Waldorf Matters … All Good Things Come To Those Who Wait.

Ms Lorraine Bresnahan is our Nursery teacher at Elmfield as well as leading our Stay and Play sessions. In our weekly blog series about key aspects of Steiner Waldorf education, Lorraine discusses the forgotten art of waiting …

All Good Things Come To Those Who Wait.

What do you think of this old proverb: what does it mean for you?

Recently, I have been re-reading “ The Breathing Circle” (learning through the movement of the natural breath) by Nell Smyth and before too long I was reminded of this “waiting” proverb.

Breathing in, breathing out, a moment to catch our breath and to find a rhythm.

The relevance of this for us all as human beings and within the scope of my work, the importance of a healthy breathing rhythm for the young child.

The world of embracing the present and living in the moment is a natural state for children, adults can learn from this and know that there is a time for everything, perhaps that all good things truly do come to those who wait.

We don’t however need to  “Wait for Godot”………… Or do we? 

There are the times when we lose focus and allow ourselves to be absorbed into the child’s world of dandelions ( ‘Wee the Beds’ ) as I remember calling them growing up in Liverpool; blowing the heads away , giving them on Mother’s Day to a lucky mum!!!; to the land of pond dipping where you might catch Vladimir’s boot. (I’m once again back on the banks of the Mersey. )

Or simply just floating around in a day dream, pottering from one thing to another.

Breathing in and out between activities.

Sitting still for long periods of time is an unhealthy, if not impossible task, for the young child who experiences everything through the body and wants to be active and living in the realm of “doing” in the big wide world. 

A world of adventure, discovery and fun and having a good laugh all contribute to and nourish the breath whilst all the time learning about goodness knows what? 

All the time breathing from one experience into another with a time for play, a time to rest and then to be active once again.

As I write, I am reminded of many images of breath, activity and waiting in the early years, my experiences with the children and relationships with others which relate to the breathing in and out rhythm. 

As I write, I am reminded of many images of breath, activity and waiting in the early years: my experiences with the children and relationships with others which relate to the breathing in and out rhythm. 

There are far too many to recall here perhaps another time; but I can make a start with a few of my thoughts and observations.

Anticipation and showing patience is a good example of the ‘In Breath’ and then when the thing actually happens this is when we experience the ‘Out Breath’.

In the course of a Nursery/Kindergarten morning we join together for a Ring time.

This period is primarily teacher led and gives an example of breathing in. 

Throughout the morning there will be opportunities for healthy breathing both in and out activities. Free play is a time when the children can enter into their own world and do their work of playing, making relationships and sense of how the world works and how to rub along with others, giving a perfect example of an out breath. 

In the course of the morning a balance of child led activity and adult input is apparent and if successful the subsequent harmony is evident for all to see.

We are all happy

During ring time it is often songs that bring anticipation of what is to come, these are especially joyful for the children.

          When all the cows were sleeping and the sun had gone to bed, 

          up jumped the scarecrow and this is what he said…… 

         “I’m  dingle dangle scarecrow with a flipping, floppy hat

          I can shake my hands like this and shake my feet like that”

I swear that it is possible to touch the physical anticipation of the moment the children are invited to jump up and dingle dangle their limbs; the balance of stillness and control ( in breath ) and then the springing up into the (out breath ) of outward action and freedom: then “Go to sleep,Go to sleep” and off we go again.

Even the most lively, exuberant  children relish waiting for the right time to break free!!!

There are many examples of moments like this during the morning  and I’m available for demonstrations and performances all at a very reasonable fee …

Come and ask me about “ The Seven Red Boots” a true lesson in anticipation and patience. Or “Roly Poly”: needs to be seen to be believed. The children never tire of it and experience the sense of waiting for the “right” moment when they can burst forth with excitement, movement and joy.

A wholesome development of both boundaries and less constrained activity.

All contributing towards the further deepening of a healthy breathing rhythm.

My task would not be fully completed if I failed to return to my waiting for good things to happen proverb

It originated! so I’m told, from a poem by Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie who wrote under the pseudonym Violet Fane.

Tout vient a qui sait attendre. Everything comes to those who wait.

Waiting for a desired outcome rather than rushing head first into something and risking the chance of blowing achieving anything . . . self control and moderation being key.

Abraham Lincoln, however, said “ Things may come to those who wait but only the things left by those who hustle.”

Are you a hustler or a waiter? Dominant on the in breath or out?

Or, like me, you are perfectly in balance?

As for poor old Vladimir and Estragon waiting in vain for Godot to show.

They discuss their miseries and even consider hanging themselves but yet they wait . . . Anticipating who this fella is and what he will bring and even though he never shows his face they are resolved to accept the situation and hope for him to put in an appearance.

There is for me a hopeful feeling of waiting for something to happen and what happens in the waiting period on a human level and also a fair dose of frustration in knowing that it won’t come to pass.

Of course, in the land of the absurd and waiting for Godot it seems the “In Breath” is dominant and yet the excitement in just waiting and anticipating is spine tingling……. but perhaps that’s just me?

Will I find the other boot in the depths of the river? 

We’ll have to wait and see…………..