You only “screw up” if you stop…there is no “correct order” to learn something in…if you learn all the kanji you are a step ahead when it comes to other stuff. Yeah reading is always hard in the beginning regardless, but just keep going and plant that tree now. So what that you learned more kanji than grammar…what’s the harm? Might be discouraging if you thought you were going to be able to read right away, but … that probably wasn’t gonna happen anyway… reading in Japanese is gonna take some getting used to, especially for English natives…the grammar is so different. [Book Clubs!! - Absolute Beginner Book Clubs are a great place to start]
If you think you might forget that kanji you learned when you started, yeah you might (and some you will)…but it will be easier to recall if you have to look it up…Don’t worry about the small stuff and press onwards! You’ve have accomplished more than many do when studying Japanese (most people give up!)
You can do it…!!!
