We have the original iPad, and with all of the traveling our kids do, I wish it had a camera so we could Skype on it. I know the iPad2 has a camera and therefore allows Skype. All things being equal, I'd choose the 2 for that reason alone. However, if there's a big difference in price, I'd maybe just stick with the original iPad. We can do everything we want to do on it, and haven't had any space/memory problems. I guess I'd certainly talk to the Apple people about whether all apps will continue working with the original iPad. That would be my main concern.

As long as we're sharing stories... Most hospital rooms are between $5,000-$15,000/night, not including physicians or treatments! (My husband was in the hospital for three months.) And once I went into our clinic for a little check-up to have a wart removed (like OP) -- it took 10 minutes, and they decided to code it as surgery and charged me an arm and a leg (several hundred dollars). If they had simply coded it as a doctor's visit, it would have only been $50.

We got most of our hockey equipment at Play It Again Sports. Or, maybe you could find older kids in your area who are outgrowing their equipment and would sell it to you?

Wondering here, too. We've had some serious neuro issues at our home so it hits close to home. Praying for them!

Do you mean they're not eating breakfast because there is no time, or because they're not hungry? I and several of my kids have never been breakfast eaters, although I know it's so good for you; I'm just not hungry in the morning! We at least slurp down fruit/yogurt smoothies, however. They're quick, easy, and nutritious!

And yet, PayPal does allow personal e-checks. Isn't that a personal payment?

Good point. It would have been very difficult for my son to apply during his gap year. My daughters, on the other hand, did have the time.

It all depends; some colleges allow you to defer, others do not. For the ones that don't, then there's no point in applying yet. My son applied during his senior year and was accepted, and then requested to defer a year, which they allowed. It gave him a peace of mind during his gap year to know that the following year was all in place. My next two didn't apply for college until during their gap year. This was mostly because during their senior year they were not thinking about college, but were planning their gap year! They had no idea what colleges they even wanted to apply to. If your child KNOWS which college he wants to attend after his gap year, then he might as well apply during his senior year -- assuming they would allow him to defer a year. (Sorry -- I can't remember if you said son or daughter, so perhaps I should have said "she" instead of "he.") But otherwise, he can always wait and apply the following year. If he does something interesting during his gap year, it might look really good on his college application!

My kids absolutely LOVED Last of the Mohicans, although I guess it is a little depressing... There's also a great movie that you could watch after reading the book. (It's a little graphic in places, but you could forward past those if you choose.)

We rented until our daughter moved to a full-size, and by then we knew she was committed, as well.

I am not necessarily disagreeing with the conclusion others have made, but I do want to say that just because we did something at a certain age does not mean therefore it's totally okay for someone else to do something at that age. That just does not seem like a good argument to me. If I was pregnant and living on my own at 18, does that mean therefore it's just fine for anyone to be doing that? How about if I were 16 and pregnant and living on my own? Does the same argument hold true? I don't mean to be unkind or anything like that... just pointing out that that's not necessarily good logic for concluding that something for someone else is okay or safe. Sorry if this comes off sounding snarky; I really don't mean that at all, and I respect you all who perhaps WERE pregnant at 18 and had to be out on your own and did a fine job doing it! My own 18-20 year-old children did a lot of very adventurous things at those ages, including my son who biked across the continent of Europe -- thousands of miles -- often on edges of freeways, alone, at age 18; and my daughter who lived independently in Costa Rica in her own apt, often riding public transportation at night in the not-so-safe city of San Jose, at age 19; and more. But before they left, we STILL discussed safety issues, how to be wise on the streets, the aura you give off (scared? confident?) which can capture attention of others, what to do if you ARE held-up, and many other things, AND even set down suggested rules to live by. However, if we felt they were going to blatantly put themselves into foolish or unsafe situations -- whether on their adventures or at home -- we certainly wouldn't just stand by and say, "Well, you're 18, so do what you wish!" Again, I'm not saying going to d.t. St. Louis for a sporting event IS a foolish or unsafe situation, but if it's what the parent is perceiving, then I believe they certainly can act on that. It is a good opportunity to sit down and help the young adult think through a safe plan, learn to be street-wise, and develop more independent skills.

Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the person, and on the specifics. I'd let my 20-year old daughter go to a sports event in d.t. Minneapolis, but then again I know that area and feel that it's safe. I also know that she would have everything planned as far as transportation. She would either have a car lined up, a ride to the light rail, or whatever. She has traveled the world, part of it alone, but even then -- she is cautious and does not do dumb things. She plans ahead, and knows the "layout of the land" before traveling at night. I don't know d.t. St. Louis or what it's like there after a sporting event. I have heard there is a lot of crime in d.t. St. Louis, and probably it is not as safe an area as d.t. Minneapolis. Nor do I know your daughter, and if she is a careful, street-wise person. I personally don't see anything wrong with going with your gut feeling on it. Better safe than sorry. If she wants to do it another time -- when you have more time to think it through -- perhaps you can go over her plan with her, to make sure you are both comfortable with it. I think it's okay for a parent to step in to help make sure a plan is safe. If she has never done something like this before on her own, then you can help her learn how to handle herself safely at night.

