Yeah, the "too hard". Make a home rule that everything that's too hard requires you to look at it and see if you can help.
[nodding] Yes!
I also agree with KM-- both that it doesn't get any easier as they get older, and that you'll want to push a little on the challenge front.
I love KM's description of that teacher's method of encouraging students to tackle word/context-rich math problems systematically-- that is GREAT!
Math has been the subject of Battles ROYALE at my house, between two volatile and assertive PhD parents... and one self-determined, perfectionistic PG princess*.
* as in
The Princess and the Pea Pi. 
