September 8, 1998
"Introductions"
by Diana Waring

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I never can remember how to do introductions. Let's see... Is it the older to the younger, the woman to the man, the veteran to the beginner? What is appropriate for an introduction by computer? Hmmm.... Well, let's just say that I'll give it my best shot! My name is Diana Waring. I have the breathtaking privilege of being married to my best friend and having children who are my next best friends. We have been living the adventurous (and often nerve-wracking) lifestyle of homeschooling for... I just realized that our homeschooling years are now listed in double digits! My husband Bill is the organized, stick-with-it, detailed methodical adult in the house, who also wrestles with the kids and laughs at my jokes. I am the free-flowing, spontaneous, on-a-wing-and-a-prayer kind of person who often stuns her family with unexpected ideas. My oldest child, Isaac, is sixteen years old and my helper amidst the chaos of computerabilia. ("Isaac, helppppp!!! The computer's acting funny again...") He is also incredibly creative, musical, dramatic, artistic and slightly absent-minded. Michael, my fourteen year old, is the towering giant among my children - 6'4" - and proud of it! He is our in-house expert on mountain biking, back-packing, leather working, and Russian cooking. His mountain man love for the outdoors has actually triggered a willingness in me to mosey out on a local hill for a wee hike. Our one and only daughter is Melody, who is twelve years old. Not only is she a budding violinist and author of numerous short stories (not published, mind you, but passed around to her family and pen pals), she is also the most organized, schedule-minded member of the family. When she took over the task of remembering when to buy wrapping paper for Christmas presents, my life took a turn for the better! Our family has traveled together across the United States for the past five years, speaking and selling books at homeschool conventions. It has made for an interesting life - filled with glorious geography, memorable museums, fascinating friends, bushed bodies, tired taste buds, gardenless groceries and more. (Life is real, whatever else one may say.) One of the most precious aspects of our travels has been meeting homeschoolers far and wide. We have met families who have home schooled much longer than we have, and families who are just beginning; families with twenty-two children, and families with one; families who use textbooks for curriculum, and families who create their own; families with lots of money to spend (though these are definitely in the minority!), and families with almost none; families who seem to do this effortlessly andĘ families who struggle every day; families who attend a local church and families who have church in their home; families where the parents have degrees after their name, and families where the parents barely graduated from high school; families with both mom and dad at home (due to home business) and families where single parents work at night so they can homeschool during the day. You know what? After having seen thousands upon thousands of these homeschooling families, I can attest that homeschooling really works! In almost every situation we have seen, real learning is taking place, real growth in family relationship is flourishing, and real children living in real families are being prepared to become real adults in a real world. In this column on the Best of the Christian Web, we are going to share real life concerns of real families homeschooling real children. Since homeschooling encompasses far more than math, science and literature, we will look at other issues as well - things like... "What should I make for dinner since it's 6:30 p.m., we just finished poetry, my husband will be in the door any minute, and the edible refrigerator contents - two eggs, one bowl of leftover oatmeal, and a bag of lettuce - just don't sound appetizing?!!!"... or... "I've been trying to figure out how to juggle a toddler in one hand, get my library card out with the other, lasso the troops from every conceivable corner in the library, AND check out two laundry baskets worth of children's books!"... or... "Is it legal to just buy new socks every week instead of trying to match them when they come out of the dryer? (If they come out at all!!!)"... Many vital issues such as these will be considered during future columns, with the emphasis being: real people teaching real children in a real home by the amazing grace of our Living Lord. Blessings, Diana Return to the List of the BOTCW Columns

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