Snowballs

You know that Kindergarten formal education is paying off when your child makes mathematical connections outside the classroom. As in applying concepts learned in the classroom to real world situations. It might even make your heart swell with pride to witness your offspring do this, espeically if you are a math geek.

Not that I am.

OK, fine. I am.

But, Man is not.

Not that he's dumb by any stretch of the imagination he just learned math in Wisconsin, it's just that he doesn't have ribbons and medals from placing in Jr. High Math Team Competitions.

Not that I do either.

OK, fine. I do.

Several.

And, I was in band.

Which just proves that even geek girls can eventually grow up and have all this.

And a blog, too.

But, this is not about me, it's about MiniMe.

And, her keen mathematical skills.

So, where was I? Yes, bragging about my child. While the Kindy math worksheets require that she practice writing her numbers and circling the set with more, MiniMe is ready to tackle more exicitng real world scenarios.

Can she actually add and subtract? Not if you put it on paper, but she can work simple story problems in her head. OK, Cupcake, If Daddy buys 5 Bratwurst & we all eat one, how many are leftover?

One. And, can I have it?

Right! And, no, you can't have two Bratwurst at one sitting. How about this one? If Daddy buys 6 Kartoffelpuffers, how many can we each have?

One. And, we can split the other two.

Good job!

She's also fairly skilled at comparing objects and drawing conclusions based on their size. As demonstrated this past weekend at a Christmas Market here:

Cochem, Germany

While we were hanging out in the Beer Tent (yes, at a Christmas Market -- first one we've seen) having dinner & warming up, MiniMe makes the following observation.

MiniMe: Hey, Mommy! This snowman has bigger balls than the other one!

Me: (choking on Diet Coke & Rindswurst, laughing obnoxiously)

Me Thinking: So, that's why we don't call them SnowFrauen!

Man: Yeah, Sweetie. That's his buttons.

Me: Buttons?! (still laughing, almost hysterically now)

MiniMe: Dad! They're not buttons. They're balls!

Me: (on the floor at this point)

Man: I don't see what's so funny. What balls? Those are buttons.

MiniMe & Snowman with the small balls

MiniMe & Snowman with the big balls

I composed myself long enough to offer a proper explanation to Man on the finer details on snowman balls, what they were & why I thought the whole conversations was so darn funny. Then proceeded to laugh some more. It was very much the sophomoric behavior you would expect from a 13 year old band & math geek me.

HausFrau Wisdom: When comparing SnowMen, it's not the size of the balls that matter, it's how they are stacked.