The book for every parent who ever stuck a candle in a peanut butter sandwich and called it birthday cake. Or ever tried to crowd source her child’s braces. Or ever told her child to shut up and be quiet so she could finish reading a parenting magazine.
Excerpt
How Long Will it Take Dorothy to Complete 22 Math Problems?
If you tell yourself you’re bad at something, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. That’s why when my son asks for help with his math homework, I never say, “I’m no good at math.” I say, “Go ask your father.”
My husband is a former elementary school teacher whom I once caught thumbing through an old calculus book for fun. I never took calculus and I remember nothing of algebra or geometry. I take that back. I do know a rectangle when I see one. But I’m a journalism major with an English minor who didn’t realize until recently that telling myself I’m no good at math would make it so. (Oh, and if you catch any grammar errors in this essay, remember it’s an English minor, not an English major.)
Thankfully, it takes all kinds; it just takes some kinds longer to do math. And at my house, that’s the kind that’s usually around at homework time. As a liberal arts person, I have to say, my least favorite of all math problems are story problems. Story problems take something I’m very fond of—stories—and turn them into something I’m not fond of at all: Math problems.
I realize story problems are real life problems and that we encounter them on a daily basis. Take this example: Dorothy is baking a chocolate cake. The recipe calls for … oh wait. Bad example. I never bake cake, though I do eat cake, sometimes multiple pieces.
But let’s try another example: Mrs. Rosby’s son needs $250 for the camp he’s attending this summer. He also needs a new pair of shoes which will cost anywhere from $20 to $50 depending on what kind of mood Mrs. Rosby is in the day they go shopping. Mrs. Rosby has $17. How much money will Mrs. Rosby need to win on scratch tickets in order to pay her son’s expenses? And how many years until he can get a job so he can pay them himself? (Oh, and don’t call me Mrs. Rosby. It makes me sound old. How many years older does it make me sound?)
When I help my son with story problems, the liberal arts major in me can’t help but come out as you’ll see from the following story problems taken from actual math worksheets:
Problem 1: Each week Sarah washes dishes three nights, washes clothes one night, empties trash cans two nights, and cooks supper one night. If you stop by randomly one evening, what are the chances that Sarah would be cooking dinner? A math person would say “1 in 7” (I think.) I say, “What are the chances that Sarah could come to my house a few nights a week?” (I like stories with happy endings.)
Problem 2: David can walk 12 blocks in 5 minutes. If each block is 50 feet long, how many feet will David walk during the 30 minutes he walks his dog? A math person would say 3600 feet—or something like that. I say, “That depends. Does the dog have to pee?”
Problem 3: Dorothy has 22 math problems to do. She completes one problem every three minutes. In hours and minutes, how long will it take Dorothy to complete all 22 problems? A math person would say, “One hour and six minutes.” I say, ‘One problem every THREE MINUTES? Are you joking? That’s no self-fulfilling prophecy; that’s a miracle.”
Professional Reviews
You Need this Book!
This is what Erma Bombeck would write if she were alive today (and younger). In fact, as you read Dorothy Rosby’s hilarious, insightful book, you may recall Yogi Berra’s famous quote, “It’s like déjà vu, all over again.”
Syndicated humor columnist Dorothy Rosby tackles all the tough subjects in chapters such as: Will Sweetiekins Give the Steak Knifey Back to Daddy?, Pets Teach Responsibility—to Parents, Keep Your Kids Enthused about School and You Enthused about Your Kids, Hot Dish a la King Again? The laughs just never stop.
If you miss Erma, you need this book. If you need to find the humor in family life, you need this book.
She is a fabulous storyteller who brings up memories that are humorous & too good to be forgotten
Dorothy tells all those experiences from my life that I forgot to write down. She is a fabulous storyteller who brings up memories that are humorous & too good to be forgotten. Thank you Amazon for offering this book in a variety of formats. I love it!
A Delightfully Funny Book!!
This book was an absolutely delightful romp through the trials and tribulations of dealing with a young child on a day to day basis. It evoked plenty my own memories and experiences with regard to raising my son and even about being a child myself. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing and when it's mixed with humor it's even better. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to laugh!
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