NASA takes years to prepare for a shuttle launch--no mission leaves the ground without untold hours of training, study, and plans for contingencies. Authors Bob and Cheryl Reccord, along with their friends, Dr. Tommy Hollaway, past Director of the NASA Space Program and International Space Station and three-time shuttle astronaut David Leetsma, feel the same way about parenting. Just as the shuttle must burst through the Earth's gravitational force into space, so too must children break free into adulthood. Like astronauts they require intensive training--in academics, faith, and ethics--and the help of a superb ground crew: parents, grandparents, mentors and friends. When unexpected events test even the most experienced of pilots, they're ready--whether that means delaying a launch, improvising at the controls or reconfiguring equipment. With the right strategy, parents can ensure that their children fly anywhere their wings can take them.
