Let’s not beat around the bush: children’s maths homework can be hard. We’ve had the parents struggling to answer a 6-year-old’s maths question, plus the mum who wouldn’t work out this dog puzzle for her 7-year-old.
And these parents aren’t alone. Last night, columnist Lucy Mangan tweeted that her eight-year-old’s maths homework was officially “beyond” her.
“I retire from motherhood,” she wrote.The 8 year old’s maths homework is now officially beyond me. I retire from motherhood.— Lucy Mangan (@LucyMangan) October 2, 2019Parents replied in their hundreds relating to the dilemma – from those who had given up completely, to others who racked their brains to try and help. Many sympathised immediately I sympathise. Totally.— Laura Spagnolo (@Laura_Spagnolo_) October 2, 2019My 6 year old had partitioning to do this week. I have no idea what this is.— Leanne Gill (@lsgill79) October 2, 2019Exactly this happened yesterday with my 9 year old 😬— Catherine O (@kittyosh) October 3, 2019Related... 8 Homework Questions That Stumped Parents Some were haunted by homework of the past. Aah! Vividly remember my son looking at me and saying “Can’t you do long division Mummy “? Pretty much saw the scales fall from his eyes revealing me to be the idiot I am😕— Lindsey Parfett (@LindseyParfett) October 2, 2019Number bonds did it for me.— Ms Person (@MsPerson) October 2, 2019Try year 9 physics. All my awful times in science labs come shrieking back.— philippa vinall (@pippavinall) October 2, 2019I remember this! Mean, median and mode finally stumped me ;-)— Alison Alexander (@AliAlexander15) October 2, 2019Other parents took matters in their own handsI had a useful book - called something like Maths for Mums and Dads or Maths homework for Parents. Explained all the new ways of doing things— Jane Clapton 🇪🇺 (@janeclapton) October 2, 2019Year 2. Booked a babysitter to go to a maths workshop at school. We both have to go so husband can explain it to me afterwards, like the proud, qualified feminist I am. This was not factored into my dreams of adulthood (I don’t understand factors)— Ana Sampson McLaughlin (@AnaBooks) October 3, 2019While others warned it’s only going to get harderNo, I think it’s WELCOME to motherhood. *stamp of approval*— Smriti Halls (@SmritiPH) October 2, 2019I'm afraid it doesn't get any easier. My 15 year old was talking to me quite enthusiastically about his maths lesson today and he didn't notice my eyes glaze over. I have to remind him of his audience.— Susan Keeling (@SusanKeeling4) October 2, 2019Back to the books we go...Related... How I've Learned To Talk My 3-Year-Old Son Down From His Tantrums 6 Classic Family Disagreements That Tech Totally Sorted Out