I figured that my kids would eventually reach the point in their education when helping them with their homework would require more than a cursory glance on my part. But I didn’t expect it to happen like this.

Tonight, my nine-year-old came home with a worksheet that he is supposed to “correct,” using proofreading symbols. And I must have turned about three shades of red when I realized that I could only remember one offhand: indent paragraph.

This led to three thoughts in quick succession:

Thought one: I’m a professional writer, and I can’t even help my kid with his English homework? I am an utter failure as a writer and a mother.

Thought two: I have never once received anything from an editor, or even a post-1990’s professor, containing proofreading symbols. There’s this fabulous “track changes” function…

Thought three: Who indents paragraphs anymore???

I’d love to spend more time speculating on this topic, but I have to get back to helping my kid with his editing. Maybe I can dig up a blue pencil somewhere…