Wired up differently

I live with a house full of males so I get the whole - men are from Mars kind of thinking. Let me simplify it for you though – men’s brains are wired differently.

Proof of this wiring difference occurred last night in my house. Youngest son asked me what the difference is between 2 π R and π R squared. So if you’re a math whizz, then you’re three steps ahead of me and understand this symbol means pi (Google my lifelong friend) and you may even know the answer to the question.

If you don’t know the answer then, please, climb up on my ol’ bandwagon because while I didn’t know the answer, I also didn’t care – other than to help my son with his question.

My son always asks me school related questions because I give better explanations than his dad – well anyway that’s my reasoning and I’m sticking to it. The thing is my blank stare and inane look might have indicated some of my ignorance.

See, I was also that charming student in high school who bemoaned what a waste of time it was to learn about Pythagoras’ Theorem and algebra and geometry and all the other useless rubbish.

Really where was I ever going to use it in the grown up world?

My ignorance last night had hubby sitting up with interest and asking why son needed to know. Son’s reply, so he could measure the surface of a pool and calculate how many tiles were needed but also so he could allow for an island in the centre of the pool. Of course, why didn’t I think of that?

Now ask me to describe that pool and I can do it in as many or as few words as you want. For me; descriptive, enticing, visual words – piece of cake, but measurements – ugh. Son definitely got the man-math gene from hubby. See men’s brains are wired differently.

Is it any wonder this world gets so mixed up when our brains are wired differently?

One of my magazines this week had a story about a woman who asked her hubby to go to the shop and buy a carton of milk, and if they had eggs in store to buy 6. Now you and I know what that means, but he obviously didn’t.

He came home with 6 cartons of milk and to his bewildered wife he explained that yes, they did have eggs in store. Wired differently - yes???

I work in communications, so now can you see how hard my job is?

It doesn’t matter sometimes what you say or in how many ways you say it; it just doesn’t get through. We all think differently and are passionate about different things.

The thing is we can laugh at this guy and even feel sorry for his wife – but the reality is that this guy is a co-worker, a neighbour, a customer, a client, or heaven forbid a family member.

Everyone’s brains are wired differently and there’s no one message which suits the wiring or understanding of every individual. Plus, I’ve still never used Pythagoras’ Theorem or algebra or geometry in the grown up world.

Cheers, Fi