Maths Archives - Obsessivemom

It’s Monday and I’m relieved. By now I’m used to crazy weekends but this one was unusually so.

The husband was supposed to be home after about a month but had to cancel at the last moment. The kids were sorely disappointed and I was saddled with two very sulky kids over three very long days of an extended weekend. To make matters worse N had loads of pending homework from some classes she had missed.

The goody bag plan

We decided to tackle the biggest demon first – a bunch of over 50 math problems to be done in a day. Wondering how to get through it all without bringing out the witch in me I brought out the goody-bag plan. I think I defied all perfect parenting mantras by linking reward directly to performance but desperate times asked for desperate measures.

I picked up some inexpensive goodies – chocolates, craft supplies, stationery items and put them all into a bag. I felt I was running short and so I also made out some coupons which could be ‘encashed’ for things ranging from a hug to a doughnut. After every five sums I’d let N dip into it and pick a goody. It proved to be SUCH a success that even H gave up his iPad and sat down to race N over those sums just so he could have a go at the goodies.

N had a great time feeling around in the bag trying to guess what there was and offering to pick out things for H.

And then some more..

That was Friday and it went pretty well. Here’s what we crammed into the next two days:

– Dropped in at Mc Donald for a Happy Meal. Why they still like it is beyond me – they’re not too keen on the food and have far outgrown those toys, yet….
– Had a tiny pizza party at home
– Made pani puri together. N has developed a huge liking for it and I’m quite thrilled to have a PP partner.
– Went out to a dosa joint one night where the kids enjoy watching how multiple dosas are made simultaneously, more than actually eating them.
– Then we dragged out mattresses into the living room and had a sleepover with just the three of us.
– And we also managed to work on some school projects.

Now that I’ve got all that down I realise a lot of our happiness stems from food and I’m not even a decent enough cook! Wierd? Ironical? What?

I’m beyond analyses, though. I won’t say it wasn’t fun but it really would be simpler to have The Husband home. Sigh!

So what do you do to tide over difficult times with kids? Long holidays, disappointments? I’d love some help here.

Dear M,

This letter has been pending long enough. People say one shouldn’t let negative feelings fester, that they need to be aired for a new start. Well so here I am.

You were once my best friend. All through my early years at school you held my hand. Each time I found the world scary and confusing, or felt insecure and inept I just had to spend some time with you and I’d feel my confidence returning. When I was with you I forgot to be scared for you spelt all that was familiar and fun. We had the best of times. Remember those lazy winter days when we’d put on Beatles and rock together? Oh those were the happiest times of my life.

I depended on you, so very much, for years together and you were always there.

Thanks to you I sailed through my class 10 with a super score.

Then came class 11 and things changed. Our friendship soured. It might have had to do something with the change of Boards. Besides, Junior College held loads of distractions and I might not have contributed enough to our relationship. I agree part of it was my fault. However once I came to my senses I tried, tried really hard to salvage our relationship. Do you remember those long sad hours when I’d sit with you trying to figure you out? But you made no attempt to mend fences. Cold and distant you locked me out completely.

Graduation was pure drudgery. I made other friends but your place remained vacant. My grades suffered but that wasn’t of consequence. I missed you. Sorely. Then that day when the teacher was giving me a talking to, there you were – not even attempting to hide your smile. How cruel was that! That day you broke my heart.

When I stepped into the corporate world you were always around but I made sure I kept a distance. I skipped lines, gave up finance for marketing, then marketing for journalism trying to find a place where I would never ever meet you.

Since then we’ve met occasionally. I bump into you at the grocers or at the vegetable vendor’s stall and we pass each other by with a cursory nod.

Over the last few years I’ve seen the twins interacting with you and I see a bond forming. We might not be friends any longer but I see you reciprocating their tentative offers of friendship. You know I’m a sucker for happy endings and in this beginning I see our happy ending. Through the twins maybe we’ll be friends again.

Dear Mathematics..I do miss you still.

Love,
OM

This letter is part of the Write Tribe’s initiative. This week we are writing letters to
The person who caused you a lot of pain / Some one you wish you could forgive.
For more fun and interesting letters click Write Tribe Letters Unsent

Tag: Maths

A whopper of a weekend and the goody bag plan

The goody bag plan

And then some more..

An unsent letter