Approach

  It's been a year since we officially homeschool (not going to kindergarten).  It's been two years since we use bought curricula.  (But of course every parents home school (teach and train) their child since birth.)
  But these past couple of months, I've been really conflicted with the approach that we should take.  Abby was at times being uncooperative and giving attitudes.  It's definitely not pleasant for either one of us.  Am I pushing her to do things beyond her ability?  Is making learning fun more important than discipline?   Wouldn't sending her to public school be easier?
  I seem to be pulled to two opposite directions.  Books like the "Well Trained Mind" say I need to cover phonics, spelling, math everyday and history three times a week.  I need to have Abby listen to classic literature and have disciplined schedule.  I don't really want to make my kids stay home all the time and do school periods.  I am sure they'll be well educated, independent thinkers from this classical approach.  But kids need to go out and play.
  Curricula like "Five In A Row", "My Father's World" have unit study type of approach.  They use story books and tie in different subjects to it.  For example, you read about a missionary in Africa.  Look up where the country is on map, think of math problems from the story, have an art project about the topic, write something about your research.  It's a much more relaxed approach and all subjects are inter-related like in real life.  But is it enough?
  Isn't  training characters, virtues, having biblical world view, learning about God in every day life more important than being well disciplined, well trained, well educated?  Are the two mutually exclusive?
  How do I find the balance in between?  I know I shouldn't get stressed from reading these books (that I am not doing what the books suggest).  Yet, it's so confusing and unsettling.  I suppose we still need to try things out for a couple more years before finding what works for us.