Road Blocks

I love math.  When my boys bring home math homework, I'm always a little envious.  I poke my nose into what they're working on, just to get a sniff of the topic.  Equivalent fractions?  Yum.  Least Common Denominator?  Love it.  Sometimes I linger, hoping to be called upon to provide assistance.  To me, a math problem isn't that different than the newspaper's sudoku puzzle I do every morning.  Finding the solution is fun.

My sons are good at math so I only get limited chances to indulge myself.  I think I tend to go a little overboard, explaining not just the concept but trying to convey some of its inherent beauty.  To me, there is so much beauty and wonder in the relationships between numbers.  Surely, a divine power had a hand in creating something so perfect.

My boys are confident in their abilities regarding a variety of subjects, particularly anything related to science.  My oldest son, B, often takes my copy of Scientific American before I get a chance to read it.  He is fearless as he tackles articles about complex theories.  He assumes he can understand it and usually does.  Having confidence is so important to learning.  A lack of confidence can sit like a road block, blocking the path for even the most intelligent traveler.  I've got a few of these road blocks, erected over the years.  Some were built after an initial failure understanding a topic.  Some were put up based on an assumed failure without actually trying.  I know they are out there and I know they sometimes impede me, but they are difficult to overcome.  Some of mine are silly, like I know that I will never understand the proper way to use a semicolon.  I could read a book on grammar right now and study semicolon usage but I just know I wouldn't understand it.  After all the studying, it would remain a mystery to me.

Another thing I find absolutely mysterious is knitting.  I've never tried knitting but I know I couldn't do it.  My wife knits and I've watched her.  The cats and I are equally fascinated.  I cannot comprehend how the yarn can be held together but not just be a big knot.  It is simply magic to me.  She might just as well be pulling rabbits out of a hat.  I am not troubled by my inability to grasp this.  Life should have a little mystery.