Ah, 7th grade math. How I love to dread you. Or maybe I just purely dread you.  

Having two kids in two different math classes is a treat because even though it’s still 7th-grade math, it’s being taught (and soaked in by them) in the slightest of different ways.

What I am loving though, is the whole, ‘show your work and get partial credit’ thing. Some of the problems they’re solving have so… many… steps. And the fact that as long as they show each step as they progress, they’ll receive credit up until it takes the really wrong turn.

And I like that. I like they don’t get dinged for the whole thing just because they made a mistake mid-way through. And I like that it reinforces the importance of slowing down to show your work. My guess is that there are more right answers because they have to get used to slowing down in order to show how they got the answer. Clearly, you can see that I’m all for partial credit.

So what about love… can partial credit be a thing there too?

Can you not like the way a certain conversation turned out AND still appreciate each other’s willingness to have it?  

Can you be frustrated that change is taking longer than you’d like AND also notice that shifts are occurring?

Can you long to feel more connected and in sync with each other AND also celebrate the small reaches and the ways you’re leaning into each other?

I think you can. 

I think that partial credit can be a way to better notice what’s still needed, without throwing out the whole experience as wrong or bad.

 I think it can help you remain hopeful that you’re getting there, even if there are bumps along the way.

What about you? Is there a way that a partial credit mindset might help you both feel more hopeful, productive, and successful in love? Talk about it… together… and see what you think.

Until next week,

-A

P.S. If you’re struggling with ‘all or nothing’ thinking in love… reach out. I’m here to help you see the value AND the growth in the gray. It really can be a game-changer in love!