The Familiar Quicksand of Waldorf Doubt

I have been plagued with Waldorf-guilt.  Yes, I know you all know it well.  :-)

It's that feeling that you aren't Waldorf-enough, so you don't belong in the conversation.

But this morning I suddenly had a realization.  Again.  I seem to go through this inner conversation many times on my journey.  Since 2005 I've been a Waldorf person.  For the first years (2005 - 2008) I was a Waldorf homeschooling mom.  Then I became a teacher at an alternative (but not a Waldorf) school and I was a traditional teacher incorporating Waldorf elements into my classroom.  That's 2008 - 2012.  Next step in my journey, after I finish my Master's in Curriculum & Instruction, will be to begin my M.Ed. in Waldorf education through Antioch University in New England.  So there are three ways that Waldorf philosophy can express itself...

you can be a Waldorf-inspired parent or a Waldorf homeschooler

you can be a teacher in a non-Waldorf school who is looking to bring more Waldorf into your work

you can be in Waldorf teacher training or working as a teacher in a Waldorf school


But ALL of these mean that you are a Waldorf person!

You are always Waldorf-enough, wherever you are in your journey.  The whole point of my Yahoo group and the work on my website has always been to support people interested in learning more about Waldorf, wherever they are, and it's ironic that I lost my vision and support of myself.

I can't wait to finish this degree and start another one.  I can't wait to be a Waldorf teacher.  But it's important for me to remember that even without being a Waldorf teacher, I can still be a Waldorf person.

I hope this helps everyone else who is going through the same thing!!!!