I have been contemplating this topic since I read this thread. I was thinking about how I knew it was time to switch to MFW 2 years ago. We were using a totally different approach in curriculum. It worked well for our K and 1st years and then went down hill from there. It got to the point where there was absolutely no joy or excitement in our days - ever - not at the beginning of the year when everything is supposed to be new and fresh - not after taking a break for a few days - never. It was tears and frustration (both on my sons' part and mine) every day. I was getting frustrated and yelling every day. At first, I thought it was just me and my oldest ds. We are very much alike, and I thought that, plus the fact that he could be a complainer, was the problem. Then my 2nd ds, who is very easy going and compliant, began the complaining, frustration, tears, etc. Then I started really taking a closer look at what we were doing. The curriculum we were using was a "Christian" curriculum, but while there were verses to read and memorize in every subject, the Bible itself was a totally separate, and "extra" subject. It was not even considered one of the core subjects. I began to see that this was our major problem. There most certainly were other problems, but this, I saw as our major problem. Bible was not at our homeschooling core, our center. It was an add-on. An add-on we never got around to because we were so busy with the "core" subjects that at that point we were not even finishing. I began really seeking God in prayer, and He led me to MFW. I believe He put it in my path a year before I switched, but I was too stubborn to listen, until I was at my very wit's end and desperate.
Now we have our "burnout" days, but we can take a break, a breather, and come back refreshed. There certainly is a lot of excitement when we get our new year's curriculum. The kids' devour it all when we get it. Before, they did not even want to look at the curriculum when it came in. There was absolutely NO joy of learning, no hunger to learn. Also, I was seeing my kids turn away from me, anger and bitterness in them, and really the life sucked out of them. Homeschooling is supposed to bring us closer together as a family not divide us. It was a big eye opener for me. I could see myself losing them right before my eyes. I am so thankful God led us to MFW. I just wished I would have switched to it earlier, but I am here now.
Anyway, I would really spend time in prayer, asking God to show you from His perspective, what is going on. I know even now when we are beginning to drudge along and get draggy or having a bad attitude, I can usually diagnose the problem: We are not starting our day with prayer. I am really seeing how prayer is so pivotal in our homeschool. There have been many days that our day has been one battle after another. My eyes are being open to the fact that the enemy really is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He does not want us spending this time with our children pointing them to Christ and leading them to God's word. Many days it is a huge battle to get through our Bible reading, not because of the issues I described with the other curriculum, but just the oppression and one thing after another. This can wear me down, but when we turn to God in prayer (and many days, I stop right in the middle and say, "We need to pray") and then persevere, I see that we have such good discussion about it and that it is something that my boys need to hear and learn how to apply to their lives. This has always been a desire in my heart, that my children learn and know God's word and learn how to apply it to their lives today. MFW is really helping us do that.
Anyway, that is how I knew it was time for us to switch. I hate it got to that point, but it sure has made the change sweeter, and makes us all appreciate MFW so much more. When my dss are tempted to complain, sometimes (not every time, but sometimes) I remind them from whence we came, and it helps put it back in perspective. They both agree that this is soooooo much better.
1974girl wrote:I have only 2 weeks left in ECC. I may save it for July when it is so hot we can't do anything! I think I need a break.
I just wanted to say that we condensed the last 2 weeks of ECC. We checked out library books and read those and did a few hands-on things and called it done. We needed a break by that point as well.
HTH in some way.
Amy C.