Spring is in the air where I live – I see little daffodils beginning to show, some days are warmer, and it is staying lighter longer each day. The mercurial weather is matching my changing moods, but mainly I am feeling joyful with spring and the new beginnings this season brings!

This month, we are celebrating:

Lent (Try this back post Observing Lent | The Parenting Passageway that has many links in it to even more back posts!)

March 1- Feast of St. David (here is a wet on wet painting idea: First Grade Wet On Wet Painting For Saint David’s Day | The Parenting Passageway)

March 20- Spring Equinox (Try this back post: Celebrations of Spring in the Waldorf Home | The Parenting Passageway)

March 25- Feast of The Annunciation

March 28- Palm Sunday

I am hunting ideas for Ideas for Easter Baskets | The Parenting Passageway – Easter is Sunday, April 4th this year! I will be sending my oldest her Easter basket at university!

The Ever Shifting Homeschool Round Up-

Child #1 – is at an out of state university. No more homeschooling!

Child #2 – is technically and legally a homeschool student but is enrolled at a four day a week hybrid program for this 10th grade year, so I don’t feel like I am doing much there.

Child #3 – homeschooled fifth grader! We are in our North American Geography Block, and still have a Greek Myths block and Botany to go. We hope to end our school year in May! It has been a nice year together at home.

One thing I often think about is that original idea of Waldorf Education – goodness, beauty, truth (and yes, I put it that way because it corresponds to ages 0-7, 7-14, and 14-21) or to think about hands, heart, and head (yes, put in that order on purpose). Ralph Waldo Emerson is probably the best American representative for this model with his ideas of imagination, inspiration, and intellect. These simple, aligned ideas can help guide so much of the way we educate and parent our children. There are times and seasons for all things.

Planning ahead for homeschooling: In the fall, we will have an 11th grader and a 6th grader. I am not certain what this will look like for sure yet, but I have some ideas percolating for sixth grade.

Fun Around the Home

Well, packing, packing and more packing. More to come on that in April! Something beautiful is coming.

Spring is the time of letting go of the material objects in our home that don’t serve us any longer, and for spring cleaner and eating in accordance with that impulse of spring with lighter and brighter foods.

Springtime Renewal –

Some ideas for Renewal, looking back when my children were younger. If you have young children, you will enjoy this series!

Renewal: Staying Home | The Parenting Passageway

Renewal: Mission Statements | The Parenting Passageway

Renewal: Personal Development | The Parenting Passageway (as a parent)

Renewal: Relationship With Your Spouse | The Parenting Passageway

Renewal: Computer Time | The Parenting Passageway

Renewal: Commit Yourself to Gentle Discipline | The Parenting Passageway

Renewal: Rhythm | The Parenting Passageway

I hope you find those as fun to re-read as I did. It’s so fun to look back and see that snapshot of where life was, and to commit myself to renewal in these areas again.

How is March going for you?

Much love and many blessings,

Carrie