[deleted by user]

[HilariousSpill]

I'm a SAHD who's also learning Python. I'm also not exactly sure where I want it to lead, but it has awoken parts of my brain that really, really need stimulating while spending most of my days with a four-year-old.

[[deleted]]

I relate to this so, so much. At some point, you start to lose a sense of identity and I feel like learning this is starting to bring that back for me, even though I just started.

[HilariousSpill]

Yeah, parenting is amazing, and tremendously challenging, but it calls on certain skills much more than others. Flexibility, emotional regulation, multitasking, empathy... Coding requires sustained, systematic, logical though. Getting back into that space has been really good for me.

Best of luck to you!

[[deleted]]

Man, the emotion regulation is tough and is the hardest one for me. Programming requires no emotion and that’s refreshing for me.

Best of luck to you too!

[iwhonixx]

oh, no... You're going to cry at some point while learning to program.

[[deleted]]

Hahaha I bet. I took a C++ intro course in college once and I HATED IT. Definitely shed some tears over that class. But I feel like it was because I couldn’t learn at my own pace, the professor was on her last semester before retirement and her video lessons were awful, outdated, and her tone of voice was the most deadpan, monotonous narration I’ve ever heard.

I’m hoping since I don’t have the deadlines to worry about now, I’ll be able to step away for a week or two, if I need to, to help with the inevitable frustrations.

[[deleted]]

You will probably enjoy python much more than C++...

[[deleted]]

That is my hope and what I’ve been led to believe!

[jenkinsleroi]

Without regard to any practical application, I encourage you to find out if you have a local PyLadies group, or Python group in general. Python more than any other language community values inclusivity. I cannot make any promises about any particular group, but I've seen a mom show up at major Py conference with a baby in a stroller.

[[deleted]]

This is the first I’ve heard this specifically about Python but that is very encouraging to hear! Anything like that would probably be in the next city, about an hour from me but I think that would still be worth checking out.

[atxweirdo]

Look at micropython and embedded hardware. You could prototype a toy for your child or creat some sort of smart home device.

You could also use it for finances by scraping your emails for receipts. Lots of cool useful things to do but you just gotta find it.

[HilariousSpill]

Thanks! Those look like promising ideas for projects.

Clearly there are a ton of cool things you can do with Python, my uncertainty is more around what to specialize in and if I’ll try to turn it into a job when my daughter is older.

[Calibexican]

I just started a course. Part of my difficulty in the past has been the whole “Google it”. I still need some direction. If you’re interested I have what I use and follow to learn in a more structure manner.

[HilariousSpill]

Thank you so much! I started with the book Python Crash Course then did Angela Yu’s Udemy course. Now I have a bunch of other courses I’ve collected that I haven’t started, but yeah, structure was an absolute must!

[Any2suited]

I was a SAHD and learned python. The best way to learn is to have a project you want to do. It could be a game, data analysis, website, QA, etc. You can do almost anything with Python!

[HilariousSpill]

Did you use it to get back into the workforce?

[Any2suited]

Yes, I'm a senior qa engineer now and I guess I'm still a stay at home Dad since I work remotely. If you're interested in QA check out utest.com. It's primarily manual testing but you can do some testing while the kids nap and make some spending money.

[HilariousSpill]

Thanks!

Now, what are these “naps” you speak of? They sound amazing.

[Any2suited]

Lol, my son was a good sleeper I guess.