Geometry
Thursday, June 17th 2010 @ 11:17 AM
Geometry by Michael Malgeri
During a typical dinner you'll find my wife and me reading, our daughter playing with plastic or electronic toys and our son writing in his notebook. Four family members eating and ignoring each other...such a Norman Rockwell image.
On this occasion, however, our son was working on geometry problems, which to my delight he wanted to discuss.
"Dad, do you know a triangle with two equal sides is called isosceles?"
I remembered that and said, "Yes." I also thought geometry was kinda advanced for sixth grade but since kids today learn about Earth Day in Lamaze class I thought, "Oh well."
"And did you know an angle less than 90 degrees is called an acute angle?"
I also remembered that so I said, "Yes! Hey here's a riddle. What did the square say to the triangle?"
My son smiled in anticipation of one of Dad's corny jokes. "What?" he said.
"You have a-cute angle?"
He thought it was pretty funny and my wife gave a good impression of a chuckle, but our soon to be 10 year old daughter couldn't hold back her patented "my Dad's a dork" eye roll.
"Dad," she said and paused, "...you're obtuse."
I guess they're teaching geometry in fourth grade too.
© Michael Malgeri 2010
Editor’s Note: Michael teaches kids about honest profit making. Visit http://www.kids4biz.com
Quasimodo Kid
Thursday, June 3rd 2010 @ 11:45 PM
Quasimodo Kid by Michael Malgeri
"Dad! Look what happened to me today!" I'd just arrived home from work on a Tuesday evening and our 11 year old was pointing at his distorted face. His right eye was puffed out and changing colors. The effect was 21st century Quasimodo.
I reacted calmly..."WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!" My reaction nearly puffed out his other eye.
I soon came to learn that a school exit gate, which was traditionally open, was recently ordered closed. Far be it from my son, and the rest of his pals to break tradition. The daily prison break from school, prompted a few of them to scale the gate while my son made the unfortunate choice to crawl under.
What goes up must come down and down came one of the boys right on my son's head. Needless to say, my wife left nothing to my imagination about what COULD have happened. However unpleasant her speculation was, it made me thankful his head was shaken, not stirred.
After toying with and abandoning the idea of a trillion dollar lawsuit, I settled on praising him for his toughness, thankful his life and beauty were intact.
"I'm proud of you buddy for being so tough. That must have really hurt."
"Yeah, it did, Dad," he said somewhat contemplatively.
"What's wrong pal?"
"Nothing," he said coming out of a mild trance, which made me wonder if his brain was indeed a bit scrambled. Then he continued with a smile.
"You know what's the best thing about getting hurt Dad?!"
"What's that?"
"You get a lot of attention from the girls!"
I guess he's OK.
© Michael Malgeri, 2010
Editor’s Note: Michael teaches kids about honest profit making. Visit http://www.kids4biz.com
