Just Some Things Before We Go

The girls and I are heading out of town this morning (in the rain) for a few days. There will be (*GASP*) no internet connection where we are going. Well, actually there is one aunt with internet connection, but she really doesn't like it. She has learned to check her e-mail and that is about it. Maybe I can sneak over there to check mine. A few things before we go:

• I finally ordered To Train Up a Child. I don't know why I hesitated to order this book for so long. Probably because I read some of the controversy over it. Or maybe because when I first heard about it, I only had an ultra-compliant 5 year old and a 1 year old, who had not yet shown her true personality! I am glad I got it. I finished reading it last night. Now we have some work to do. I was very convicted about how I had been handling some things. Also, I finally understand about tying "strings of fellowship" with your children. The whole picture is starting to come together. I hope to see the fruit of all this soon, but I'm afraid 3 days with grandparents, aunts, great-aunts, and cousins is probably not the best training ground!
• Also, I am having this little dilema over homeschooling. When I first started reading about homeschooling over a year ago, every book was terribly slanted towards unschooling. Curriculum is evil and all that. But time spent on a Yahoo group that I am a part of, as well as blogs I've read, convinced me that there are lots of people who use curriculum and it's OK. I know there are different methods, but to read most of these books you would think that no one ever sat their child down at the kitchen table to work. I don't plan to spend every waking minute at the table. I know that learning happens in lots of ways and that's the beauty of homeschooling. I respect the Pearl family and when I read their take on homeschooling, I understand what they are saying. But my daughter and I, we both love school. I'm not saying I loved public school--I am very glad she is no longer there--but we love school supplies and workbooks and crisp, clean writing paper, etc. Sitting down to do lessons is not a terrible experience for her. I know, I know. You are all going to say that we have to find what works best for our family. And I know we will.
• Lastly, can training and teaching at home override other influences? Say your children are exposed every week to something you do not agree with. If you teach them at home what you believe, will it all turn out OK? Or will the influence of seeing the wrong thing every week be too strong of a force?

See you in a few days!