I feel a little lost. I've made my decisions about what to use next year and ...

[MeganP]

and now I have nothing to research. If I start researching new things I'll start second guessing my decisions. There is great relief when I finally decide what I think would work for us, but there's also that feeling of being at loose ends. I won't see any of the materials until July so I can't go through them and plan how I'm going to use them. Hmpf.

Anyone else ever feel this way, or am I the only weird one?

[Melinda]

I think if I was ever happy with my schedule, I might feel that way...haha

If you need a project, feel free to look at my schedule I posted earlier. Maybe you can figure out what I should cut. :)

Seriously though, sorry you're feeling at a standstill. Hope the materials come quickly and are perfect for your family!

[lotsofpumpkins]

I totally know what you mean! I love to research curriculum, but it's a dangerous thing. I found that I am very susceptible to "grass is greener" syndrome! I'm trying to stay off the boards as much, but that's hard when I'm trying to sell things.

I'm trying to be content with what has already been decided. Instead, I'm already thinking about what I want to start using a full year from now. I figure that way I can make sure I'm saving enough money each month to put towards it.

My dh and I are wanting to spend more time together reading books to each other and discussing. If he stops watching so much TV and I stop spending so much time online researching curriculum, then I'm sure our relationship will benefit. So, if you are wondering what to do with your time if you aren't online so much, there's an idea. Plus I'm trying to spend some time looking through the upcoming books so I'm more organized when I go to actually teach them to the children.

[amtmcm]

I have the next 5 years planned out (as many on this forum have done) and I keep tweeking it. But I'm trying to have self control and not change my plans for the upcoming year. But it's sooooo hard! In fact I'm thinking of posting a question about my plans and what I'm second guessing.

You're not alone....

[MeganP]

I think if I was ever happy with my schedule, I might feel that way...haha

If you need a project, feel free to look at my schedule I posted earlier. Maybe you can figure out what I should cut. :)

Seriously though, sorry you're feeling at a standstill. Hope the materials come quickly and are perfect for your family!


LOL I was posting a response to you while you were posting a response to me. :001_smile:

[shanvan]

I've found I'm very good at second guessing though, so that sometimes occupies my brain and my time!:lol:

Seriously, when I am done with all the curriculum research I start looking at our schedule to see what I can do to refine it. I also look at character goals to see what needs to be worked on and brainstorm ways to approach them (I pray about these and spend time in the Word too). Rethinking chores and how to handle them is another item on my to do list to streamline homeschooling.

Or.....if I give myself a firm talking to, I will just take some time for myself: read (I mean for fun, not research!), write, garden, draw...do whatever. Sometimes a nice break from the homeschool obsession is a good thing. I have to remind myself of that or I forget!

[3blessingmom]

Oh, simple - just start planning for the next year!:001_smile::001_huh::lol:

.....I spent *I don't know how long* planning the unit I just started Monday.....and by Tuesday I was tossing around ideas in my head over *what's next*.....I rationalize it ALL by thinking that I am preparing for my children's education when in reality I am often avoiding housework:tongue_smilie:


btw - I am completely guilty of taking out little planner pages while the kids were playing outside today so I can take notes over what currics might fit 6-12mo from now......Planning is just part of my DAY!:lol:

[amtmcm]

.....I rationalize it ALL by thinking that I am preparing for my children's education when in reality I am often avoiding housework:tongue_smilie:



I'm LOL! But I showed it to my DH & he's not laughing. Poor guy....

[MeganP]

I start looking at our schedule to see what I can do to refine it. I also look at character goals to see what needs to be worked on and brainstorm ways to approach them (I pray about these and spend time in the Word too). Rethinking chores and how to handle them is another item on my to do list to streamline homeschooling.

Or.....if I give myself a firm talking to, I will just take some time for myself: read (I mean for fun, not research!), write, garden, draw...do whatever. Sometimes a nice break from the homeschool obsession is a good thing. I have to remind myself of that or I forget!

These are some very good ideas. Thanks! :001_smile:

[Karen in CO]

Is to get the list of books you are thinking of having your high schooler read and start reading them. Really. There will not be nearly enough time to read them all when you have one or more in high school. Moms start to freak out when those big, deep books start to arrive. Many have never read the books they dream of having their kids read. Read them now. Check them out from the library. Get to know them. They won't be nearly as scary once you have tackled a few.

[specialmama]

Is to get the list of books you are thinking of having your high schooler read and start reading them. Really. There will not be nearly enough time to read them all when you have one or more in high school. Moms start to freak out when those big, deep books start to arrive. Many have never read the books they dream of having their kids read. Read them now. Check them out from the library. Get to know them. They won't be nearly as scary once you have tackled a few.

