If you are like me you collect homeschool catalogs like they were this year’s hottest news. I love the idea of something done for you. The glossy pictures of adventure tales and proper writing technique. What to do and when. Sigh…so little time, so little budget. Accruing curriculum is a famously difficult hobby to avoid if you are a homeschooling family. There are enough amazing ideas to fill 3 lifetimes of being a student growing up.
But…. the question is: are these more for me or for my kids? There are some interesting dialogues that go on in my mind as I flip through the latest catalog. Asking these questions can help pull me back to the reality of life and contentment with less. Do you see yourself in any of these scenarios?
Contentment and the Catalogs Comparison Game
I know that more times then not, I feel a certain discontentment and inadequacy growing with each flip of a catalog page. The inner dialogue goes along the lines of “a look at the Jones’ monologue, “Look at what they are doing, are WE doing enough?” We have tried multiple boxed curriculum sets, spine curriculum, eclectic mixes of books and styles, and even the minimalist genre.
What I find is a pattern of a shiny new book arriving with a recommended schedule. Oh, the excitement of being so organized and knowing exactly what we should be doing on any particular day. Is getting this new curriculum going to add so much more to our lives than we already have and just don’t follow through and DO?
Individuality and the Boxed Set from the Homeschool Catalogs
Many people often think of homeschoolers as choosing this way of life because of fear of the world. But in reality, deep down, there lives a rebel in the core of many a homeschooling parent.
- The zeal to do things outside of the box
- To go by a different drummer and beat
- Learn in more interesting and inspiring ways
- We often have goals of inspiring our children to aspire to greater heights in non-traditional jobs and settings
So, the question is– what happens to that zest and uniqueness if I go and buy this book or “curriculum” to fill the “educational” needs? My fear of actually being different (not the fear of the world but the fear of being different then the world) seems to instantly put a capper on that zest. We suddenly find ourselves wanting to conform and “be” like everyone else. Do the “right” subject in the right grade to keep up with exactly what the public school system is doing. Does spending money on this curriculum align with what our values and goals are?
Direction and Accountability
Hence, ignoring the true intuition and knowledge of who my children really are and what God may be leading them to do gets swept to the backstage crew. There is nothing wrong with following curriculum, spine books, boxed sets at all. They are useful and provide a certain accountability. I have followed and made use of several over the years and have found books that I have loved along the way. But, having that beautiful schedule all planned out for me in black and white– when was the last time I asked God what He would have me do today, this month, this year?
Hygge in the Homeschool
Is there any time to deviate from the schedule? Will one unplanned trip to town throw the whole thing off and spiral the schedule into utter chaos? Let alone take a different rabbit trail that is led by the Holy Spirit impressing on me or one of my children. Will diving into this new curriculum promote peace and tranquility in the home? Less hectic-ness and more relationship?
Still…
Don’t worry, I almost do a little happy dance whenever there is a shiny new glossy catalog in the mail and will always have visions of grandeur whenever I slowly look through all the beautifully laid out pages. It’s ok to use what works for your family’s needs but make sure that what you are buying will have room to allow yourself to adapt. Not just rush to check off the boxes for the day. Yes, I am speaking to myself here on that one. Below, are a few of my favorite catalogs that have helped me along in our journey of finding out what’s what’s and to get started:
- Sonlight
- Heart of Dakota
- Timberdoodle
- Rainbow Resources
- Online: Simplycharlottemason
- Online: Lamp and Light Homeschool
- Online: Christianbooks.com