Briefs? My husband is still a Hanes fan, while my son now likes Old Navy.

Amazon.

And do know that it's probably nothing. I was called back several times for dense areas. I am so glad they took the extra care to do that, and am doubly glad that it turned out to be nothing! I now have an MRI every year on top of my mammogram, because my breasts are dense and breast cancer runs in the family. I feel that I'm on top of things, and if anything ever comes of it, it will be caught early.

Give yourself time. Actually, don't even let yourself think about it (at least not too much) for a few days. Often, what I first thought of as really unkind or rude behavior on the part of someone else, is more understood after giving it time to settle. Of course I don't know what the details are, but in any case, do give it time There's no need to make a decision today.

It is assumed because that is the age when you are legally able to get one in most states, and is probably the age most kids DO get one. It is really not such a strange assumption. We were never as eager in our household, and only one out of five has gotten their license at that age.

A cross here, too. All beds in our home have a cross hanging above them.

My son is on the paleo diet, and two of my daughters are going on it starting this week to seek help for various health ailments. My son got most of his information initially from the author Timothy Ferris. Here is his diet blog: http://thetimferrissdiet.blogspot.com/ It talks about the paleo diet partly for losing weight, but this isn't why my son went on it. He really feels a great improvement of his allergies and fatigue. Anyway, this site has some good recommendations.

Two books might be helpful: One is called: "Heal Your Headache," which is all about migraines and diet. HOWEVER, this doctor believes that lots of things are related to migraines, including things your friend's daughter might be suffering from. These are migraines without the headache. He talks about all the food triggers that cause various health issues. My husband completely eliminated these triggers from his diet, and it pretty much took away his migraines and migraine-related health problems. My son took it one step further, and is following the diet recommended in the book, "The 4-hour Body." It is all about how diet causes inflammation which causes nearly every health ailment. Ha ha -- I don't know if I'd take it that far, but my son swears by it, and says it has nearly cured him of his allergies and fatigue. Actually, the book covers a lot more than diet for health -- it talks about it for losing weight and other things as well. But, my son did it for health reasons. It is mostly the "paleo" diet -- protein and vegetables. Good luck!

Going through the same. I'll PM you, too.

My mil has some issues too... Not lying, but accusing her children or grandchildren of stealing things from her, for example. Her family is one of the closest, kindest, most selfless people I know -- so they would never take advantage of her or steal from her. She has accused our children of stealing her records, and says she has even heard them playing them! Ha -- of course, my children don't even have a record player, they would not be interested in her music, and would never, ever do that. Anyway, she has not been diagnosed with anything yet, but we've been told it is likely the early stages of dimentia.

That often happens when only two people play. You really need at least three people to keep it going, and then it's a lot of fun!

I am so very sorry for your daughter -- and you! My 18 year old also suffers from severe neurological issues that we can't seem to get a handle on. I have seen her change from the always happy, smiling girl to a much more serious, always in pain, young lady. I've brought her to many neurological specialists, with no answers/help. She has very strangley suffered from two concussions in the past three weeks, which hasn't helped. She is starting on the paleo diet next week -- very similar to the ketogenic diet. I've read a lot of good things about this diet. Although my daughter doesn't have seizures, both of her grandfathers plus my sister have all suffered from seizures. Both grandfathers suffered the most during their older teen years, and then mostly outgrew them. My daughter's problems began at around 15 or 16. Perhaps puberty does have to do with it getting worse, for your daughter as well? I don't know her age. Praying for you both!!

Do you mean self-motivation for following an interest/passion, or just for getting things done? I think for both, the biggest factor is modeling it in parents. If parents are highly-motivated, there is a much bigger chance the kids will be too, especially as they get older. As far as motivation for just getting things done, build structure and discipline into your day, and stick with it. Having a fun goal at the end was always helpful when my kids were younger: get ready, make your bed, do a 10-minute chore, and then 20 minutes of free time before school, for example. These little things to look forward to even motivate ME! As far as motivation for something bigger, find something they enjoy and then add to that, build it in to their other activities, find ways where they can pursue it more, and get help getting better at it -- perhaps by taking lessons, etc. This will build their confidence in that activity and motivate them to keep working at it. Set big goals for them, ones that may seem almost out of reach, but then HELP them achieve it. This last one is probably one of the most important ones, at least in our family.