math

I knew something was up when  the 11 yr old  had  the  green plastic army guys  battling  on the family room floor. "Don't you have homework?"   "Just a little he said."  hmm, tonight was his first trip to the coaches house to watch films, maybe he was  nervous about going.  He definitely wanted  a distraction.   So about 10pm  yesterday, dishes done everyone tired  and  ready for bed he said he needs help with his homework.  He had no idea how to do long division.  I guess he figured if he waited until the very last minute he would magically figure it out.  "I don't like math.  Why do I have to learn this anyway?"   Are you kidding?  Another kid complaining about their curriculum!   Guess   my  dissertations  will never stop  yet  no one listens anyway or understands half of what I am trying to say.   But, I started anyway, "You have to  like  math!  Math is truth.   Math doesn't  change.   Ever.  It is not dependent on your opinion of it.  It is not dependent on your circumstance.  It is not relative to anything else.  It  is a constant.   It is good for you to know and realize that truth exists  and math is proof. You whole understanding of this  changes your whole understanding of everything!  Even  considering this gives  puts you ahead of the curve." Just like the kid yesterday, a very short pause, and then, "Well, the truth is  I don't like math and think it is stupid."