Danielle and Math

I took all the college-prep math classes in high school. I had the advantage of having a father who wanted to help when I got stumped on a problem. (I think this fact is one thing I probably took for granted like so many other unusual, amazing gifts of my childhood.) The problems that were especially difficult kept Dad up late but he almost always was able to show me how he solved them in the morning. I remember as a senior taking Senior Math, kind of a pre-calculus class. It was during that course that Dad told me that I'd reached a type and level of math that was beyond him. I remember how proud I was. I always admired my Dad's intellect and was in awe of his abilities. I wasn't proud that I had somehow "beaten" Dad. I was proud because not only could I manage the math in that course, I could manage it alone, without a bit of help from Dad. For once, I was proud of my accomplishment. (It has always been a lot easier for me to be self-critical.) As a parent of three now, I can imagine that Dad was proud too.