Knights Becoming and a Lady in Waiting

Fighting Curriculum Envy

Okay, we all do it.  I do it all the time.  You've probably done it.  My poor friend Trish is currently agonizing over it:  curriculum envy.

Now let's take a step back and define this sucker.  I'm not talking about when you have something that is definitely not working (like Saxon math didn't work for my oldest son) and you go looking for something that works better (in this case, Singapore math).  That's just looking for your niche in homeschooling.

No, this is when you've found something that works perfectly fine for your family, but you're browsing through a catalog (or reading someone's blog) and you hear about something that sounds so much better.  This happened to me at my last (and only, so far) homeschool convention.  I've been pretty happy with how we do most of our social sciences and overall themes.  I have fun with them, truth be told.  But when I got to the vendor hall... *swoon!*.  There was My Father's World.  There was Mystery of History.  There was Sonlight.  There was Tapestry of Grace.  The list went on... and on... and on.  Not only were they all wonderful, but they were all so obviously more complete than what I was doing.  What if I missed something?!  What if my children couldn't perfectly parse a Latin verb by the ripe age of nine?  What if we only learned one foreign language in the house and art was more squiggles and crayons than Impressionism and watercolors?  What if... what if... what if...?!!

Okay, stop right there.  Just stop.  Seriously, I want you to consider NOT reading any homeschooling magazines or catalogues until you've prayed first.  Not because they are inherently evil (Gena might expel me or something if I started saying that!).  Not because the materials they sell are of poor quality (although occasionally there might be something that's not as good of quality as others).  Not because anything in there is necessarily contrary to the Bible (although some of that exists, too).  Stop and pray because you are entering the covet-zone.

I was listening to the radio yesterday and I heard a story about how companies went into third-world nations and hired workers because they were much cheaper than people in their own country.  Work went well; the workers worked very hard.  Then pay day came.  The next day, NO ONE showed up for work.  Second day, no one.  Third day... you got it... no one showed up.

The manager for the company went to the tribal leader and asked what was going on.  Turns out when all those people got their $500 checks, they had enough to live on for a year.  They could provide food, clothing, and basic necessities.  So they stopped working.

The company was in a quandry.  They needed their cheap labor, but the laborers didn't need them.

Someone in marketing came up with a great idea.  They distributed mail-order catalogues to everyone in the village.

The next day... they had a full labor force.  The villagers had suddenly discovered all the things they "needed" and had to have more money for, so they went back to work.

I think a lot of times we homeschoolers do that.  We're doing just fine with what we're using, but we see "latest" or "best" or hear a glowing review and think we must be missing out on something.

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:31-33

So the next time you're going to look at a homeschooling catalogue, read a homeschooling magazine, or come across a review in a homeschooling blog, STOP.  Pray first, then read on with discernment.  Is something wrong in your homeschool?  If not... do not worry.  God is looking out for you, even in homeschooling.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (emphasis mine)

Exodus 20:17

This is a GREAT post

8:26 PM, Aug. 26, 2006 .. Posted by PreschoolersandPeace

And especially as I begin the school year with so many students, so much curriculum.

Thanks-
Kendra

Convicted...

9:18 PM, Aug. 26, 2006 .. Posted by tallenmomof5

Ouch, that's good!
Sonlight catalogues and all others in this house are hitting the trash.
Thanks for shaking me out of my Sonlight blurred Vision problems.
I was warned not to even look, I should've just listened!
I already had a sneaking suspicion that homeschool conventions and curriculum fairs were no place for little ole indecisive me...now I know for sure.

Oh, and even if Tossed has been completely tossed, I still love ya!

Me again Marge...

11:23 PM, Aug. 26, 2006 .. Posted by tallenmomof5

Just caught your comment about the contest.
When I read my entry to my dh he says,"Huh. So *that's* what you're using?"
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
When I read him your's he cracked up! (as did I)
Next morning when I tell him I won, he goes, "But what about that lady with the dog peeing on the cake?!"

We're enjoying the cookbook and kid sized kitchen tools I spent my prize on...not that I'm rubbing it in or anything. hee,hee,hee!

Wow!

12:14 AM, Aug. 27, 2006 .. Posted by jaminacema

That story about the Villagers will stick with me forever! I get so everwhelmed with out American commercializim. I cannot believe some of the stuff American's will work for and then have no time to their kids! Thanks for this reminder not to make the same mistake with homeschool goodies. Gotta keep reviewing that 10th Commandment!

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12:54 AM, Aug. 27, 2006 .. Posted by nsremom

If you don't mind I'm going to link to this post. Spot on sister!

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10:30 PM, Aug. 28, 2006 .. Posted by DandelionSeeds

OUCH!!!! What'd ya have to go and do that for?? tee hee... Wonderful post and thanks for the reminder!

I was just stopping by to ask if you could please pass the word about the "Labor in Love" 30-Day Encouragement Challenge (from Revive Our Hearts) that we're doing beginning Sept. 4th? It would be great to have as many women as possible doing this (and I'm sure the husbands wouldn't mind either!)

In Him,
Amy

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11:17 PM, Aug. 28, 2006 .. Posted by stillgrowing

Yes, I notice that there is so much of "What are you using?" and "Should I be using that?" and the tons and tons and tons of curriculum some of my friends have......I have always had a mortal fear of curriculum catalogs and conventions, no idea why! You took the words right out of my mouth when you alluded to "if it's not broke, don't fix it." The curriculum we use here in our house is one we have been using for 6 years now, and it really works for us and I love it. Enough said. Thanks for exposing this problem, and thanks for turning us all to prayer!

I am going to add you to my friends list, as my real life friends nsremom, duckygirl, and grace4gayle have you on their list......please come visit my blog sometime soon, when you have "free time".........LAUGH! Leanne