Sponsor Spotlight :: Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

Today we welcome Lory Widmer from Rhythm of the Home sponsor Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America to the blog with an interview to let you all get to know them better, as well as with a giveaway of their newest book, Tell Me a Story. Read on to find out more about WECAN, and to enter the giveaway for their wonderful collection of stories for young and old alike!

Tell us a bit about WECAN.

The mission of The Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) is to nurture a new impulse for working with the young child from pre-birth to age seven, based on an understanding of the healthy development of the child in body, soul and spirit. WECAN currently has almost 200 member schools, preschools, home programs, care centers, and teacher education institutes, in a diverse range of settings all over North America, as well as almost 600 individual members.

What inspired you to begin your work, and what keeps you motivated today?

When my child was about six months old, WECAN was looking for a new Managing Editor, and I was in need of part-time work that I could do at home. Through my connections to the local Waldorf school and teacher training institute I was asked if I was interested in the position, and I’ve been with them ever since.

What is most rewarding about being part of your organization?

I love that WECAN is a service-oriented organization that truly seeks to improve the lives of children and their families. There is so much joy, inspiration, and wisdom in Waldorf early childhood education and I feel privileged to be able to share it with others.

What are your hopes for WECAN for the future?

I hope that WECAN will continue to reach more and more people who are looking for what Waldorf education has to offer. I personally have benefited so much from this healing and nourishing impulse that I just want everybody to know about it

How do you make time to nurture yourself?

Before entering my current fields of work (motherhood and working for WECAN), I did a training in eurythmy, which is a very health-giving and enlivening art of movement. Working twice a week with a local group of other eurythmists gives me a chance to get away from my desk and have some artistic “breathing.”

What is one special object in your home that makes you smile, pause, or reflect?

Objects in our house are frequently rearranged in surprising ways by my six-year-old son — yesterday several stools, blocks, and chairs were assembled into a “motorcycle” that he used to take a journey in his imagination. There’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing him engaged in creative play.

What is one of your biggest challenges in your everyday life and how are you coping?

I have so many ideas for things I would like to try out, learn, or accomplish that it’s easy to not get around to any of them. I’m trying to set reasonable goals and follow through — for example, after several years in the “I should do that” realm I’m finally self-publishing a booklet of bread recipes and tips as a fundraiser for my church. Having the willpower to get something out of my head and into the real world can be challenging, but it’s very satisfying when it happens.

Thanks to Lory for sharing here today!  To enter to win a copy of the newest WECAN publication, Tell Me a Story, please leave a comment on this post. We will choose a winner next Friday, February 8th, 2013 and notify them via email.

Thanks again, WECAN!