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In a presentation I make about teaching teenagers at home, I use two overhead transparencies to demonstrate what home schooling feels like for some teens and parents. One is a picture of a prisoner, because some homeschooled teens feel like they are caged up at home and are missing out on "all the action"...like hanging out, playing peer pressure games, figuring out who likes whom, and all those other important socializing activities. The other transparency is of a mom. She's assumed the stance of a circus lion tamer, chair in one hand to ward off the attacking beast and whip in the other to get him to perform. It's amazing how many moms can relate to that one. But homeschool doesn't have to be torture for the kids and a relentless struggle for control for mom. It can be so much more; it can be, as Diana Waring calls it, "abundant homeschooling." The trick is to figure out what makes for successful homeschooling and what doesn't. Unfortunately for those who like neatly packaged answers, but fortunately for those of an adventurous bent, the answer is different for every family, and sometimes for every child. At the heart of every successful homeschool is a vision that lends purpose to all our efforts - a purpose that transcends learning math tables and memorizing spelling lists. It must be a vision that spurs us on when the going gets tough and a vision that takes us to our knees to seek God's direction and wisdom. It must be a vision that parents can instill in their children so that homeschooling becomes a joint effort rather than a battle for control. But some of us are short on vision and long on insecurity. Diana Waring happens to be of the "long on vision" type, and she generously takes our hand and guides us along her "vision development trail." I've gotten to know Diana over the years, more from her tapes and on the telephone than in person. Listening to her tapes from her What in the World's Going On Here? and History Via the Scenic Route seminars, I always came away inspired, encouraged, entertained, and a few steps farther along in the vision department. When I first saw Beyond Survival - A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling, I was thrilled to see that she was finally putting some her ideas down on paper for the benefit of those of us who are visual learners rather than auditory. But I was even more excited when I realized that this was not a rehash of what others have already said, but Diana's own, very personal guidebook for discovering the heart and soul of homeschooling. She takes us along on her journey, visiting with others who have traveled the trail before her, gleaning wisdom and inspiration from everyone she encounters. Instead of claiming the role of expert, Diana introduces us to the people and resources that inspired and directed her so that we can all share in the feast. If you have never met Diana, you are in for a treat. You will definitely feel like you know her before you finish this book. One of the first things you'll discover is her sense of humor. I was reading the manuscript for this book on an airplane, and I had to keep clapping my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing too loudly and scaring the strangers who surrounded me. You'll also discover that Diana lives in a very normal family, rather than one of those rare home school families that seems to operate in a totally different realm with nothing but super-achieving children, eager workers, and spiritual giants. Her husband Bill is actively involved in home schooling in a realistic way that capitalizes on both Diana's and Bill's talents. This is realistic home schooling for real people! But it's more than that. It's an introduction to an adventure. So grab Diana's hand and hang on. I expect you'll be blessed and encouraged as you get to know my friend. Return to Beyond Survival

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