:iagree:

[kwiech]

Yes, I know how you feel. I'm feeling that way too :)

[Janice in NJ]

Put legs to this one. This is VERY good advice! :001_smile:

Peace,
Janice

Enjoy your little people
Enjoy your journey

[Alte Veste Academy]

Is to get the list of books you are thinking of having your high schooler read and start reading them.

This is GREAT advice. I read this same advice from you in a thread a few months ago and loved it then as much as I do now. It's just so darn sensible. :001_smile:

As an added benefit, this advice has saved me from going overboard with history for my kids. I was never a history lover but the more I read in planning, the more I'm pulled into it. Fascinating stuff! Where have you been all my life, history!? :lol: (Well, I know where you were...taught by the high school football coach...but I digress...) Now, instead of heaping more history onto the kids to satisfy MY craving for it, I'm giving them what's reasonable for their ages while I read some nice grown-up books myself. The knowledge will come in handy in the future and the enjoyment has helped me back off from shoving too much information down the kids' throats.

[Aurelia]

and now I have nothing to research. If I start researching new things I'll start second guessing my decisions. There is great relief when I finally decide what I think would work for us, but there's also that feeling of being at loose ends. I won't see any of the materials until July so I can't go through them and plan how I'm going to use them. Hmpf.

Anyone else ever feel this way, or am I the only weird one?


I do. Then I start planning for the year after next! <insert maniacal laughter> It's never to early to start planning, right?:w00t:

[tinkgumby]

Now, instead of heaping more history onto the kids to satisfy MY craving for it

Woah. Talk about a deep insight. (I'm being serious, not sarcastic!) When I read this, a light bulb went off in my head and I realized that I have this tendency myself! Hmm . . . guess I should take some of that advice, too! :001_smile:

[sagira]

and now I have nothing to research. If I start researching new things I'll start second guessing my decisions. There is great relief when I finally decide what I think would work for us, but there's also that feeling of being at loose ends. I won't see any of the materials until July so I can't go through them and plan how I'm going to use them. Hmpf.

Anyone else ever feel this way, or am I the only weird one?

I feel exactly like this, except that I keep tweaking, re-tweaking and wrestling with the schedule :D After all, what else is there to do? I also posted things for people to critique my year's materials -- now I have something to do as I listen to the voices of wisdom! Would you believe I had our First Year materials planned out when ds was 3?? :lol:

Turns out I didn't have to change too much, I had a good hunch on what ds would like and thrive on.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I move on to planning something else. I start the kids on new chore lists over summer break, so I need to get cracking on those. I have some spring cleaning I'd like to do. I plan out the kids assigned reading myself, so I can go ahead and start reading library books to see which I want to use and estimate how long they will take. I also try to buy stuff used so it takes me a few minutes a day to check the various used curriculum boards looking for what I want.

[MeganP]

Is to get the list of books you are thinking of having your high schooler read and start reading them. Really. There will not be nearly enough time to read them all when you have one or more in high school. Moms start to freak out when those big, deep books start to arrive. Many have never read the books they dream of having their kids read. Read them now. Check them out from the library. Get to know them. They won't be nearly as scary once you have tackled a few.

Ohhh, another great idea! Thanks.

[profmom]

Or I could put you to work researching and making decisions for me! :D There are a couple of areas where I can't seem to make a decision, and, surprisingly, I'm getting tired of thinking about and researching them.

(However, Karen's advice sounds very wise!)

[Stephanie/MO]

...as soon as MY plan is perfected...child A or B decides that THIS book is definetly not for him or her. Grrr....
At some point, you must have peace and say, "This is it!...at least for 4-6 months:001_huh:

Blessings,
Stephanie

[KRG]

I obsess and research, make a decision, scratch that, make another decision, scratch that one and then finally purchase it. Then I'm done. I won't start obsessing/researching again until January :D I love to browse curricula but once I purchase that's it...no more looking until January.

[Sasharowan]

:iagree:

I totally understand where you are at. But you have more willpower than I do. I keep looking at stuff since we don't have the money to get next year's books yet and have changed my mind a few times.

[Wendy B.]

Is to get the list of books you are thinking of having your high schooler read and start reading them. Really. There will not be nearly enough time to read them all when you have one or more in high school. Moms start to freak out when those big, deep books start to arrive. Many have never read the books they dream of having their kids read. Read them now. Check them out from the library. Get to know them. They won't be nearly as scary once you have tackled a few.
:iagree:

Those years sure go by fast don't they?

I won't have a highschooler to work with next year.:crying: I'm going to miss all those great discussions.