I almost made a big mistake for our next school year. I was letting my pride choose the curriculum our family should use for our next school year. Praise the Lord, my eyes were opened and disaster was averted. I stumbled upon homeschooling rather hap hazardly. The year before our oldesets started kindergarten, I would chide my best frined D, "I'm glad the Lord has called you to homeschooling and me to private schooling." After three weeks of private school, a tiny little seed that the Lord had planted when my daughter was three began to bloom. We became homeschoolers out of obediance and our lives have never been the same. I quickly threw togther my daughters kindergarten curriculum. I had purchased a Hooked on Phonics kit at Costco some months back and figured we'd follow that. As long as my daughter could read before first grade we'd consider it success. She did, and more. The next year with a newborn in our arms my husband and I attend the CHEA convention in a sleep deprived stuppor. After shushsing, rocking and bouncing the baby through the crowded isles of the overwhelming curruculum hall, we bought THE BOX. An all in one first grade kit! During that school year I read & researched my way into curriculum
confusion knowledge. I swore up & down I would never order THE BOX again. I was a living book for learning enthusiast. I found Charlotte Mason and an educational philosophy & ideals were created in my heart. The following school year I prayed over my curriculum choices. The Lord knows
my children his children better than I do and he knows me better than I
want to admit do, so I asked him to choose. There were times when I wasn't happy with his choice and times when I was thankful for and understood why he choose the way he had. Then came this current school year, my fourth. Hot headed, prideful, expericenced homeschooler that I am. I picked out
my curriculum, for
my children. An eclectic mix of the newest, most popular curriculum out there. Even some of the old traditional stuff thrown in for good measure. Ask the Lord for his opinon? No, I was too experienced for that. What a horrible year. I have been stressed and over burdened making my own lesson plans, making my own worksheets to replace ones that were hard to understand, trying to organize & teach everything while managing a home and a two year old bundle of
terror, energy joy, all while
forcing, coercing encouraging my children to stay on the path I had plotted for them - even if it was dark, chaotic and just plain loud due to Mommy's yelling. I started out my curriculum order for this coming school year the same as I did last year. Never again would I purchase a curriculum in a box. I knew what I wanted to teach, even if my son wouldn't be able to sit still while I did all the necessary read alouds. Hopefully my daughter wouldn't be held back to much because of her brothers immaturity to following along with the history and science curriculum I had chosen for us to work on together (therefore saving time because it's only one curriculum, not two). Oh, and the now three year old, what to do with him??? I know, we'll place him in front of Noggin and if he moves we'll get the duct tape - Just Kidding! Finally, I turned to the Lord and sought his guidance. I just can't be everything and do everything-and my kids need a good education. Oh and a loving Mommy that wants to be around them and they her. HE made a decision and I am excited about it, and at peace. Peace is good. Now I just have to figure out what to do with all my free time I have now that I am not researching curriculum & researching the best ways to organize our curriculum, etc. etc. etc.!!
PS -Oh, and yes-I bought THE BOX again. Actually, this time I bought two boxes. Fourth grade and second grade. Oh, and before I forget...I got hard drives with teachers teaching the lessons to go along with our boxes. Yes, Life is good.
PPS - I think I'll pursue hobbies again. That is hobbies other than curriculum researching & lesson planning.
