Hi marksteelman, I don't have any suggestion to offer to deal with your problem, as I've never had a PayPal account - nor eBay, either. I think that your possibility of getting a reply to your question may be better if you start a thread of your own, so that people who may be interested in your topic may see it. Also, you may find a reply over in the "Computer" forum. While your kid may or may not be making a better return on his invested dollar than you ... ... it looks as though he's more adept in the use of a computer. As are most of our kids. I hope that you're enjoying your week, otherwise. ole joyful

I love how her room is coming along! It's fun,sophisticated, and entirely appropriate. The wood tones fit in really well. I didn't go into my personal experience with letting children choose their decor, but overall my attitude is that they should have choice within a set of parameters; I have boys who are not highly opinionated and my decor style is not highly feminine.

Tina, I think suggesting that adults not gossip, with children, about other children, is very good advice. and it is advice about communicating with a child, which is what was asked. I also think that, judging from the response, that - Oakley's rather selective comment notwithstanding - most here had that part of the OP's narrative jump off the page at them since most clearly saw it as a pretty serious issue, which it is (again, hardly a faux pas). That, to me, did not fall under parenting advice but really was a general observation resulting from what I suspect is the reaction by a lot of people of surprise that an adult would participate in conversation like that. If I hear someone bleat out racist or sexist or otherwise offensive comments, yep, I tell them it's offensive. If you don't, as Maya Angelou said, "you are part of the problem." I don't think the OP needs to read the comments as judgmental but instead can practice some introspection, assess the comments and the sentiment behind them, and yes, learn something from them. That is a good thing. The only comment I thought was out of line was Sushi's about hoping her daughter doesn't model that OP's behavior, and that one got 3 'Lkes" (and no chastisement from Oakley!). I thought that was personalizing it and making a general statement about the OP as a person rather than the one item, so to me, that comment was wrong and crossed a line. If we go down a road of criticizing criticism, where does it end? There is no end, only potholes of double and randomly applied standards based not on a principle but on personal ego and pettiness (again, using Oakley's comment as an example).

You know, mtn, this is what happens when you raise children to be strong and independent. They go ahead and leave you. ;) Naturally it's emotionally tough at first, even though we recognize on an intellectual level the value of the opportunity. My advice would be to keep a copy of her schedule and make yourself available when she is. I tried not to schedule anything during times I knew my kids were walking to class or to an activity, or had free time. I agree that it's better to speak with them when they have some privacy. There was typically a time a few days per week when their schedules diverged from their classmates' and I got to "walk" with them. That time changed every semester, and I was always happy to accommodate their schedules. So I guess in that regard, yes, I did "schedule" a time, but it was very organic and driven by their calendars. Her class/roommates will be receiving care packages, so even though you are nearby, it's always fun to get mail.