Why Grown-ups Should Shut Their Traps about Hating Math

A big thanks to @dansmath at DansMath.com for this post suggestion.

1. Do you hate math?
2. Do you really hate math?
3. Do you have kids?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this post is for you.

I’m not here to convince you to love math. I’m not even here to help you not hate it. But if you’ve got kids around, you gotta do something about your vocalization of this.

We want the next generation to be better than the previous generation – in everything. That’s our nature as parents and people.

In order to improve the next generation, the previous generations must either die or shut their traps. This is the case with racism, sexism, creed-ism and sexual orientation-ism. And it’s the case with anti-mathism, as well.

You certainly don’t want to die before your children finish their eduction, so you gotta learn to keep quiet.

Zip your lip for yourself.

Southwest Airlines tells you to put on your own oxygen mask before you help others put on theirs.

Your first step is to get yourself out of the habit of saying negative math things. This will make it easier when refraining from talking bad about math in front of kids.

If you’re math phobic, start doing this when you’re pregnant. If you will never have kids, do it anyway. Children are everywhere – you might’ve noticed.

The more you say it, the more you believe it. Which makes you say it even more.

Use this to your advantage, not your disadvantage. Every time you say, “I’m bad at math,” you get worse. You are the smartest person you know and you should believe whatever you say. Which means whatever your tell yourself will be true.

So tell yourself that math is okay. And if you can’t muster this, tell yourself something you are good at.

Don’t let your friends do it either.

If your friends say they hate math in front of your children, correct them. Treat this behavior just as you would if your friend said the F-word.

Give them “the look.” Correct them with other words like, “Math has always been an interesting challenge for Aunt Sophie… right?”

Be an example.

Your children take to heart what you say. They want to be like you. If you hate math, they want to hate math too. Even if they really don’t.

So when you feel the words coming toward your lips, force something good to come out. If you can’t say, “Math is fun” without cringing, tell them something you are good at. Anything works. Even if it seems lame.

Instead of:

Kiddo: Awww! I have to do fraction homework today. I hate fractions.
Grownup: I know, sweetheart. I never liked math either.

Try this instead:

Kiddo: Awww! I have to do fraction homework today. I hate fractions.
Grownup: Well, I’m good at cooking chicken!

Kiddo will think you’re nuts, but won’t associate any negativity to math. And since he already thinks you’re nuts, you’re good to go.

Use distraction.

If finding something you’re good at doesn’t come quick enough, scream some random swearword and say, “Oh my goodness I can’t believe I forgot…” and run out of the room. Compose yourself, prepare a short  sentence or two and go back into the room.

Some sentences to consider are:

• Where were we Kiddo? Oh right, fractions. Well, fractions help us share things. If you, your dad and I want to share a pizza, we need fractions in order to divide it up. If you do your homework with fractions, I’ll let you divide up the pizza that we get at Chuck E Cheese’s on Saturday!
• Fractions are interesting because they have two parts – a top and a bottom. You have a top and a bottom! Do your fractions and then we’ll wash your top and your bottom in the tub before dinner.

Avoid statements like, “Fractions are good for you.” Math shouldn’t be equated to vegetables. They’re good for you but you have to tolerate them. That may be your opinion, but remember were trying to improve the next generation.

So…

When negative math-speak comes to your tongue, say something else, anything else. Do it for you, do it for the children. Don’t die, but do shut your trap.