In yesterday’s post, I made fun of my (lack of) math skills in my typical exaggerated fashion. Today, I am bragging on what a good calculator I actually am. No more hiding my light under a bushel.
Image credit: http://blog.biguniverse.com/tag/math-concepts/
For my entire life, I have been a stellar, Nobel-Prize-worthy calculator. In each stage of my life I can remember, I have reduced every decision to a single calculation. It’s simple, exquisite, and quite handy as a way to get myself to make tough decisions that life is always presenting me.
Here’s the breakdown of my lifetime of calculations, where every decision could be reduced to my then-reigning core values:
How close will I get to candy if I choose X versus Y? — Me at ages 4-6
How will this further my relationship to God? — Me at ages 6-8 (I prayed for the stigmata, so I wasn’t fucking around on this one)
Which outcome will bring me closer to becoming a star ballerina? — Me at ages 8-12
How will this affect my status with the “cool” kids at school? — Me at ages 12-FOREVER
Which outcome will be the least likely to mess up my perm or smudge my blue eyeliner? — Me at ages 13-15
How will this affect my chances of getting a boyfriend? — Me at ages 13-18
How many calories am I likely to burn if I choose X versus Y? — Me at FOREVER
How will this affect my GPA? — Me at ages 18-22
How much money will this cost? — Me at ages 22-25 (Poor, graduate school years)
How much will this make my boyfriend drink? — Me at ages 25-27 (The “dating alcoholics” years)
Will this disrupt my studies? — Me during law school (NERD ALERT!)
Which outcome is more likely to please my therapist? — Me at ages 28-33 (Self-aware, but still a NERD!)
Which outcome is more likely to put me in contact with eligible men, one of whom just might be “the one”? — Me at ages 33-37
Which outcome will make the gut-twisting nausea stop? — Me at pregnant
Which decision will make this baby SHUT THE FUCK UP? — Me with newborns
Which decision will make the baby weight disappear fastest? — Postpartum Me
Which decision will enable me to get more sleep? — Me for the rest of my life
* * *
See? That’s all sort of mathy isn’t it? I am giving myself credit for the skill involved in tracking how a decision to change cell phone carriers may or may not allow me to burn calories. Or how the decision to bring an umbrella to the park may affect my sleep for the next few nights. My brain, it’s always so busy.
If only life were so quantifiable. Cute post . . .
Thanks.
I love your math! Now that your decisions are not cost-based (ex-poor grad student here, I get it!), I think the decision to buy a new pair of boots will allow you to sleep better. Just saying…
Frye, right? I love how you think. Must be that PhD!
You are right. We are always calculating something and solving problems big or small (says the once college math major). Fun post!
Seriously? A math major? That’s so intense. Good for you. College calculus almost did me in.
You think wayyyyy too much. Here is the summation of my consciousness, from birth to now:
“Oh look, a pony!”
See? No math involved.
That’s excellent!
Brilliant! Every word! A fabulous idea for a post and stellar execution! Bet you burned lots of calories thinking about writing this. And writing this. And posting. And all that calorie burning earns you a great night’s sleep!
Exactly my hope!
Stigmata. Wow. I feel so inadequately unholy now. Great post!
I was pretty impressionable!
You are quite the Calculating Woman.
I wish u could stop!
I meant to write I wish I could stop! Trying to watch kids in bath while typing. Oopsie.
oh lord, I had the same night as you. Boy up at 4:15 and never went back to sleep. Now at 630 he’s still wide awake and I want to collapse. Ian’s not coming home tonight so it’s all me. My calculations begin…how am I going to make it?
That’s always a good calculation. Let us sleep.
Oh, how this post warms the cockles of my math-loving heart!
Here’s my calculation today: How much of the candy in my son’s birthday party goody bag can I eat before he notices? (Please note that he is rationed to one piece after lunch and one piece after dinner; I have no such rations for myself.)
Mommies don’t get rationed! That’s the perk of this whole operation. Except, now I am sick from eating pinata booty.
Praying for the stigmata? Absolutely priceless!
I think it’s safe to say I was a strange and intense little kid.
Love it! I’m almost always calculating how late I can leave for carpool before my child won’t be left on the sidewalk…or how many more minutes can I read blogs before I HAVE to leave or I’ll be late. You know, you’ve given me a new hope that math might be my thing after all! –Lisa
Good Heavens, I do this all the time? Can I leave at 2:20? How about 2:23? One more blog; one more comment. We should start a consulting business.
Girl, you kill it every.single.day. Love it. And I totally know this calculating girl! My daily calculation is usually: which decision will make me feel the least guilty? I could totally help a therapist buy that boat they’ve been dreaming about.
I hear this loud and clear.
Will this disrupt my studies?
Me, forever.
Which will require the least effort so I can read later?
Me, forever.
Wish my math genius was more lifey and less bookish.
Yes indeed. Me too.