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KauaiCatholic
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Joined: April 25 2009
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| Posted: April 29 2009 at 2:08pm | IP Logged
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CLANGING RESONATION HERE! and wow, what an eye-opener it is to hear — as I wallow in the option neurosis of these early years — from all of you with so much experience. thank you for sharing ... you're giving me a sense of hope and a reminder to not beat myself up so much.
blessings on you! 
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LLMom
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| Posted: April 29 2009 at 3:36pm | IP Logged
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stellamaris wrote:
My college psychology professor once said, "Option leads to neurosis." It's stuck with me all these years, I think, because it is true. There are so many options for teaching our children that it can create confusion. I have thought about this a lot. Why do I choose one course of study, and then, when a new catalog or new information comes along, feel I have to try the new way? I have concluded that there are a few underlying misconceptions that are getting in my way, preventing me from focusing and being content with ONE plan:
1. I'm afraid of failure If I don't have the right curriculum, I will fail as a mom and teacher and utterly ruin my children's lives. Response: Children learn under many different systems; a loving environment is more important than a fancy curriculum. It would be really over-inflating the importance of the curriculum to think it could ruin their lives, especially when so many different books and methods have been successful over the ages.
2. The perfect curriculum choices will make my life perfect Somehow I always fall for this one-the right books will magically solve all my problems. This is an extension of our generally materialistic culture that looks for the answers to life in that which can be purchased. Response: The only place that is perfect is heaven, the only perfect Parent is our heavenly Father, the true solutions to our troubles are found in prayer.
3.The right curriculum choice will compensate for my own lack of virtue If only! Sometimes I feel oppressed by my lack of consistent good habits, and then I turn to new/different curriculum choices thinking they will somehow make my days more orderly, serene, and productive. Actually, as you commented above, it only leads to confusion and discouragement, which now that I think of it should alert us right away to the source of these temptations. God is never the author of confusion. It's a kind of spiritual trap. Response: There's no substitute for self-discipline (bummer!), including the self-discipline necessary to stick with a curriculum that is working reasonably well.
Well, I don't know if any of this resonates with you all, but it's just what's been on my mind of late. |
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Caroline,
this is a keeper. Thanks for the reminder.
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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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Bethany
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| Posted: April 29 2009 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Caroline!!! I needed to hear that. I KNOW that too many options in anything can begin to paralyze me and lead to indecision and exasperation.
I so want orderly, serene, and productive days and you tell me the right curriculum won't do that  . Well, I guess I just need to make a decision and stick with it.
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Bethany
Wife to Mike, Mommy to Amelia (6/02), Sarah (10/03), Martha Grace (10/05), Rebecca Anne (12/07), Laura Catherine (3/10) and Reed Michael 7/4/14.
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: April 29 2009 at 10:11pm | IP Logged
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Yes, thank you Caroline! Your post and the Kim's blog post linked by Brenda (and then Rebecca's post linked in Kim's blog) have really set me free in my thinking! I finally think I can let go of my paralysis and just make a decision.
I think the "seeking perfection in a curriculum" part is me! I remain convinced after 13 years of homeschooling that there is something perfect out there that will make everything work out just. 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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amyable
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| Posted: April 30 2009 at 7:02am | IP Logged
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stellamaris wrote:
| "Option leads to neurosis." |
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This is so true with me - even in every day matters like when one kid asks if they can work on their "novel" when I thought they would be doing history... they're both good! What to do, what to do...
stellamaris wrote:
1. I'm afraid of failure ...
2. The perfect curriculum choices will make my life perfect ...
3.The right curriculum choice will compensate for my own lack of virtue ... |
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You mean these aren't true?? Picture me with my fingers in my ears singing lalalalalalala  You ladies are bursting my bubble. 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: not wanting/able to plan anymore
