Morning Transitions by Jaimmie Stugard

Morning Transitions

by Miss Jaimmie

September is a time for transition at LifeWays.  Our eldest children have recently left LifeWays to start kindergarten and we welcomed several new families into our program. Whether your child is new to care outside of the home or they are seasoned pros, mornings can be tricky. Here are some helpful hints for easing the transition for your child in the morning

·       Prepare the night before. Check the hourly Riverwest forecast and pack appropriate outdoor gear and any other needed supplies for a day at LifeWays. You can even set out clothes before bedtime to help your morning go smoothly. Remember that a good night’s sleep is essential. You will thank yourself in the morning for an early bed-time. A well-rested child is almost always more agreeable than a groggy, sleep-deprived child.

·       Create a consistent morning rhythm. Gently rouse your child at the same time each day if they need help waking. You might slowly open the curtain and hum or sing a little tune. Allow plenty of time for breakfast, to wash up and brush teeth and to get dressed and head out the door.  Keep things as calm and relaxed as possible and try to avoid rushing or hurrying your child.

·       Strive to keep a calm mood and be present with your child during your journey to LifeWays. Whether you are walking, biking or driving, enjoy the scenery and reduce stimulation.  Save the podcasts and news updates for later, when your children are out of earshot.

 

·       Saying good-bye. A calm, consistent, drop off routine will ease your child’s transition each morning. They will be secure in their knowledge of what to expect and what is expected. Years ago, when my eldest child left my suite to start KinderHouse, he’d give me a “hug, kiss, knuckles, high five and shake hands” before heading to Miss Rhoda’s care. Our special handshake remained part of our drop off routine when he left LifeWays to start kindergarten. Another child in my care preferred a group hug to say goodbye in the morning.  Then, he’d let go of his parents and spend a few moments in my arms before playing with his pals. Other children take comfort in snuggling a lovey from home for a few minutes when their parents say farewell.

·       Keep the drop off short and sweet. Faith Baldwin offers this insight in her Joyful Toddlers blog, “It’s only the process of watching you leave that is hard. In that case, the longer you draw out the process of leaving, the longer you’re drawing out his feelings of unhappiness. Be loving, and firm in your knowledge that this is the best choice for your family, and say goodbye.”

·       Remember, our confidence level sets the tone. (Janet Lansbury provides more insight in her podcast, Unruffled.) While it may not always be easy to say farewell, the most reassuring thing that you can do for your child is be calm, consistent and confident. Keep the lines of communication open with your child’s caregivers, so that we can work together to support and nurture your child. Please feel free to call LifeWays to check on your little one any time!

Michaelmas by Jane Danner

 

Michaelmas 2025

By Miss Jane

 

Fairy tales are more than true,

not because they tell us that dragons exist

but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.

(Neal Gaiman, from Coraline)

 

The old catalpa tree in the play yard is starting to drop her leaves and there is a definite chill in the air as I put up the hammock each morning. I can feel in my bones that winter is just around the corner and my thoughts turn to golden capes and blackberry jam and shooting stars and knights and swords and dragons and dragon bread. In Waldorf schools around the world the season of Michaelmas is in full swing.

In Christian mythology, St. Michael is an angel who casts the dragon out of heaven and then makes the heavens rain stars of iron which we can gather to make swords so that we might protect ourselves from dragons. His feast day is September 29^th and it is called Michaelmas. In the northern hemisphere it falls just as the rich bounty of the summer harvest begins to pour in and the cold, harsh winter months ahead start to become a reality. It is a moment to take stock and face whatever may come and a way to fortify ourselves.

At LifeWays we will have a simple Michaelmas celebration on Monday, September 29^th. We will listen to a puppet play about Sabra and the dragon. We will eat dragon bread – regular bread shaped into the form of a dragon and spread blackberry jam. It is said that when the dragon was cast out of heaven, he tumbled into a blackberry bush and was not very happy about it! Finally, the children will get their shooting stars. They have watched us work on them all week.

I have celebrated Michaelmas now for over 20 years and in that time there has been much discussion over the years about whether or not it is still a meaningful and significant festival in our day and age. As I thought about what to write, I pondered why I have come to love this celebration so much and why I want to bring it to the LifeWays children. After all, it has been a long time since my own children have worn golden capes and come home with wooden swords and shooting stars. But I have watched them face many dragons in their lives with courage and grace and fortitude. I think maybe they still wear those capes and carry those swords and gather those golden stars within their hearts-even today. Dragons can be beaten.