Billy Coffey
Billy Coffey

What kindergarten homework taught me

October 13, 2009  

I’ve never been a math guy. Numbers scare me in the same way zombies do; both seem so foreign and lack even a hint of personality. Words can sing. Numbers just stand there mouthing.

The unhealthy relationship I have with plusses and minuses does not apply to homework, however. At least not the kindergarten kind. Because even if 1 + 0 = ? is just as cold and emotionless as ay2 + by + 2a + c = 0, it is a little easier to figure out.

But not to my son, who understands the concept of adding one thing to another one thing and getting two things about as well as I understand how to split the atom. Put all of that together, and you have a recipe for disaster when the two of us sit down to complete his assigned work.

Last night we sat at the kitchen table to tackle the beauty that is addition. Past practice has taught us that both patience and planning is key. Which is why I brought coffee, and he brought Kool-Aid and a Tootsie Pop…

To read the rest of this post (and to find out what I really learned about math), I invite you over to High Calling Blogs for my new column.
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12 Responses to “What kindergarten homework taught me”

  1. katdish on October 14th, 2009 5:52 am

    Heading over there now…

  2. Lori Lundquist on October 14th, 2009 6:40 am

    Wonderful story. Great reminder for a gal who shies away from letting anyone see anything until it's perfect (or so thought perfect by said gal). Mistakes are scary! What freedom to know – we're all just figuring it out together.
    Also, coffee is an absolute essential in tackling any problem. Didn't know about the tootsie pops, though. I'll have to try that out.
    Write on!

  3. Andrea on October 14th, 2009 8:58 am

    Beautiful story!
    Blessings and prayers, andrea

    PS: Urgent prayer request on arise 2 write.

  4. Sarah Salter on October 14th, 2009 10:15 am

    Has anybody told you that you write really well??

    I always enjoy your posts… Some of them make me smile and some make me sniffle and some make me laugh out loud… But today's was one of the ones that just made my jaw drop. The word that came to my mind was "classic." It was just beautiful, Billy. Beautiful.

    (So do you really think I don't know what love is 'cause I don't have kids? That's very sad…)

  5. Heart2Heart on October 14th, 2009 12:03 pm

    What a great story! Your son and daughter are learning so much from what you teach them not only with your actions but through your loving words.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

  6. RCUBEs on October 14th, 2009 12:59 pm

    Math???I hate it, too….Ahh..you're a great dad…And that is a "plus"…

  7. The Things We Carried on October 14th, 2009 4:19 pm

    You got me. here I go…

  8. Rebecca on The Homefront on October 14th, 2009 4:43 pm

    I'm just coming back over from reading the post. It left me breathless, because I've been struggling a lot lately with the "I'm a grown up, but I don't really know what I'm doing." Your son's words really echo my own.

    Like Sarah said, "Classic." Thanks for another great post.

  9. Angela on October 14th, 2009 5:31 pm

    So true! When it comes to parenting, I'm still trying to figure things out. Good thing there's an eraser. :)

    Thanks for the encouragement! I needed this reminder.

  10. S. Etole on October 14th, 2009 5:48 pm

    How often we try to use worldly erasers to cover up our mistakes when God's love has taken care of them all. {from your other post}

  11. Denise on October 14th, 2009 6:42 pm

    Great story my friend.

  12. Mom to 9 Blessings! on October 14th, 2009 7:39 pm

    wise words and beautifully done!

    blessings,
    jill

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