Sometimes its OK to Admit Defeat

I find there are two extremes in the homeschooling world: Parents who are constantly changing curriculum, looking for the "next best thing" and lured from one thing to the next, and then parents who pick something their first year into homeschooling and stick with it devotedly... even if it isn't really doing the job it needs to within their homeschool - they picked it, and they're keeping it.

While I like to peek at the latest and greatest, and am often tempted, I tend to be more one of those "devoted" types. This past year, after using My Father's World from K-3rd grade, I had to admit to myself that it wasn't exactly all that I was hoping it to be for our family. It was a very hard revelation for me. I know something was out of whack, but I couldn't figure out what to do about it. MFW is what I liked from the onset of our homeschooling, and it was... safe. I know what to expect from it, I know what I like and don't like, etc. But I didn't feel like we were "thriving" and I was scared to take a leap into something different. But, after much prayer and discussion with Michael, I went ahead and made the switch to Sonlight.

Another "revelation" has occurred to me regarding a homeschool product I've been using since the beginning. We love Apologia Science, however, I am not so good at the notebooking aspect. Thinking that lapbooking would be a lot more interesting and hands-on than notebooking, I've used Live N' Learn Press' "Learn N' Folders" for both Astronomy and Botany. *I* love them! I think they're fun and a great way to help the boys recall what we've discussed in each lesson. However... the boys, not so much.

I'm not the kind of mom that at the first complaint from my child I instantly adjust things to make life easier and more fun for them. Nosiree! Life isn't all about fun, and sticking things out even when they're not "fun" is an important character trait, in my opinion. However, we have tried lapbooking for 3 years now... and it just isn't working. Much to my disappointment. But homeschooling isn't all about ME, now is it?

So, in another moment of revelation and reevaluation, I've realized... you know, we really don't need to do the lapbooks. There won't be a huge gap in their education without them, and as long as I work on their narration skills, I'll know that they're learning and retaining things I'm teaching them. We've done Science all week without them and its much more relaxed and enjoyable, even for me!

I wrote all of this out not to bash the lapbooks or MFW, (I think both are WONDERFUL companies and products, just not the right fit for us) but just to point out that it is OK to change your mind about something you thought or hoped would work perfectly in your homeschool but just isn't. While you wouldn't want to swing to the other extreme of changing curricula every semester, it is important every so often to really evaluate where your sticky points may be, and what could be done to improve them. Sometimes its just an attitude change, but sometimes true, genuine change is what's needed. And that's OK. That's the beauty and freedom of homeschooling - we're not stuck in a curriculum box. We are blessed to have choices, and to be able to modify things so that they do work for our family.