown enemy (to me) from Vietnam would find me. My eight-year-old mind devised a plan to hide under my bed when the Vietnamese came to our house in Wauwatosa. That I could hide and be safe. I was burdened with fear. I do not wish the children in my care to have a similar burden. I sense my co-workers feel the same because talk about COVID is generally limited to “adults only” time. 

For now, our routine in the Violet Garden remains much like any other summer at LifeWays...lots of time outdoors, healthy meals and being comfy cozy at nap. At lunch, we will continue to talk about birthdays and what we plan to be at Halloween. Even now with all the uncertainty in the world, our children pull us into the future - their future and all the wonder it holds and for that I’m eternally grateful. 

Blessings, Miss Sandra

Notes from the Kitchen by Tamara Treviranus

Greetings Lifeways Families, 

I hope you are all doing as well as possible, navigating these uncertain times. Some things have shifted at Lifeways, one of them being a slight change in my role at Lifeways. Instead of starting my morning with the children in the Woodland Suite, I am now completely dedicated to providing home-made, nutritious snacks and meals for the children and caregivers. I am still able to have simple interactions with the children, and am grateful for the opportunity to immerse myself in the task of keeping the hearth through the creative, nurturing expression of food preparation. We have been eating with the season, as well as enjoying items like home-made yogurt and home-made granola, lots of baked goods including graham crackers from scratch, soft whole wheat rolls, and zucchini bread. We’ve tried tabouli with hummus and are looking forward to incorporating more fermented foods to support a healthy immune system for the members of our community. 

One thing we have all probably learned from this period of uncertainty is that extra time allows us to work and proceed with intention. Applying this idea to participating in the food system, there are several ways that we can make small changes in our habits that are positive contributions to the environment and society. For example, making homemade yogurt is not only more nutritious, and less expensive, it also allows us to avoid contributing approximately 150 plastic containers per year to landfills, or to dubiously effective recycling efforts. While we continue to source most of our groceries from Outpost and Whole Foods, I am gradually working to make Lifeways food purchases as equitable as possible, while working within our budget. As the bulk spice section is still removed from our regular grocer, I will be ordering our spices from Penzey’s Spices, a company who was a leader in support of civil rights for all, and safety for their employees. As flour was sometimes difficult to procure, we have purchased bulk flours and oats from the Riverwest Coop, also leaders in inclusive and safe practices for their staff, volunteers and patrons. They are one of very few establishments still paying their workers hazard pay. While we miss the beautiful produce from our CSA share at Gernumbli Gardens as this farm program is on pause for the season, I will be purchasing as much produce as possible directly from the farmers at the Riverwest Farmers Market. 

I hope that this time of disruption, fear, and unknowing may be used as a catalyst to recreate the many systems that need reform. The virus and political climate have laid bare the inequities and systems of oppression within our education and health care systems. Our planet as our source for life and sustenance, continues to be increasingly threatened. Our way of life cannot continue as it was. May we continue to align our actions towards justice and human rights for all people on our one and only home.

Summer's Greeting by Destiny Skubis

Summer’s Greeting 

Our time apart was long and strange, 

Though times unsure, we have remained 

One circle of friends 

A community strong 

Our hearts are bonded 

We sing loud our song, 

Together we greet the summer days 

We soak in the sun and feel the rain 

Though times unsure, we have remained 

A place of wonder 

Of magic and laughter 

We’re here again to find what matters, 

In each day we feel alive 

May we greet the sun high in the sky 

May we bless the food for its good deed 

May we share a smile 

May we cultivate peace, 

Though times unsure, we have remained 

A place of love for all to gain 

Hello! From the Woodland Suite, 

Our rhythm has been simple and blissful. We’re meeting our needs with nourishment from the sunshine, fresh air, Miss Tammy’s cooking, and a quiet rest. Though, the minds and bodies of the children have been busy! 

It has been a real treat to be reunited and greeting the long summer days with play yard creativity and sprinkler fun. I have been so impressed with the children’s engineering and desire to construct blockades, balance beams, catapults, ramps, and bridges. There has also been some tender nurturing play where small stumps are transformed into babies, and large planks turn into resting areas or picnic plots. Their wonder never ceases to amaze me! 

Equally, it’s the season for exploring all the insects! The children have been quite enthusiastic about collecting caterpillars, creepy crawlers, and catching a glimpse of the dragonfly. It becomes a group effort to either catch or release these small visitors and brings a lot of joy (and maybe a few heebeegeebies to me.) 

