I hope you will all share my excitement regarding the launch of The Madonna Cloak Project! Here are some details from Donna Simmons, founder of The Madonna Cloak Project, in her own words:
“The Madonna Cloak‘s purpose is to:
- Support and encourage Stay at Home Mothers
- Work to change the belief that childcare is in any way as good – or worse, better – than the care of a loving parent, especially a mother
- Work to challenge the belief and practice that promotes the idea that young children are better off in the care of other adults, including those who run Waldorf pre-k and kindergartens
- Work to encourage change within Waldorf Early Years education away from including ever-younger children in their care and toward emphasis on mother/child classes
- Support the role of Motherhood as a full time vocation
- Support mothers who wish to be SAHMs but cannot do so
- Acknowledge that good in-home childcare will always be necessary and encourage its select growth with the strict proviso that it can never replace parental (or similar) care
The Madonna Cloak Project arises out of:
- Rudolf Steiner’s indications on the development of children
- Further anthroposophical work based on the picture of the fourfold and threefold human being
- The wisdom and experience of Waldorf education as appropriate
- Inspiration from the Attachment Parenting Movement where appropriate
Right now the Madonna Cloak Project has its home here on the Christopherus website. Eventually, it will become a non–profit needing its own website. I foresee its work expanding in a number of ways. Research, support and sharing of information are vital parts of the Madonna Cloak Project’s mission. However, we would like to prioritize work toward building that most precious and valuable kind of support – the real-life flesh and blood support of one mother for another. Although we are beginning as a web-based resource, our intention is, as we grow, to foster a network of groups and individuals who can meet and support other mothers in their location. We are inspired by the work of the La Leche League and our goal is to emulate some of their organizational forms.
At present, I imagine the stages of growth of the Madonna Cloak Project looking something like this:
Stage One: It being under the auspices of Christopherus and starting to compile research and providing a place for information sharing and computer-based support.
Stage Two: Having its own website and expanding research and information. I would hope at this point, the Madonna Cloak Project would start to be “part of the conversation” within the Waldorf Early Years movement. Steps will be taken to start local “Madonna Cloak Leaders”, providing in-person support to local women. During this stage some sort of membership program will be created.
Stage Three: The Madonna Cloak Project will become a charity and have both staff and a membership. We will publish materials and provide workshops, trainings and support. A critical part of the Madonna Cloak Project will be to challenge societal norms about family, work, the role of women and mothers and the basic needs of children. How this work unfolds depends on how powerful we are and how dedicated and clear our membership is about the task at hand.
Want to help? Get involved. We don’t need money right now, but we do need people. We need people to become involved in the life of this project, which initially means being involved in the conversations which take place on this website. The clearer it is that this work is embraced by numerous women and that there is a call for this work, the quicker we can move on to Stage Two. Add your feedback here or contact me, Donna, at Donna (at) christopherushomeschool .org and let me know how you can help.”
Carrie here: I am very excited, and feel this project will assist many mothers who are on their parenting journey!
Please visit the full link and background of this project here:
Exciting news,
Carrie
