You need to recalculate on a daily basis, and you wonder if those mathematicians were ever mothers

When your daughter asks for help with math homework, you shake your head dubiously.

You graduated school well before the era of Common Core, and you never were very good at math. Also, if you’re completely honest with yourself, you’ve got zero interest in solving math problems when you have your own daily equations to solve.

Of course, you don’t say that. You sit down near your daughter, flip through a math book that talks French, and try to get through her homework, together with all unresolved problems that you haven’t yet cracked.

Like the Helping situation. If Kid A wants to sweep, then Kid B wants to sweep. If Kid B wants to clear the table, then Kid A wants to clear the table. Which leaves you with sulking Kid C, who claims he’s always left with the nerdiest jobs.

And when Kid C’s shoes go flying through the air during his outburst, you wonder what the practical application is. Do you quietly collect his shoes and place them near his bed? Or do you choose option B and let him deal with the natural consequence of a missing shoe during tomorrow’s morning mayhem. These calculations don’t have that clear cut A +B = C formula. You’re left confused.