You know you’ve been a child of Waldorf when…

Cam and Ben both attended the local Waldorf school through grade 8. Now they both attend a public high school. They have a special bond with their fellow alumni of the Waldorf school through which they obtained the following piece of writing

You know you’ve been a child of Waldorf when…

1. You know pencil shavings make everything prettier.
2. You rip your pants and instead of throwing them away, you whip out thread and a needle and fix them.
3. Faeries and gnomes were your childhood friends.
4. There’s no need to research the dating history of your boyfriend/girlfriend, you know everyone they’ve dated.
5. Knitting is not a just a new trend – you’ve done it since first grade.
6. You’ve made socks, hats, potholders, flute cases stuffed animals, and sewn your own clothes.
7. As you kiss your boyfriend/girlfriend, you realize it is like kissing a sibling… you break up.
8. It doesn’t seem weird to have the same teacher for eight years.
9. You can never escape your ex… they’ll probably date your best friend.
10. Tie-dye was part of your dress code as a child.
11. At least one of your woman teachers doesn’t shave.
12. You’ve dyed your hair an unnatural color at least once… or wondered what you would look like with purple hair.
13. You’ve held hands and skipped around a pole, and no one thought it was weird.
14. You’ve lived in a house without a TV at some point.
15. You can spell out words with your arms… no need for the finger.
16. You have eurythmy shoes lying around your house.
17. You’ve worn a eurythmy gown.
18. You know what eurythmy is.
19. You’ve had a crush on all the guys/girls in your class.
20. Everybody in the school knows if you ditch class, or break a rule or hookup with somebody.
21. You know not to breathe near the blue paint.
22. You can play a wooden recorder
23. You can never forget your embarrassing childhood – they chose a picture of you to go on the school brochure.
24. You didn’t have Barbies, or GI Joe; you had silks and wooden trucks.
25. You know all the bible stories even though you’ve never set foot inside a church
26. You wonder if Waldorf has an agreement with Volvo to only drive their cars.
27. Cheerleaders, football players and all things “public school” are not only scorned, but also feared.
28. You’ve been asked, “Isn’t that a cult” when you say you go to Waldorf.
29. The thought of main lesson book nights haunts you years after you graduate.
30. You’ve been in at least one Shakespeare play
31. You’ve used the words “Waldork” and “Waldorfian”.
32. You couldn’t wait to get out of there, but once you did you wanted to be back.
33. You didn’t know the pledge of allegiance, but “I do behold the world” and the Bell Ringing verse are permanently imprinted in your brain
34. You know in your heart that no matter how hard you try to escape, you will always be a child of Waldorf.
35. You know you’re a truehearted Waldorfian when beeswax is a main source of entertainment.
36. You know you’re a Waldorfian when you sound out words using eurythmy.
37. You can sing, dance, twirl a cane, play four instruments, draw, paint, recite poetry, and cite historical quotes from any period, but you nave no clue what a “test” is.
38. When learning those damn 15 minute long poems in main lesson, you realize they never actually leave your brain, no matter how much you try.
39. At least one kid in your class has lived in some other part of the country, has dreads, and plays “D&D” during your “snack time”.
40. You remember in your years from at least 1st through 5th grade having to take “walks” around the “block” no matter what the weather was like… rain, please, snow? Oh well, thunderstorm, okay we will narrow it down to seven blocks!
41. Something like having to finish a main lesson book still makes you cringe!
42. When you were in 9th grade sitting during lunch time thinking about every other school has off campus lunch, and you’re like dammit we are treated like kids… and then you sit and think, wait aren’t we in 9th grade???
43. When you say the word “butt” in handwork (knitting, sewing, etc. class) and get a detention and a parent conference.
44. When saying the morning verse or singing songs is like second nature.
45. When you have artwork for homework.
46. When you’ve done circus, blacksmithing, watercolor painting, and seats and solos. You can also speak both German and Spanish.
47. When “Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere! Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share!” Is not just a stupid Barney song for kids, it’s still considered a ritual by students and staff alike.
48. When people ask you about your classes and you tell them you are currently taking fencing, stained glass, and just returned from a 48 your solo and fast and yet this is perfectly normal.
49. When you and your friends get bored waiting at the bus stop you break out into 4-part harmony… in Latin!

So what are the "Morning Verses"?

Lower grades (1 - 3):
The sun, with loving light,
Makes bright for me each day.
The soul, with spirit power,
Gives strength unto my limbs.
In sunlight, shining clear,
I reverence, O God,
The strength of humankind
Which thou so graciously
Has planted in my soul,
That I with all my might
May love to work and learn.
From thee come light and strength,
To thee rise love and thanks.

Upper grades (4 - 8):
I do behold the world,
The sun, the stars, the stone,
The plants that live and grow,
The beasts that feel and live,
And man to spirit gives,
A dwelling in his soul.
I do behold the soul,
That living dwells in me,
God's spirit lives and moves,
In light of sun and soul,
In heights of world without,
In depths of soul within.
Spirit of God, to thee,
I seeking, turn myself,
That strength and grace and skill,
For learning and for work,
In me may live and grow.