Programming is not my wife’s thing.

I used to try teaching my wife programming, but it quickly became clear that it just was not her thing. Over time, I think she has forgotten most of what I taught her, which honestly is not surprising, because people rarely retain knowledge in areas they are not genuinely interested in.

That experience also taught me that being good at something does not automatically mean you can pass it on successfully, especially when the other person has neither the passion nor the natural inclination for it.

My wife learns programming

Teaching wife programming.

It also made me rethink what “teaching” really means. It’s not just about transferring knowledge, but about meeting someone where they are, understanding what motivates them, and knowing when to step back. In hindsight, I was probably trying to impose my own interests and learning style onto her, rather than adapting to hers. Not everything needs to be optimized or turned into a lesson—sometimes it’s more valuable to appreciate differences and let people grow in their own direction. In that sense, the experience wasn’t a failure at all; it was a useful reminder that good teaching starts with empathy, not expertise.

–EOF (The Ultimate Computing & Technology Blog) —