Interesting to hear about different options these days. I tried electrolysis years ago, and that's what caused scarring on me. Fortunately it's on the chin so I can cover it with makeup. Maybe electrolysis has gotten better?

I never expected my kids -- all the way through high school -- to take charge of planning their curriculum; we just followed a pretty standard path. On the other hand, if they did have very specific interests, I'd try and incorporate that into our studies. For example, one was very interested in ancient China, so we did a semester-long course on the history of China. One is very interested in writing/journalism, so we are doing a course in journalism now. Also, I let them all choose the foreign language they wanted to study. Within each subject, I'd often tailor assignments to their particular interests, when I could. I have a lot of kids interested in the arts, so we'd often end up doing history projects that had an arts emphasis.

My kids have been on it a few times, mostly for asthma. From what I understand, it is pretty powerful, but it really does the trick! It takes down the inflammation, which is what is necessary in order to control asthma that has gotten out of control. Another daughter took it for extremely inflamed and plugged sinuses. In every case, it helped a lot, and within a couple days. Doctors were pretty adamant about them only staying on it for five days, and no more. One daughter in particular became very hyper with it, and it was difficult for her to sleep. Still, I felt it was necessary and she was so much better after that. I do know of people with chronic, serious illness who are on it much longer. It does have risks and side-effects; it's up to you and your doctor to determine if it's worth it. I imagine that in some cases, it is.

I always assumed the tip would be the same. It never occurred to me that it should be different. Afterall, it's the service you are tipping, not the location. (And besides, they are still paying for tools, supplies, special furniture, higher utilities, maybe a bigger house so that they're able to do it in the home?)

I don't have answers to all of your questions, but just so you know... From what I understand, he would not be getting better financial aid if he does not declare himself as your dependent. In order to declare yourself as independent through FAFSA, you have to be 24 years old or married. Otherwise, you ALWAYS have to include your parents income with yours.

Wow, he sounds like he is potentially a really nice pet... but given your circumstances -- and tempting as it is to keep him -- I think I'd send him back. Sure, maybe with a personal trainer or consistent obedient classes you could retrain him, but do you have the time? Maybe if your family life were more simple I'd encourage you to keep him. I personally would not be as concerned about the nipping issue (that's more out of playfulness/herding instinct); it's the food issue/aggression to your smaller dog that would make my heart skip a beat. Our last dog was a collie, and was he ever a nipper when the kids were outside playing! But it was always gentle -- I never really had to worry that he would hurt any of the children (not that that made it okay). Eventually, we were able to train him out of it, but probably not until he was at least two. I love dogs, and am so tempted myself to get another one. But given my own circumstances, I have to constantly remind myself that now just isn't the right time. :( I really, really miss having a dog! Anyway, just a suggestion. If nothing else, you could call the agency and explain your situation... Maybe they'll understand and break their own regulations and let you have a few days to try him out??

Mostly, the student newspaper, orchestra, and track & field. But the only real AFTER-school activity was track & field. I was in a Spanish club that met only once a year: for the yearbook picture. :) Most kids (at my school) weren't in much more than a couple of things back in the 70's. It seems like nowadays, kids tackle a lot more at once.

All of our children have the travel bug, too! :) One suggestion is your daughter could take a gap year after high school and do an experience abroad -- volunteer, study, etc. You'd hate to base a whole career on traveling, and then realize once you were somewhat settled that you didn't want to travel quite so much anymore. A gap year abroad might get enough of the bug out of her system that she can focus more on what she would really enjoy doing rather than something she could do just to travel. On the other hand, I could totally see some of my children choosing what they do PRIMARILY on if it would involve travel. :) My husband got a masters in Middle Eastern Studies and International Economics, with plans to go into the foreign service. I'm sure he would have had a lifetime of travel and living in foreign places (he probably would have ended up in the foreign service). Many of his classmates do live that kind of a life, and enjoy it. My husband, on the other hand, decided he didn't want to raise his daughters in the Middle East.

That was really fun to read, and interesting to learn about McGill. Congratulations!

I don't like to mark-up texts because I like to try and sell them. That being said, I'd sometimes have my children skip pages or even chapters, or at least we would discuss it afterward. If I found this happening too much, then we'd find a different curriculum.

