Hi, I've started to learn lessons a couple of months ago and have been pretty religious on staying in order.

I have a couple of questions:

1) how comfortable should be wth a melody before going on to the next lesson? i.e., should I be so comfortable I'm playing it without reading the tabs and be able to carry on a conversation, or able to play it only while reading the tabs, or somewhere in between?

2.) Due to my schedule (work, kids sports, etc.), I'm not as far as I'd like, but was wondering at want point do diverge/add learning songs im intersted in, without ending up doing myself a diservice in the long run?

thanks.