My dad let me help him copy code from a book to the computer. It was a game for me. He let me be around his power tools, and encouraged my budding interest in #stem. https://twitter.com/sblogga/status/1320508690802249730

I will never forget him the only time he came along at my class outing to the natural history museum. Him being there made the dinosaurs extra special for me.
Fast forward 30 years, I'm still in love with paleontology, archeology and obviously dinosaurs!

But perhaps the most impactful memory :
Winter time, past bedtime. Dad got me out of bed, put a jumper on me, took me outside, ignoring mum's shouting, walk me up the road... show me my first harvest moon.
Simply because I liked astronomy.
That's support, caring and empowering

When my parents divorced, I was
13years old. The first present from my dad was my first telescope, against my mum's request to not buy one.
I spent a few weeks using it to look at the moon through the opened window.

When I discovered electronics and music, I thought of a career as sound engineer for a couple of years. He got me a small mixing table.
The male physics teacher destroyed that dream with his teaching methods that didn't take into account how kids learn/have to deal with at home

In contrast to a male maths teacher who realised that I struggled with algebra but aced it in geometry. Made me love maths by being more supportive in algebra and letting me freer in geometry.
Baccalaureat eco and social sciences specality math: aced it.

My dad let me move 500km away from home to study computer sciences. I went with 10€, and 3 cheques from him. He let me fail, struggle and get back up by myself. Always available at the end of a phone call if I really hit the true bottom.

I called him one night, panicking, during a paranoia crisis, close to a nervous breakdown. From 500km away, he managed to reassure me by simply telling me "tout va bien. Elle est pas là. je suis là. Tu es en sécurité. Sèche tes larmes, sois forte. Je sais que tu peux tout faire".

I think what I'm trying to say with all that. What matters is to be told "I know you can do anything you want". Support isn't about money, it's about quality time, thoughtful gifts, and ignoring the ones who want to stop you doing these.

Building a relationship on that "you can do anything. I'm your trusted wizard friend but it's your adventure. Here a whistle to call me in emergency. Off you go! " principle is what will get girls in STEM.