Homeschool Curriculum

I've done a lot of research on homeschool curriculum and a lot of experimenting on my poor kids with different approaches. Probably a lot more than necessary.
Here are some of my thoughts for anyone who might be interested.
Robinson self-directed curriculum is interesting with its emphasis on math and reading out of print books. Though I didn't order the program, I read about it and was reminded that it's possible to get too complicated and feel like you have to do too much facilitating. At the end of the day strong math, writing, and reading is most essential. If you can read, comprehend, express yourself, follow mathematical organizational patterns, you can absorb other info fairly readily, I think.
Of course, as you can, you'd want to add to these pursuits. For example, learning a second language and some techniques of art and music from an early age is valuable, especially for a kid who has a bent this direction. I think homeschooling can help you be more sensitive to your children's natural proclivities and nurture them.
Classical approaches give kids a more global perspective, teaching world history, and linguistics. The reading, history, and language books put out by Peace Hill Press are great, particularly the phonetic reading primer, but not all kids catch on as quickly and your kid may take a long time to put it all together to read and write and think well. At the same time, Waldorf and other approaches that delay learning too much concern me as well. There is some simple "you must do this," "work is necessary but not always fun," that you just have to learn as part of life. I'm not sure that making kids memorize arbitrary little poems and lists of obscure Egyptian pharoahs is so helpful in achieving these goals of reading writing and thinking well though I do think some memorization is very worthwhile. Learning phonics is truly worthwhile, I think, and grammar. Abeka has a more interactive approach that might work better for some kids but there's something to be said for the Ordinary Parents' Guide's simplicity--just one book. It's possible to either push your kids really hard or let them really slack off depending on how many and how you use these books recommended by The Well-Trained Mind and what you add to them.
Ambleside Online has similarities to the classical approach and Robinson's curriculum though it stresses handiworks, music, and art more. None of these seem that strong on science, particularly for the early grades, if that's a concern, and AO and RC have something of a strangely old-fashioned feel, having kids read so many out of print books, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but might not suit.
Sonlight is sort of a light classical, literature based curriculum that's engaging and fun and not quite as stodgy as Robinson or Ambleside. It does have kids read a lot of award-winning books over the classics of WTM, many of which I doubt would ever reach classic status, to the point that it seems they were chosen simply because they won awards. This program also does not feel very structured.
For those who want a more traditional academic feel, using a standardized curriculum for all subjects, like BJ, AlphaOmega, or Abeka may be a better fit. Abeka has a strong language program but tunnel vision w/ regards to its America-centric (is that a word) and overly christianized perspective on history especially. There may be some seemingly pointless busy work involved but you can adapt it to suit your needs. There's something to be said for the continuity and safety of using a standardized curriculum for all your subjects. An eclectic approach can help you balance out the weakness of different programs but you do lose when you move from that continuity. Still, you may gain a sense of ownership, as you do your own thing, and piece together what works best for you.
Most importantly, with whatever curriculum you choose, making life about learning and enjoying learning can be very rewarding. Check out fun books and videos on valuable academic topics at the library or buy them as opportunity and budget allow. Do research with your kids. Talk to them. Play educational games with them. Read with them. Create, explore. Whether or not you homeschool, if you nurture the idea that learning is fun, you and your kids will set out on a life-long adventure that opens many doors.
Lastly and important too, extra-curricular sports and/or gym memberships or family ACTIVitites are great to push the body as well as the mind.