Pedigreed Housewife World

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned recently, my kiddies are really into math right now, so we’re exploring the many ways that math is important in the world. One of the most valuable things you can do with math is count your money. Anytime I see a coin laying around the house I will pick it up, show it to the nearest kid (assuming that kid is one of mine of course) and say “what is this called and what is it worth?” If the kid is right that it is, for example, a nickel worth five cents, they get to put the coin in their piggie bank and keep it. Not only does that keep our countertops clean, it also reinforces the names and values of the coins for the kiddies. Today we decide to play with the money that the kids had earned. We dump the money out on the table and I say, “Who can make Mommy a flower worth   $1.05?” All kinds of flowers come back:     Then we do some other dollar amounts and shapes. Circles worth $0.25, stars worth $2, and lots ...

Briana has decided that math is her favorite subject. All day long she wants me to give her a multiplication problem to solve. Like today she got 4 x 7 when she asked. So then she responds with “4 times 7 is the same as 7 times 4. I think I want more numbers to add this time so I’m going to solve it as 4 times 7.” Then she starts.  “Well 4 times 1 is 4. If I add four to that I have 4 times 2.” Then she adds them and says, “That’s 8. Four times two is eight. So if I add 4 more that would be 4 times three.” And she stops to add 8 + 4 before announcing that 4 x 3 is the same as 4 + 4 + 4 or 8 + 4, which is 12. And so on until she gets to 4 x 7 = 28.  This tickles me because I always saw math as a series of fun puzzles and not an exercise in memorization too. While I know from experience that doing math this way will lead to running out of time on many a test, I also know from experience that it will lead to a better understanding of what the numbers mean...

Today was the girls first swim meet. When we got home tanned, tired, and flush with new ribbons and medals, I told the kids to put their awards away and get ready for a shower. They said they couldn't because they didn't know where ribbons go. Now this is 90% procrastination, but 10% of their complaint is real. Their ribbons are in the memory boxes, in drawers, on dressers, and generally all over the house. So after a little rest I told the kids we could make something to put their ribbons and medals on. Since it's the beginning of summer, and I have an online shopping problem, we have lots of good cardboard boxes that I thought we could put to some good use. Here's what we made: And here's how we made them: Step One: Find a good, thick box and cut a panel off. Yep, I posted a picture of that. I've been well trained in the art of being fair by my girls and if one step gets a picture, they all get a picture. :) Step Two: Pick your fabric and p...

As much as I dream that my kids become the next Olympians, I’m also a scientist well versed in genetics, and as such I realize that they are unlikely to be professional athletes. Not they cannot, or will not, but it is unlikely. As the kids get involved in more and more challenging sports there are many life lessons they are learning though. The girls’ coaches work with them on teamwork, commitment, working hard and practicing to get what you want, and all of the hand-to-eye skills that are necessary for their sports. So as they get exercise and new friends and impressive skills, I want to make sure that they are also learning grace in defeat or victory, courage under pressure, and strategies for handling frustration - you know, the takeaways that will stick with them long after they’ve forgotten who in their class made varsity. This weekend Briana went to Nationals in her sport and we had a great opportunity to talk about being courageous when you’re nervous, and...

My kids are crazy about recycled art these days. At school they bring in recycling and basically pile it up and tape or glue it into new structures. While that’s a great idea to get the kids thinking about recycling, when the recycled art comes home it usually goes back into the recycling. Sorry, but we can’t save everything they do at school and not all of the recycled art looks or smells like it was cleaned first. So today I decide to show the kids how recycling works. First I ask them to get two cartons that were supposed to go into the recycling bin. Briana grabs a Cheez-its carton and Abigail grabs the applesauce. I get a frozen Weight Watchers breakfast carton. I ask the kids if they know what the word recycling means. “It means reusing things that have already been used,” Briana says without hesitation. Abby adds on, “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Clearly they are well versed in the idea. How recycling works is a mystery. I explain that...