<p>Calmom,</p>
<p>You're right, I guess you really don't understand what I'm getting at. But I've come to understand that you're being deliberately contentious and obtuse. So much for your apology. I started a thread seeking opinions about one of the nuts and bolts, mechanical parts of this process, but you keep turning this into a debate about parenting. Good debate material; wrong forum. After this post, please find another sparring partner. I'm not interested.</p>
<p>Since you've insisted on going beyond the pure logistics of my original request, I'll tell you what I'm getting at about parenting -- just this -- give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime. I've worn many professional hats over the years -- attorney, college professor, writer, real estate professional -- my time is valuable too, but my time is never spent better than by getting into the mud and teaching things to my kids, whether learned and esoteric sophisticated skills, or the most mundane, ordinary, elemenatary life skills. Where should they learn the x's and o's other than from their parents? Getting back to specifics, if my daugher prefers to type a portion of the application (NOT an essay; not an extended attachment; simply filling in boxes), then I have no problem with either her decision (of preferring this method -- she has to live with it) or lending a little elbow grease, as appropriate. I taught her how to balance her checkbook and taught her how to call the bank when the card turned up "Bank Error in Your Favor -- Collect $15." I certainly don't balance her checkbook each month. You recite a litany of things you do to help your children. Bravo. Good for you and good for your children. I don't doubt you know the line that works for you and that you draw it accordingly. Please don't judge the lines which I draw for my family.</p>
<p>As for "cheating" -- do you honestly believe this? Cheating? For the kind of parental assistance that I and others have outlined? Please.</p>