I would say the fact that he has a stuffy/runny nose with it is a good sign: then it's usually a cold he keeps fighting, or maybe an allergy too. But, I'd take him to a doctor to rule out an ear infection, etc. One of my children had a UTI infection at that age and had a low-grade fever, but then she didn't have cold symptoms. My #5 child DID have cold after cold after cold at that age, and she was very small. She would literally jump from one cold to another, nonstop. I kept records for about 6 months because we were trying to figure out what was behind it all. (She was also undergoing a lot of hospital testing.) In the end, we found nothing unusual, but for some reason her immune system was just a little slow at building up, and she was very tiny. She is 16 and healthy now. :)

How about Louise? I know it's not even remotely like Grace, except that it's old-fashioned sounding and I think it sounds pretty with Caroline. :)

I would send her the entire series of The #1 Woman's Detective Agency, by the author listed in the post above. :)

We loved this one: (The Fall) http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/The_Fall/70099619?trkid=2361637

I think for now, I'd focus simply on him being happy and content at home, without pushing the friend thing. My son went through a period where he really wasn't interested in doing things with other kids. He wasn't anti-social or even very shy, just uninterested. We decided to just leave him be, make sure he participated in family stuff, and tried to have our family life fun and interesting! ha ha -- We'd find projects to do that we knew he would enjoy, hiking Sunday afternoons, kayaking, lots of family activities. If getting him out of the house (with the family) is necessary to get him out of his room, do so. Our son had some pretty unique interests, but we tried to make him confident in them. We did not want him to feel weird simply because he wasn't doing all the things that the average teen does. Although, we have always encouraged weirdness, in a way :) -- that is, not following the crowd, having our own unique interests and goals, etc. We really never pushed the friend thing at all, just lots of encouragement and fun family time. Although we DID push being there to help others. So even if he didn't want to get together with friends, we might tell him he had to shovel his neighbor's yard, or help the elderly woman across the street with something. By the time he was a high school senior, he was extremely confident, witty, a lot of fun to be around -- and still didn't like socializing! He just loved being home with his family and doing his thing. Now, he is quite gregarious, married, has lots of friends, and is in a field that requires lots and lots of socializing. And you know what? He is STILL exhausted after 1/2 hour with people (other than family) and STILL prefers to just be home with his wife and the rest of us. :) Sorry, this has gotten long, but I do remember having a lot of the same thoughts you are having now and wanted to reassure you. Oh one more thing: does your son have any interests you can involve him in, something he can really get into apart from computer games, etc.? I don't mean this for the purpose of socializing, but simply to help him find an interest that he loves, whether it's music, drama, karate, gardening. If he can find something to throw himself into and maybe excel at, it will help give him confidence and make him feel good about himself. If he is going to be anti-social (for now :)) he needs some hobbies.

This is what I believe, too. I used to wonder...when there is a very specific and strong desire in our heart, and we are prayerful people, does that mean that desire is from God and we are meant to follow it? But my husband had a very strong desire all his life to run for politics and even president someday, which never wavered. Then out of the blue he had a stroke and his mind and speech were taken from him. So now hearts' desires confuse me. I think we try and read too much into things. I believe we are all called to love one another, etc., but most of the time our more unique desires are simply are own, which isn't a bad thing! God can use us in many ways and through a variety of our choices. On the other hand, if there is something very specific that God wants of us, He will make sure it happens, no matter what the circumstances.

KOA's have camper cabins where you can stay. Cheaper than motels, and actually quite nice, although you still need to bring your own bedding, etc. Perhaps you can look into them? Maybe some of them have heat, though I'm not sure.

How about these: http://www.carters.com/oshkoshbgosh/Dark-Wash-Denim-Overalls/VM_474-382,default,pd.html?cgid=oshkosh-kid-girl-overalls-and-jumpers or these: http://www.carters.com/oshkoshbgosh/Girly-Denim-Overalls/V_474-650,default,pd.html?cgid=oshkosh-kid-girl-overalls-and-jumpers Also, in our town, places like animal feed stores have them!

Sorry, I didn't mean to mix the two up. I am praying for you, my friend! I truly believe God sees all the good you are doing...every last thing.

Wow, I knew so little about RAD before I read this post. I've now researched it a little online. You are one amazing woman. I am nearly speechless. Is this the same daughter who was on the swim team?

Sounds like you could go either way (you could skip it completely), and it'd be fine. But just so you know, they are interested in other things besides acting. Can he sing? Do acrobats? Know accents well? Ride a unicycle? Swim with a swim team?

Do you know the neighbor she is referring to? Do you know it to be true? Then yes.

I would not do it, but then I know my children would never ask. I can't imagine even considering it. That attitude begins early on in a family.

No, you're not being unreasonable, but I've learned that even our fairly mature, independent, college-aged children do not always see the obvious in situations like that. I go back and forth between wondering if they're scatterbrained, lacking confidence in certain situations (when they seem so confident in others), or just not old enough to know better! Mostly I think it's the latter. Really, my children do so much more at their age than I did when I was their age. Sometimes I think my expectations are too high. Now and then they need to be taken through the various little steps involved.

I know kids who are their own person, smart, independent, and don't mind doing it alone. But, if her situation is causing her to be depressed, then something needs to change. Could you encourage her to take a semester off? Or is there an outside club where she could meet some more like-minded people? If she is calling you 4 times/day and needs to talk for 45 minutes, something seems wrong to me. Is her plan right now to come home for the summer? Personally, I think a peaceful heart is more important than a great education. Do you think it would benefit her to meet with a school counselor?