I'm struggling.

I don't have it all figured out.

All my sons want to do is play video games and watch YouTube all day every day.

A lot of conventional wisdom says I need to be angry, crack down, and take it all away until they do what they're told.

I've tried that, and let's just say it didn't end well. My relationship with my oldest daughter is... strained.

I grew up getting yelled at and was on the receiving end of the wooden spoon quite a bit.

I never doubted that my parents loved me, but I have also dealt with almost crippling self-esteem issues my entire life.

Perfect example. I'm 6' 4", relatively good looking I've been told, and believed for years that I was "too tall for women to like me."

I carried myself unconfidently.

I relied on alcohol in my twenties to give me the confidence to interact with other people way too much.

I dropped out of high school not because I lacked the intellect but because I was apathetic. To be honest, I'm still apathetic to a lot of things.

I've recently come to believe apathy may be a superpower.

It took me almost 50 years to gain some semblance of self confidence. I don't want my kids to go through that.

So what to do? I don't have it figured out, but what I do know is that I want them to know they're loved and they have amazing potential to be amazing humans. That's it.

I want them to have confidence that they're uniquely made and their self-worth isn't determined by their ability to get grades.

I know for a lot of you, that sounds crazy.

I recently heard a statistic that a child hears something positive about themselves from authority figures 40 times a day. And they often hear something negative over 400 times!

I will also add that in no way am I perfect and there are probably days where the negative comments outweigh the good. But I'm working on it.

So what to do?

I recently read a comment from a young 20 something homeschool tutor who addressed this. His suggestion? Just expose them to more and don't force it. If they're not interested, keep trying until something sticks.

Ultimately, something will stick. But only if we keep trying.

And that's how we got back to 3D printing. I had an older printer, they expressed an interest, I tried to get it going and it didn't work, so we invested in a new one.

They don't use it as much as me, but I know they like it.

They're boys and they like boy things.

That's unpopular to say in some circles these days, but it's a fact of life.

Boys tend to be drawn to making and building and girls tend to be drawn to people. It's not universal, but it is the tendency.

My strategy is actually pretty simple. When my kids get up in the morning I let them know they are amazing.

I let them know I'm happy to see them.

I ask them what they are going to do to be awesome today.

I let them know they are loved.

I trust the process and try not to get angry when they don't meet expectations.

And sometimes I fail, but seriously, how many times should I have to ask them not to take food to their room?!?!?!? Uggghhh!

All I want for them is to be confident.

And I want them to know that they are intelligent enough to figure anything out when they need to.

What else do we really need to succeed in life?

Confidence is key.

It's that time of the week! It's MAKER Monday! Every week, we'll share things about things we or others have made, interesting artistic creations, fun new knowledge, education in the maker community, and leave you with a weekly challenge!

Monday Maker Magic:

One of my favorite things to make with a 3D printer is a lithophane.

What is a lithophane you ask? It's a 3D printed rendering of a photograph and they are amazing!

Here's a picture of one I made recently.

If you look close, you can see there are some blobs/zits that I need to fine tune out of my Ender 3. Alas, a Bambu just isn't in my budget yet.

But still, it came out really good.

There are a couple of different free websites that will convert your images to stl files.

They provide all the instructions and a variety of ways you can create prints.

This is a nightlight cover, but there are several different ways you can create them.

​Lithophane Maker website is my favorite, and right now they are featuring heart shaped designs for Valentine's Day!

Artistry in Action (Artist Spotlight):

This is absolutely one of the most amazing artistic things I have seen lately.

This man uses arduino, motors, sensors, and various objects to create "mirrors."

Technically they are mirrors in the traditional sense, but they do interact with the person standing in front of them to mirror their reflection back to them, just not in the traditional sense.

It's absolutely beautiful.

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Knowledge Nuggets:

Yesterday was the Super Bowl as I'm sure many of you know. As I sit here writing this on my Mac, I realized it is the 40th anniversary of the Apple Macintosh computer.

That computer revolutionized the world. That's not a hyperbolic statement! So much of what Steve Jobs and Apple accomplished with the original Mac has changed our lives.

And to realize that 40 years ago most people didn't have a computer in their home, much less an Apple computer in their pocket.

It's pretty incredible.

So this week, here is a link to the commercial that was directed by Ridley Scott, that served as the announcement of the Macintosh during the 1984 Super Bowl.

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Education Exchange:

I came across this on Thingiverse this week. It's a physics playground and uses sensors, but I think it can be done without the sensors and just using observation and an explanation of physics principles.

Rise to the Challenge (Weekly Challenge):

It's Valentine's Day this Wednesday. This last weekend I was at a conference and they were talking about AI and ChatGPT. So this week I have a challenge for you to use ChatGPT!

I just used it to write you a Valentine poem! Really it's to my Facebook Group, but many of you are members of the group anyway. Without further ado!

To my cherished group, so dear,

In this realm of knowledge, love appears.

It is I, Dave, your humble guide,

With hearts entwined, our spirits abide.

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In the academy of learning, we unite,

A Facebook family, strong and bright.

Homeschool Makers, 3D printing kin,

Together we flourish, let the love begin.

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In this realm of bits and codes,

Our shared passions steadily unfold.

A challenge, my friends, I bring to you,

A poetic endeavor, both old and new.

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Use ChatGPT, the wondrous mind,

Craft a verse, unique and kind.

Share your knowledge, let creativity flow,

In the language of love, let your words glow.

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Speak of lessons, wisdom, and the joy we've found,

In the virtual halls where our thoughts resound.

Let the pixels dance with affection's glow,

As our Facebook group continues to grow.

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So, my dear members, the challenge is set,

With ChatGPT, let your words beget.

A valentine's poem, like a digital dove,

Express your love for learning and the bonds thereof.

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In the vast expanse of the online sea,

Let your verses ripple, boundless and free.

For in this community, our hearts beat as one,

A love for knowledge, forever spun.

Thank you Reader for joining us this week on our making journey! If you have anything to add or you want to share what you've been working on, please don't hesitate to respond!

Please share this with your friends and help us grow our maker community! If you haven't already, like our Facebook Page and join our Facebook group, Homeschool Makers and 3D Printing Enthusiasts!​

Now get out there and create something amazing!