Our Family

Brenda

I know what you're thinking. That girl is just way too young to be running this project. Actually, it's about 1962 and I'm four years old. I'm decked out in my favorite plaid dress, standing just outside of our apartment on the beach in Provincetown on Cape Cod.

Flash forward 45 or so years.

Pretty much the same face. Way different hairdo.

I am the founder of Waldorf Family Network. I am also a Licensed Certified Social Worker, a Reiki Master, and a writer. My formal training includes an undergraduate degree in Health Education, a Masters degree in Social Work with specialized training with groups, and doctoral work in Natural Health.

But my informal training is much more interesting. I consider being a mother and a homemaker the foundation and departure point for my true destiny work.

My past work experiences are varied, from clinical work with individuals and groups to community service in a barrio in Mexico. I've done a whole lot of program planning - from small groups to big honkin' expos - and founded a nonprofit organization. For about 8 years, I worked in private practice as a Reiki Master and the director of a wellness center. I've taught meditation classes in a Buddhist monastery. I've facilitated various workshops and retreats on topics including energy medicine and meditation at places like Harvard School of Medicine, Boston University, and select retreat centers.

I've also been known to attend a Grateful Dead concert or two in my time. Little did I know that my penchant for plaid would eventually give way to tie-dye.

I have been chewing on the indications of Rudolf Steiner since about 1997 when our daughter entered a Waldorf nursery class. Our family was part of a Waldorf school community for a total of 4 years before we decided to homeschool. I was fortunate to discover the Chiron Summer Curriculum Intensives in Toronto in 2001, and have been attending each year since. Further intrigued by Steiner's work, I completed a two-year Foundation Studies program in 2005. In 2006, I joined the faculty at Chiron.

In a nutshell, I've had the pleasure of hanging out with some very talented and gifted teachers and parents over the years. What a blessing. What a long, strange trip, indeed.

I continue to remain at home with our children - homeschooling, writing, and developing different projects. I have written articles about Waldorf homeschooling and other topics, that have been published online, as well as in a variety of newspapers and magazines. Most recently, I have contributed to a book about Waldorf education. I have facilitated workshops about Waldorf homeschooling for various groups, including as a conference guest speaker, at local libraries, and to numerous initiatives. Over the past seven years I have been part of a community of homeschooling families who meet on a regular basis for socialization, as well as handwork, festival celebrations, and to tackle various aspects of the Waldorf curriculum together.

I look forward to continuing a life of service at Michaelmas Farm.

Joseph

This is Joseph, my husband. Yes, I know. He also looks a bit young. Here he appears to be busy trucking down a street in Somerville, Massachusetts as a tyke, circa 1960. (And don't even ask us what his father is doing in this picture. We still can't figure out if he's getting him out of the way of the traffic or pushing him into it.)

These days Joseph is busy trucking as a data base administrator for a local university. He has an undergraduate degree in Mathematics, and formal training in Community Organization. He enjoys progressive politics and environmental issues, as well as the outdoors. Joseph has taken on select lessons for both children, particularly in the areas of mathematics and science.

kids!

Carly and Samuel

These are our kids.

Samuel (age 11) plays recorder and cello. He is involved in children's theater, and is part of a local dance company. He loves to read, cook, play baseball, draw, knit, ski, and hang out with our animals. Sam is looking forward to getting involved with 4-H this year, and also working with some animals on our farm. He spent two years in an early childhood class at a Waldorf school before we started to homeschool.

Carly (age 14) is a fiddler and a dancer. Like Sam, she is also very involved in children's theater, and is part of a local dance company. Her favorite activities include reading, writing (stories, plays, poetry), singing, playing recorder, knitting, and skating. Carly edits a monthly newsletter for homeschoolers called Lily of the Valley which she founded when she was 9 years old. She is currently comtemplating the creation of a bakery-related community service project. Carly also spent two years in an early childhood class in a Waldorf school before we started to homeschool.

As a family, we like to do many different things together. Some of our favorite things to do include making music, playing board games, camping, cross-country skiing, and following our (hand over your heart, please) beloved Red Sox. We have organized select activities for the benefit of our local homeschooling community, including lantern walks, Advent Spirals, lectures, and workshops.

It gives us great joy to continue to move forward in the direction of serving others at Michaelmas Farm.

All are welcome!