Well its that time of year again.....

The homeschooling catalogs arrive....I get excited...because next year will be different than this year.  It will be more fun, exciting and entertaining for all.  The kids will look forward to school...they'll get up early everyday and eagerly be waiting to start.  They'll work hard, and complete everything neatly and understand new topics quickly.  They'll work together to solve problems they don't necessarily understand.  No more tears, just laughter and fun...

Ok now to wake up...NO I DON'T WANT TOO....

Every year the catalogs arrive.  Every year I pour over them.  I want to make the next year the best year.  Fix the problems we had last year, and the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that.  The problem is, every year, my kids don't change.  I may change the curriculum, but they still don't love school...Heck most days I don't love school.  Sure sometimes we get something new that just works and is an added bonus; but most of the time...not so much.  I have boxes and shelves full of curriculum that looked cool, that seemed so perfect....yet it still sits there.  Of course I can't get rid of it because the next child might use it...or I might finally have the time to focus on it....or I just feel guilty for wasting the money on it and selling it or worse throwing it out is a huge waste.   The problem with this logic is...it's a waste anyways because it isn't being used.  Whether I throw it out or stuff it on the shelf it isn't being useful.  The time to save would be before I purchased it.

I believe, or at least I have to believe, there is a perfect curriculum out there.  Something that will make the days go well, the kids like school and not be a heavy burden on the finances.   For anyone who homeschools, you've probably heard of Sonlight...its the catalog that gets me every year.  I pour over it...I drool over it.  I want it to work so badly.  But there are several problems that prevent me for purchasing it year after year....cost...time...topics.

But this year is different isn't it?  The kids are older..I will have more time...sure I'm working everyday for 2 hours, but they can do their seatwork then and I can sit and read with them for hours when I get home.  The house will be magically clean, lunch will be made, schoolwork will be done, kids will be in good moods and mom won't be tired.  But I really want this to work.  There are two cores I've wanted to do since the beginning and they are finally old enough....so do I take a chance and try it (blowing my entire budget in the process) or continue with the same old routine of the last 5 years....that is so depressing.