Breaking Up is Hard to Do, or Homeschooling These Days

I was talking with a friend the other day about how each of our homeschool days were going. It's a new school year and we are both trying new things.

"I'm almost afraid to say it out loud . . . " she said, "but it's going REALLY well".

We laughed because both of us knew it was silly, but sometimes there is that internal fear that once something is spoken out loud, it will inevitably be jinxed.

We are having a really good start to our year. We are on our fourth week, and it just might be our best year, yet. All glory to God, but I will also say that the best decision I made this summer was breaking up with our math curriculum.

It wasn't working for us. Lessons took a ridiculous length of time to work through and were exasperating to both the child and myself. Our days revolved around math, language arts, and not much else, because who has energy to tackle history and science and all those things when your math curriculum is like a possessive boyfriend who is sucking all the life out of you? 

Letting go was strangely hard. I am a pick it and stick with it kind of person. It was "safe and secure" because it was such a respected program and covered EVERYTHING. But you know what? Switching to this new program has SET US FREE. We are actually covering other subjects thoroughly and the kids really enjoy doing math, now. Each lesson is taught via video and it is such fun to learn from this teacher.

Now we have time for very important things.

One of the lessons I'm learning in this homeschooling journey is that we who teach greatly need the community and support of other homeschool parents. I'm not in an official organization--yet, but have a sweet community of veterans and newbies to bounce questions and ideas and, yes, at times discouragement, frustration, and despair. That's how I found out about our current curriculum. Two of my friends were so assured and chill about their math programs, had a healthier balance in their days, and kept recommending it.

Homeschool friends, don't do it alone. Find community. Embrace social media if you are in an isolated place and don't be afraid to break up with that possessive boyfrie--er, curriculum if it isn't working for you.