Me, realizing Anand’s homework last night involved computer tasks I find particularly annoying, but which Kavi does with ease:
Hey, kids — can I make you a deal? Kavi, if you help Anand with his homework for the next twenty minutes, I’ll make chocolate-chip scones.
Kavi: Deal!
Anand: It doesn’t seem like I’m doing anything for the deal, since I’m just getting help with the homework I’d have to do anyway.
Me: Your job is not being cranky and obstructionist when Kavi is trying to help you with your homework.
Anand: Okay, that seems fair.
*****
A little later, me, texting: Kevin, Anand’s done, but can you come down and help Kavi with her math homework? She’s supposed to find the greatest common factor, and I know I knew how to do that once, but I have no idea how to do it now.
Kevin comes down, runs through a quick explanation, then says: There you go!
Kavi, indignantly: No! No ‘there you go!’
Me: I agree with Kavi. No ‘there you go!’
Kevin, laughing: Okay, let’s work through the first problem together. [He ended up working through the first 9 problems with her, but she finished the last 3 on her own.]
Meanwhile, I made scones. To each according to their abilities, say I. Let’s play to our strengths. 
