My title at Vooks is Chief Technology Officer, but the title I hold that means the most to me is “dad.”
I have four wonderful kids that honor me every day simply by calling me that. It’s a way harder job than anything I’ve done in my career, but also way more rewarding at the end of the day.
When I think about my role as a father, I imagine all of the different titles that I could have. For instance, I’m a Negotiator; negotiating with my kids about bed times or how many bites they need to eat at dinner is pretty much a full-time job. I’m also a Project Manager as I make sure teeth are brushed, clothes are put where they belong, and toys are cleaned up at the end of the day. Personal Chef is another, as I make lunch or dinner, catering to everyone’s different tastes, wants, and needs. I’m also Chauffeur, constantly carting everyone where they need to go. And lastly, I’m a Teacher as I help kids add and subtract or learn how to spell.
These days, that Teacher title is a bit more literal in my household—my wife and I made the decision to homeschool when our eight-year-old twins were approaching school age. We never thought we’d be homeschooling parents, but we’re loving the freedom, journey, and adventure of it! We love the extra time we get to spend with our kids and our ability to play a substantial role in their learning process.
One of the most challenging aspects of homeschooling that we’ve encountered so far (and think most parents would agree on) is keeping our younger kids occupied while the older ones are doing lessons. Sure, we could probably set them down in front of the TV or tablet and turn on a cartoon or video game… but we wanted a better option.
Luckily, we found Vooks. Even before I began working at Vooks, our family used it as a tool to reclaim screen time, engage our children with books, and keep them entertained and occupied with safe and positive content.
As a company, our mission at Vooks is to foster a love of reading in children all around the world. As a dad, I’m thrilled to be able to play a small part in that mission.
Regardless of what their titles may be, the team here at Vooks is wishing all of the dads, stepdads, granddads, and dad figures of all kinds out there a Happy Father’s Day! Thank you for all that you do!
Ryan Shary, Chief Technology Officer at Vooks
