We were watching a show in the evening when the teacher sent a text to the parents that she gave our kids their math test results back. And she encouraged everyone to check the kids homework and help them the best we can to practice math at home through homework.

I turned to Jackie and casually asked her about her test. She responded with nonchalance that she got a failing grade.

I stopped the movie and said it’s time to review the homework and the problems she got in her test. We spent the next hour solving math problems. The kind you just need to think to solve. They are all different and you need to slow down to write the equations needed to solve the problems.

She is brilliant but she rushes. And doesn’t have the practice of thinking math problems through.

Probably she was playing cool as a defense mechanism. But her indifference causes me to tell her the truth about this kind of careless foundation for the future.

I asked her: “do you like this lifestyle?” She looked at me wide eyed. Yes. She answered. We ordered pizza because we could. She ate three types of dessert, cheesecake made by Conrad and layered cake fresh made today by me. She played outside a lot. Ivy went swimming with me. It is a pretty sweet life we have. And I told her: this doesn’t just happen. We studied hard and worked hard to have this comfort. I have experienced and she experienced a different kind of life, even hard work doesn’t guarantee a good life. But a lazy school approach will garante lacking and need.

Last big test of check her homework on a Sunday afternoon and it was shit. We refit everything. We worked patiently together for 4 hours with breaks. It so happened that Monday she had the test and she aced it. She was even surprised. I reminded her of it and her face lit up. It motivated her to keep going and we finished a lot of homework together. It is not about this year’s grades. Fifth year of school is hellish. And fast paced and it feels like drowning. No matter what she does this year. But her chances of thriving after surviving are higher if she give it her best now. Plus, it’s good practice to work hard early.

Ivy struggled with basic things all year. We struggled alongside her. The dysgraphia was evident at first. But things finally clicked. She reads everything she catches. I’m so impressed with how she pushed through the confusing stage of grasping letters, syllables and words and numbers.

School is hard. For kids and parents alongside them. I confronted school on my own but that was not ideal. God gifted me the gift of knowledge and tutoring in matters of math all through high school. May I have the patience to walk alongside them with joy and gratitude.