I think that parent's complaint is that we come into the word problem with loaded expectations from our real life experience, and these distract from the core o

I think that parent's complaint is that we come into the word problem with loaded expectations from our real life experience, and these distract from the core of the word problem. I don't see a way around it, but it's a valid complaint about word problems that involve unusual scenarios. The "One train leaves blah, other train leaves blah, find where they cross paths" word problem is in tune with the real world, whereas an infinitely stretchy rubber band with an ant isn't.