Detour ahead…
We jump in the car all excited for our journey. We have everything we need; the map, the snacks, the extra clothes and plenty of beverage. Off we go….
Lydia and Sam enjoying the shade. Bekah napping?
After a while, we feel a bit tired. Maybe a change of pace or scenery would be good. We stop to get out and stretch our legs. We notice a newer map. Wow, it shows a different way to go. Hmmm, maybe we should go this way. It looks like it will be faster, more scenic or just more fun!
Breaking news….Mr. Cuteness has some fuzz on his head. Guess what color it looks like?!!?!?
Back in the car with our new map and we are on our way. At first it is great. The sky is blue; the grass is green and no bumps in the road. We round the curve and bam! things aren’t looking so great anymore. We suddenly realize that we haven’t gotten as far as we thought. The new map that seemed so wonderful just had us going in circles. Why did we buy the new map? Why didn’t we just stay on the road we were on?
Are you wondering what in the world I’m talking about?
Homeschooling. When we began homeschooling we had a clear direction in site. We knew exactly where we wanted to go and how we were going to get there. For some crazy reason, I couldn’t be content with the road we were on and decided to get a new “map”. Let’s try this method or that curriculum. Now there is nothing wrong with finding that a new method works better or that a certain curriculum is a better fit for one of your children. I am not saying that at all. But when you allow yourself to be pulled away from the foundation, the core, of what you desire for your children, well that is bad. At least it is for us.
So many thoughts run through my head for this picture.
We have been talking about how we have veered off the path we set out no and how to rectify that. In the next few weeks, we are going to be working hard to our focus back. I have a few books that I’m going to read and some long-term planning to do. Since I blog mainly for me, I decided I’d keep a “journal” of sorts on here to help me flesh everything out. You have been warned!
We’ve been struggling with similar issues. I’m currently reading Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style and it is really putting a lot of focus & direction back in our purpose & goals for homeschooling. It’s a big book w/ lots to absorb so I’m going VERY slow to take it all in…very slow