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Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

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Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#151

Post by manojlds »

jomkr wrote: post #104
skrebbel wrote: post #98

This thread is slowly filling up with stories of enthusiastic workaholic parents who are disciplined and fit enough to take every single 15 minute break to sit down and get some code out. If you're able to code up a blog engine with one hand while holding your baby in the other, I envy you. I wish I could muster up the energy and discipline to do something like that. But to other readers: for many people this is not…

Agreed. I'm only 25 with no kids and single. I still don't program in my off time. I do things I vastly prefer like rock-climb, work-out or just get very, very drunk. I'm not a rock-star programmer but I can definitely hold my own in the office. And guess who the managers prefer to take to meet clients, me or the guys that spend 120 hours plus infront of a screen.

> And guess who the managers prefer to take to meet clients, me or the guys that spend 120 hours plus infront of a screen.

It's been very difficult for me to guess the answer to this.

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#154

Post by pknerd »

>a family and some still find plenty of time to blog or write >books. How is this possible? Are these people super-human? >How are you all doing or managing if you have kids/family?

I only write blog. To answer your original question, kids are great stress reliever. I work from home and often get irritated by their unwanted shouting and screaming but then I don't work all the time. I do give them time, eat with them and play with them. For blogging/side projects etc it does not take much time, specially if you are organizing things around you.

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#155

Post by 01000001 »

Well, I don't know what happened to me, but I became a father in July, and this is my GitHub: http://i.imgur.com/EZSE03y.png

I still spend a lot of time with my child, and have a great balance. Anything is possible, if you're smart enough to arrange things properly.

Not super human, but I do spend about 8 hours working, and about 6 hours doing non-work, but I intersperse it with taking breaks to play with my kid or to sit and eat breakfast.

You will find it hard in the beginning, when you're not getting much sleep, but it does get easier, and I imagine it's just going to get easier.

I had people tell me my life would be hell. They were wrong. Just because they mismanaged it and lost their passion, doesn't mean you have to.

Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#156

Post by methyl »

nb777 wrote: post #126
jwr wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agreed. I find it impossible to work in the afternoons/evenings, because even if you find a moment, it's too hard to concentrate and do meaningful (e.g. hard) stuff. Make the best of your work hours. The idea of a boring job "for money" and fun/learning stuff afterwards is outdated. Don't waste your life on a boring job. Work time should be when you do fascinating stuff and learn.

If you are not living in a city with plenty of developer jobs available then that's often not possible and you are stuck to the boring job "for money" scheme. Of course you can always relocate but this has its own downsides...

We as developers have privilege to work remotely. Don't excuse yourself saying "I need an office and people around". That's just not true, as you gain so huge amount of perks when you find a remote job it's madness if you don't even try it for a year or two.

If you really go crazy alone you can always find coworking space almost anywhere in the world.

Moreover, constantly look for opportunities. I recently heard very wise words that the best time to change your job is when you are perfectly happy with current one.

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#157

Post by [deleted] »

nb777 wrote: post #126
jwr wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agreed. I find it impossible to work in the afternoons/evenings, because even if you find a moment, it's too hard to concentrate and do meaningful (e.g. hard) stuff. Make the best of your work hours. The idea of a boring job "for money" and fun/learning stuff afterwards is outdated. Don't waste your life on a boring job. Work time should be when you do fascinating stuff and learn.

If you are not living in a city with plenty of developer jobs available then that's often not possible and you are stuck to the boring job "for money" scheme. Of course you can always relocate but this has its own downsides...

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#158

Post by skyisblue »

flurdy wrote: post #31

With kids, my commute is my 'me time'. And nearly only me time. Once home I am a human trampoline. :) I hack away for an hour each way, especially on my home journeys. I actually appreciate the long train journey. Thankfully it is all one journey without changes. And train delays once I am on the train I don't actually mind. Though I go first class so I have a guaranteed seat with table and comfort. Otherwise, I'd be…

Agree with this. I too have a 2 hour commute daily and treasure this alone time.

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#159

Post by yotamoron »

Before I had kids, I considered myself to be a busy man. After my first kid was born, I realized how much spare time I actually had when I had no kids. After my second kid was born, I realized how much spare time I had with only 1 kid. After my third kid was born - you get the picture (we stopped at 3).

My point? your life is full of unbelievable pile of unimportant things (and by 'unimportant' I don't mean important in some objective, cosmic way, but important by the core values YOU have that can only present themselves when under pressure). Having kids (or, in a more general way, having much much less free time) will force you to become much better in separating the wheat from the chaff - which is a great thing.

Re: Ask HN: Developers with kids, how do you skill up?

#160

Post by Nursie »

UK-AL wrote: post #140
skrebbel wrote: post #98

This thread is slowly filling up with stories of enthusiastic workaholic parents who are disciplined and fit enough to take every single 15 minute break to sit down and get some code out. If you're able to code up a blog engine with one hand while holding your baby in the other, I envy you. I wish I could muster up the energy and discipline to do something like that. But to other readers: for many people this is not…

"Consider letting off-time be off-time and getting yourself a better job :)" - Those two conflict. Most jobs want the next buzzwords in the job description, which you aren't learning in the current job.

Most jobs?

I work for the uk office of a finance company, on a contract basis, on target to pull in roughly six figures* this year.

My CV consists of C in the main, with a little C++11 and a smattering of right-up-to-date javascript and python.

"Most jobs" seems like a bit of an overstatement.

(*for Americans, the UK market does not pay like the US market, rates of pay here are generally awful in comparison to the US or Australia)

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