Lately I (once again) started paying attention to programming and started looking around. I went from one e-book and MOOC to another with much of the python hype (previously in my - failed - attempt, I tried Perl, PhP etc, when they were in vogue). Well I have eventually concluded, that the problem with programming is not necessarily me, but it is the lack of proper padagogy itself. There are programmers galore out there trying to teach via YouTube and MOOCs, but most are code monkeys who know what they're doing but I wouldn't call them "teachers".
So my search eventually led me to Scheme/Racket where I see some signs and hope of proper learning (I'm not going to be able to afford myself to take a college level CS). I looked into Small Talk as well but as of now I don't see a proper MOOC on it. I have started Racket course (BSL) on EdX. After spending much time and energy chasing Python basics and going nowhere, i feel I can possibly and eventually learn programming the way it is meant to be.