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“When I was a kid I never got help from my parents on these projects, and hated the kids who "won" because their parent helped.” I wish my parents had shown in

“When I was a kid I never got help from my parents on these projects, and hated the kids who "won" because their parent helped.” I wish my parents had shown interest in stuff like this and supported me to some degree. It’s not about doing the whole project for the kids but showing interest is super helpful. I often gave up on stuff because my dad would basically say “what’s this nonsense for?” I noticed this when read books about Steve Wozniak and Richard Feynman. Their dads showed interest and encouraged them to explore the world and also challenged them from time to time.

dekhn 5y ago
As the person who said that I should point out that my parents did teach me and work with me on things, just not technical maker projects (pinewood derby, build a bridge and see how much it can carry, etc). Other kids had dads with garages full of woodworking equipment and had trained them. On the other hand, my parents provided me with a computer and the freedom to learn from it (the thing I liked about computers is that you didn't have to depend on other people as much to learn how they worked). As an example of what I missed out on, while I was on a team of makers I was using a cordless drill and stripped a screw. A coworker poitned out there's a knob that controls the tension of a ratchet, so you can make t he drill stop spinning before stripping the screw. I had no idea, at 45, that was even possible. They had all known about it from early childhood.
- klik99 5y ago
  I had the exact same experience at 35 - I was a self taught at home handyman and thought that it was inevitable that screws just get stripped! Funnily enough my dad was pretty handy at building, but the extent of my help was holding and gophering so I never actually learned much, except that it's possible to DIY.
perl4ever 5y ago
I recall something about Feynman's sister not being encouraged. I don't recall if it was his father or his mother.
- spaetzleesser 5y ago
  Sadly being a good parent to one child doesn’t necessarily mean being a good parent to all children.
hellbannedguy 5y ago
My dad didn't show any interest in the stuff I was interested in besides cars. I knew early on my father, and myself, were very different. What suprised me is after, and during college I felt he was in a weird competition with me. He never paid a cent towards my schooling so I didn't understand some of his comments. He made more money off he as a dependant on his taxes than any care he provided. or very close. He always used to say, "But you don't contribute to society by being in school." I knew what he was getting at, but I was working through school as a Securty Guard. I was paying taxes? (And I knew how much college was overrated.) I understand not having the same interests, but trying to sabatoge a young guy is something else?

dekhn 5y ago

As the person who said that I should point out that my parents did teach me and work with me on things, just not technical maker projects (pinewood derby, build a bridge and see how much it can carry, etc). Other kids had dads with garages full of woodworking equipment and had trained them. On the other hand, my parents provided me with a computer and the freedom to learn from it (the thing I liked about computers is that you didn't have to depend on other people as much to learn how they worked). As an example of what I missed out on, while I was on a team of makers I was using a cordless drill and stripped a screw. A coworker poitned out there's a knob that controls the tension of a ratchet, so you can make t he drill stop spinning before stripping the screw. I had no idea, at 45, that was even possible. They had all known about it from early childhood.

klik99 5y ago
I had the exact same experience at 35 - I was a self taught at home handyman and thought that it was inevitable that screws just get stripped! Funnily enough my dad was pretty handy at building, but the extent of my help was holding and gophering so I never actually learned much, except that it's possible to DIY.

perl4ever 5y ago

I recall something about Feynman's sister not being encouraged. I don't recall if it was his father or his mother.

spaetzleesser 5y ago
Sadly being a good parent to one child doesn’t necessarily mean being a good parent to all children.

hellbannedguy 5y ago

My dad didn't show any interest in the stuff I was interested in besides cars. I knew early on my father, and myself, were very different. What suprised me is after, and during college I felt he was in a weird competition with me. He never paid a cent towards my schooling so I didn't understand some of his comments. He made more money off he as a dependant on his taxes than any care he provided. or very close. He always used to say, "But you don't contribute to society by being in school." I knew what he was getting at, but I was working through school as a Securty Guard. I was paying taxes? (And I knew how much college was overrated.) I understand not having the same interests, but trying to sabatoge a young guy is something else?