Handing Down Hobbies

A father teaching his daughter how to play guitar
Photo by Cottonbro Studio from Pexels

 

Tech ties

By Daisy Soongswang

 

My husband Anond is obsessed with all things gadgets and technology—in the best way possible because he’s made my life so much more efficient and convenient with all these cool gadgets. For starters, after we moved into our place, he asked if he could make everything into a smart device—remotes, plugs, the works. Whether he’s driving and discovering a shortcut or tinkering around with machines, he finds deep satisfaction in hacking something to make it more efficient. 

 

We have four voice assistant devices in our home, and given that he's grown up hearing his dad give them commands, it’s only natural that our son, Cooper (6), has learned to embrace technology too. Just two weeks ago, I stood and observed as my six-almost-seven-year-old commanded Alexa to play music on Spotify, turn on the AC, and shut off the fans. I was in awe of how much he’s grown.

 

It’s definitely been inspiring to see my husband’s and Cooper's interests intertwine over the years. With my husband’s love of technology and Cooper’s fascination with the mechanics of elevators, one of their favorite shared pastimes is exploring the city’s malls and skyscrapers, and studying the various elevator models around town. Both my guys are truly passionate about machines, technology, and gadgets.

 

 


Blocks, bricks, and bonding

By Sanam Rahman

 

In our family, building is serious business. Ever since we got married, I’ve heard numerous stories of how, as a child, my husband, Canopus, liked to take apart his toys and put them back together from scratch. How things worked, what parts they were made of, and what other ways they could be reassembled, were just some of the things he was passionate about. As an adult, this passion hasn’t waned at all. It’s just being passed on to our daughters, Amanah (8.5) and Siyana (5.5).

 

Together, they can spend hours playing with LEGO, Mechanix pieces, and all sorts of creative construction toys. Watching them huddle together as they brainstorm ideas, problem-solve, and bring their creations to life is such a joy. It’s not just about play—it’s teaching them creativity, physics, spatial reasoning, and the patience to see a project through to the end.

And if I’m honest, it’s a bit of a relief, too! While I love spending time with the kids, my interests lean more towards role-play, board games and reading with them. I’m not exactly thrilled by the prospect of constructing miniature skyscrapers or assembling intricate machines because I can never stop thinking about cleaning up the little pieces later on. So it’s wonderful that the girls don’t miss out on this kind of play, thanks to their dad.