Homeschooling my kids is like a game of Catan.

It came to me this morning because we were ready to start school fifteen minutes early.  What happened? I asked myself.  Normally I am running late and we never start when we mean to.  What did I do differently this time?

I wasn’t sure and I’m still not able to come up with a specific technique that made this bizarrity occur.

What I do know is that when I play Catan, I never feel that I am getting ahead building settlements and cities fast enough.  I’m always plotting how to block someone else’s road, so I can get the Longest Road card.  I look ahead as far as I can, listing what resources I need to do the next three things on my wish list.

A few turns later, when I calculate other people’s victory points, and mine, we are usually neck and neck and running about 7 or 8.  I keep strategizing.  It really gets moving.  My strategy is working and I am seeing results.

Then, just when I have enough cities to rake in the resources–somebody wins.  And the game is over.