Math Dilemma

Math is not my strong suit. Really. I mean, I do well enough with it. I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. I can even do this in my head with up to three digit numbers. I can double recipes. I can figure out tips. But I have forgotten a lot of the terminology. I don't go around spouting things like 'whole numbers' and 'communicative propertry...if I even spelled that one right. And I have forgotten how some of these things work. Add to that the fact that math is laid out differently for children these days (different rules and steps). Math is not my subject. Fortunately, my children are great readers and they basically teach themselves math. They read the lesson, do the problem, I check it and we move on.

But sometimes...Jack gets well...stubborn. He knows math isn't my subject. He also must harbor doubts about my ability to use the solutions manual to check his school work. Yesterday he had a problem and he put down the answer was 200. I checked the answer book...wrong answer. I don't look at the problems to see why he got wrong. Part of his next day's math is to go back and correct the wrong problems. If he can't figure it out, then I wade in and do my best to help. So he is redoing the problem and he says, but Mommy, 20 x 20 is 200. I looked at him (hey, I don't need an answer book for this) and said, no it's not. So he very patiently started doing the problem step by step so he could show me how confused I was....Meanwhile, I turned to his sister (2nd grade) and asked her what 2 x 2 is. She answered with 4. Turned back to Jack...his cheeks reddened, he blustered a bit and then does his spiel...about "Mom, the answer is 400, I don't know why you were trying to say it was 200. What's wrong with you?" And we all laugh as he tries not to be too red faced with his very simple mistake.

Don't get me started on how yesterday when I was reviewing prime numbers with him, that I forgot 2 is a prime number...hmph! Now, just ask me some questions about Sparta and Athens and the ancient Greeks...I'll keep talking for hours!