You See What We're Dealing With Here?

Last night Hubs was having a very important talk with ten-year-old Adam, explaining why math is important and how he will use it his entire life.

(I chose to sit beside Hubs and nod in very serious agreement, hoping that Adam wouldn't call my bluff and point out that his mother needs to pull out the calculator just to make a loaf of bread.)

Anyhoo, Hubs was listing all the important uses of math in the world, while Adam tried to counter that he already knew plenty, thankyouverymuch.

"Oh really?" Hubs asked.  "You know how to balance a checkbook?"

Adam didn't miss a beat.  He extended his palm out in front of him.  "Of course.  You just lay it very carefully in your hand and don't let it fall."

We're in for it.

Comments

[mimi2six]

That boy will outsmart you every time!!! I love it!

[Proverbs31]

LOL!

I'm not sure what grade he's in, but I'm sure that's a common discussion to have - we're going through the same thing with our 2nd grader. My husband decided to call his mom (who is a seamstress) so our daughter could ask her all the ways she uses math throughout the day - except that his mom stuttered and stumbled and couldn't think of a single example on such short notice. :P It didn't go quite as my husband had expected. :)

[julie@lovelaugter&laundry]

I agree, you are in big trouble. Sounds like a very smart young man.

[Activities Coordinator]

There is a t-shirt for sale @ cafepress.com that says "There are three kinds of people in the world, those who are good in math and those who aren't."

I need that t-shirt, but I don't think Adam does. Seems to me he can add two and two.

Hold on tight and enjoy the ride!

[Lynne-And Babies Make Six]

You may just have a presidential candidate in 2032. (Did I do that math right?)

[Dana]

That SO sounds like my 12 year old! Pretty clever kid ya got there!

[Susanne]

I like that boy! :v)

[Stephanie]

That is one of the funniest things I have ever heard.

[Stretch Mark Mama]

I wonder where he learned that SNARKY humor??

[boomama]

I love him.

[bananas]

Hilarious and scary smart. I love the t-shirt comment... there are three kinds of people, those who are good at math and the ones who aren't. I WANT THAT T-SHIRT!!

[French Knots]

That has brightened my day! Oh, you've got some fun ahead :)

[Beth_C]

What a hoot! Thanks for the chuckle!

[Nancy]

Adam, you RAWK!

[Desiree Rutter]

You are in for it!!! :)

[Elena]

My hubby's a math teacher, and his tactic is just to go ahead and tell kids the truth--they probably won't ever use any of the math that they're using.

But it's this weird 'lose your life to find it in the end' sort of thing. If people only did math because it was 'useful,' modern science couldn't possibly exist. Mathematicians don't do math because it's useful, but because it is beautiful. And because nature is so imprinted by the character of our Beautiful Creator, beautiful mathematics almost always turns out to be useful after the fact. And so it is that as a by-product of our search for beauty, we have cars and airplanes and light bulbs and microwaves and contact lenses and other great stuff like that.

Okay, so Steven really does need to know how to balance a checkbook. But anything beyond basic arithmetic, he's really not going to use unless he becomes the sort of person who loves mathematics.

But just as it's worthwhile to learn to love music, simply because beauty will enrich his life, Steven also deserves the opportunity to learn to love math.

And if he DOES become the sort of person who love math... well, he just might become the sort of person who changes the world.

=)

(Good luck with the homework wars!)

[Mrs. Nicklebee]

I love Elena's husband's way of dealing with the math loathing! I think I will try that next time. My husband usually tells them the truth also, except that he tells them it's great mental exercise to help them use their brains. That sounds lame now that I type it out so I think he says it another way which escapes me at the moment. :-o

[Soccer Mom Melanie]

That is my favorite story yet! LOVE him.

[jubilee]

The hilarity of kids is never ending.

Thank goodness.

[Paulette1958]

seriously good luck with this, I had that same talk with my 10 year old and that was 6 years ago and am still doing so now and he is in the 11th grade!! Math has been our worse nightmare so stay on top of it lol
Good luck

[Princess Leia]

That sounds like the time we asked our flower girl when she would be 5. Her very serious response? "After four."

[Nichole]

LOL I might use that line!!!!!!!!!!!
Cracks me up!
Wow thats funny!

[Laurie]

What a funny kid. His sense of humor might get him farther in life than his math skills.

[FeeFiFoto]

I adore a kid with a sense of humor. Good for him! Last week my son and I toured a middle school and the admissions director was talking about school sports. When she mentioned the cross country team had won some big shot tournament three years in a row, he said: "You mean you've won it three years running."

[Laura]

Didn't see that coming - that kid is a riot!

[Thea @ I'm a Drama Mama]

That was very quick! You got a smart kid on your hands!

[Nicki]

okay--Mr. Smarty Pants, huh? Yikes! Good luck with him.

[Saph -Walk With Me]

Too funny!!!