Why Do I Build Things For My Kids?
December 06, 2011, By Andy Hinds 2 comments
There's really no rational reason to make, rather than buy, things for your kids. Unless you can produce something more efficiently than the factory in China, or design a toy more clever or aesthetically pleasing than the pricey wooden ones from Europe, you're better off putting in a couple more hours at the office, or spending some quality time with the kids. Or sleeping.
So why do I bother making stuff for my kids? When I think about it, it seems largely selfish. There's a short-term ego payoff, and then there's an even less tangible (but still ultimately egotistical) reward for the work that verges into territory I'm usually pretty dismissive of: legacy. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed to even use that word.
Ego has a lot to do with creating things. I suspect that very few of us get enough satisfaction from our invisible accomplishments to keep us working toward more of them. So the prospect of someone incredulously saying, "You built that yourself?" when they see the trifle you made for your kid can be very motivating.
When I used to spend most of my time building things as a job, I didn't need these motivations because someone was giving me money to make stuff. These days, as you can tell, I strain to justify the hours spent in the garage in a swirl of sawdust.
I should cut myself a little slack here and say that I do actually enjoy the process involved in creating something with my hands, not just the recognition that sometimes comes with its completion. At times, the tedium of sanding a chunk of wood to glasslike smoothness or cutting dozens of identical pieces of lumber is supremely calming. Arriving at an elegant solution to a problem that had you scratching your head or chasing your tail provides endorphin-squirting satisfaction rarely found in day-to-day activities, especially when you're a full-time parent.
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