I hope you all are enjoying these summer days as much as possible, and keeping the pleasures in life simple. 

Be Well, Miss Destiny

Summer in the Sunshine Garden by Belinda Kenwood

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer 

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer 

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer 

Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer 

Many suns and moons and summers ago, when I was a young child, I remember this song playing on the radio, and I also vaguely remember singing it along with Mitch Miller and his “Sing Along with Mitch” hour on television. He would ask the audience to “Follow the bouncing ball,” while providing the lyrics on the screen so we could follow along with Mitch and his chorus. Fond memories. Our first month back caring for children at LifeWays has brought me back to my memories of “those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” (Minus the “days of soda and pretzels,” as I save those for at home consumption, and “beer.”) Our days have been relaxed and filled with plenty of time outdoors experiencing simple pleasures. We enjoy a gentle rhythm of the day, good food, good play, and good rest. It feels like time is suspended, and we live in the delights of the present moment. And speaking of delights, it has been absolutely delightful observing the children’s summertime, outdoor play. We’re not only blessed to be located on a land preserve that provides play spaces with both sun and shade, surrounding us with the beauty, wildlife, and sounds that only Mother Earth can provide, we have had the great fortune of having a few “old” LifeWays friends return to the fold for the summer months. Our friend, Adeola, from the Sunshine Garden, and our friends, Luci and René (Coco’s big brother), from the Violet Garden, have proved to be helpful additions to our group dynamic. Being older and having had “school” experience, they are our benevolent leaders and role models of ways to play and interact with one another as well as helping to work through challenges. 

So, in what delightful ways have I observed the children in their play? Because we caregivers strive to not interfere in their play, (as much as possible) allowing them the freedom from adult “eyes,” and adult ideas, it is absolutely amazing to watch their imaginations take flight and to see how capable they are of discovering and experimenting on their own. Here are a few things I’ve observed:

• Games of chase 
• Using wood planks, blocks and logs to create slides, teetertotters, bridges, shelters, towers, etc. – it’s awesome to see how they work together on these projects. It’s also fun to see who steps up to be the project “foreman”, giving instructions and directions to the others on how to complete a project. 
• Mixing and baking cakes, ice cream, muffins, cupcakes, etc. using sand, water and outdoor kitchen containers 
• Hunting and collecting creepy crawlies – inchworms, caterpillars, bugs, and other crawly things to show to friends and caregivers 
• Running with absolute joy through the sprinkler 
• Hanging out in neighborhood “packs” and “gangs” – especially the four to sixyear olds. Sometimes their younger siblings will accompany them. Now when I use the terms “packs and gangs,” I mean it in a nostalgic, good way. The “Spanky and Our Gang” and “How to Kill a Mockingbird” way. The way I did when I was younger as well as my own children. They’ll go explore in the wooded area, and then you may find them in a circle just chatting, making silly jokes, laughing, or observing a little earth creature. Then, they may get up again, run through the sprinkler and move on to coloring with chalk on the sidewalk, kicking a ball, playing chase, hanging from the poles of the bike rack, etc. When someone needs to rest or craves some alone time, they’ll disengage from the group and sit on a bench or the grass, or go off and do something on their own. When they’re ready, they rejoin the group. 
• Swinging on the Hammock – a favorite activity for sure! Learning to wait for your turn provides valuable lessons in patience and perseverance. 

The children do a very nice job of washing their hands after toileting and before/after meals. I can tell they’ve had lessons at home. After finishing the noon meal and saying “Good-bye” to our half-day friends, our full day friends ready themselves on their beds for an afternoon rest. Before turning off the lights for rest, I’ll read a story. In June, I read a book of Nursery Tales that included, The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Chicken Little, The Lambikin (a Tale from India and one of my personal favorites as a young child) and others. Now that I’ve finished reading the tales in that book, I have moved on to reading a Treasury of Animal Stories by James Herriot, a British veterinary surgeon and writer who wrote the “All Creatures Great and Small” series. 

After napping and resting, those who’ve awakened early make their beds, go to the bathroom, and then don their shoes and sunhats to head outside to play while others are still napping and snack is being prepared. Once most or all of our friends have awakened and joined us outside, we head inside at 3:25pm to wash up for afternoon snack. After partaking in the afternoon meal, the children prepare to once again head outdoors to play as parents begin arriving to gather up their child/children. It has been a gift to be with the children in such a relaxed, joyful, simple manner during these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Thank you for entrusting your children in our care. 

With Gratitude,

Miss Belinda