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Homeschooling is not a race to the finish. It's a time of life to relish and enjoy your child and the journey, and savor homeschooling.

Most parents appreciate a little help and encouragement on their homeschooling journey. My free newsletter delivers this fresh each month. Click to get some yourself: The HomeScholar Record Newsletter

Trying to hurry a child into college too early is like gobbling up dessert without taking the time to enjoy it and see what it tastes like.

Homeschooling is a sweet, sweet time to be savored and enjoyed. I like to compare it to a Hershey Kiss. It melts in your mouth slowly, making everything sweet. That's what I want you do do with homeschooling. Take your time. Slow down. Savor the sweetness.

I suggest that you homeschool independently, at home, for maximum flexibility. All classroom situations are geared for kids who learn at a steady pace, at the usual grade level according to age. Most kids don't learn that way, but instead learn in bursts and stumbles. So continue what has been successful for you, without looking to find a "grass is greener" classroom situation that may not work. Stick with what works.

Be calm. Remember the tortoise and the hare story? If you go to fast, you can burn out. Worse yet, your child could burn out! Slow and steady wins the race. Like the tortoise winning the race by being consistent and steady.

You don't have to teach 4 years of high school before high school even begins, or skip ahead to college classes before your child is ready. Instead, keep them challenged but not overwhelmed. Use material for their level in each subject throughout each year.

Enjoy the ride a little more. Remember how much a child changes from the time they are a newborn until they turn 4 years old? That's how much they will be maturing in the 4 years of high school. Learn to instill the love of learning, by working at your child's level, and when they are 18, they won't be burned out from academics, but will be eager to learn more in the college experience.