Storytime! This week’s oil change brought back memories of a hilarious incident during my last one.

I was chilling in the lobby, engrossed in a book, while a young couple sat nearby. Lost in my own world, I barely noticed another woman entering. Suddenly, the mechanic started calling out “Ford Escape” repeatedly. Confused, I realized that they were referring to my car. Or so I thought.

Turns out, it was the woman’s car. I don’t even own a Ford.

It got me thinking how others often help us to mix things up when they’re shouting something like this. Have you been on a message board or site where everyone is praising a curriculum? You’ve looked at it and it’s not a fit for the people in your house or your homeschool situation-ship? It’s like claiming the wrong car at the shop.

We pick the curriculum for a kid we wish we had only results in frustration or throwing it away early. Navigating the vast landscape of homeschooling is like embarking on a grand adventure. But let’s face it, along the way, we encounter challenges as big as a lion and as meek as a mouse. And sometimes, it’s those tiny hurdles that seem to be the last straw.

We’ve all fallen into the trap of believing that shiny, new curriculum is the ultimate solution to our educational woes. Guilty as charged, right? But here’s the reality check: there’s no magic formula that fits every homeschooling family perfectly. That shiny new program? It often falls short of our expectations.

Even those all-in-one curriculums with promises of online grading and maybe a free car (okay, wishful thinking!), have their drawbacks. Outdated materials, conflicting ideologies, and quizzes that are easy to cheat—modern homeschooling comes with its own set of challenges.

Education isn’t a straight path; it’s more like a winding road with unexpected turns and stunning views along the way. And guess what? Our kids don’t fit into neat little boxes. They’re unique individuals with their own ways of learning, interests, and quirks.

So, how do we navigate this homeschooling maze? It’s all about priorities. What truly matters to you? Is it deep understanding, character development, or letting your child’s passions lead the way? Find your compass and steer your homeschooling journey accordingly.

We’ve all heard the saying: high quality, high cost, or low effort—you can only pick two. It’s a tough decision, much like building a house or writing an epic novel. Both require deliberate choices, trade-offs, and a bit of wisdom.

So, which path will you choose, fellow homeschoolers? Will you prioritize quality, even if it means tightening the purse strings? Or will you opt for convenience, knowing that shortcuts come with their own consequences?

Whenever I’m considering a new curriculum, I like to run through this checklist:

1. What topic or subject am I planning to teach? Does this curriculum cover that?
2. Who’s learning? Does this material cater to their needs as a student? It’s different for my two boys, and even more so if we’re tackling a subject together.
3. Who’s doing the teaching? Usually, it’s me. Can the parent-led portion be done in 10-30 minutes? How much prep and modifications are required to make it work for us?
4. Why am I not using a curriculum already on my shelf? Is it because of the kids or my preferences?
5. Does this curriculum align with our long-term goals? Whether it’s college, a trade, or something else, this question, especially applies to electives but can also factor in with ELA and book studies.
6. Does this curriculum meet two out of three criteria: quality, price, and ease of use?

If the answer to questions 1 through 4 is no, then it’s a no-go. With both my boys, we usually narrow down our choices to 2-3 options and then watch videos or check out sample lessons online. Ultimately, they get the final say. It’s their education, after all!

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If we pick a curriculum for a kid we wish we had, we will only be left with frustration or trash. Ultimately spending more money and time finding and purchasing the better (less popular) curriculum eyed in the spring.

So, maybe double-check your model, and listen closely before making decisions, especially during the curriculum shopping season.