When I step into a Waldorf classroom my body immediately relaxes and my breathing slows and deepens. It is like stepping into a sanctuary. The color palettes are calming, the rooms are orderly and usually smell of fresh bread. All the toys are hand-made of natural materials. I want sit down with my daughter and explore for hours.
Any day now we will hear if Nora was accepted into our Waldorf preschool of choice. I am bracing myself for disappointment. Here’s why: her age only qualifies her for the three day program. Kids in the three day program are not eligible for aftercare. We have no way of getting her from school to daycare and even if we did find a way, it’s too expensive to pay for five days of daycare plus three days of preschool. One of the things that led us to this school is the aftercare until 5:45pm. We didn’t know that it wasn’t available for Nora until we showed up for the interview. Picture jaw dropping and heart sinking.
The staff said they would look into letting her in the aftercare program, as she’s already in a five day program and therefore it wouldn’t be a big adjustment for her in terms of hours away from home. And it’s a much more low key environment than what she has now.
I know we will find a place for her in a Waldorf school. If not for this fall, then for the following. This is not make or break. There may be an option of starting her in the five day program early next year when she meets the age requirement of 3.8 years. I know all this, and try to be patient, knowing that a great place for Nora exists, she just can’t be there yet.