It wasn't the code that kept me up at night. It was the bedtime battles.
As a full-time dad and an AI engineer, my life is a constant toggle between two very different worlds. In one, I'm dealing with neural networks, token limits, and model latency. In the other, I'm negotiating with a toddler about why we can't eat ice cream for breakfast or why brushing teeth is not, in fact, "torture."
The Gap in the Bookshelf
Like many parents, I turned to books to help teach these life lessons. But I found a gap.
Many traditional stories are wonderful for imagination but abstract when it comes to daily behavioral challenges. On the other hand, many "educational" books feel like lectures disguised as stories—preachy, dry, and frankly, boring for both of us.
I wanted something different. I wanted stories that:
- Mirrored real-life scenarios (like "The Battle of the Bath").
- Offered gentle guidance without the shame or scolding.
- Engaged my son enough that he would ask for them.
When AI Meets Parenting
This is where the engineer in me woke up.
I realized that Large Language Models (LLMs) are incredible at pattern matching and creative generation, but they often lack "soul" or specific pedagogical intent unless carefully guided.
I started building MindBuds not just as an app, but as a tool for myself. I wanted to generate stories that were ultra-specific to what we faced that day.
- Did he refuse to share his toy truck at the park? -> Let's read a story about a squirrel who discovers that sharing makes play more fun.
- Is he scared of the dark? -> Let's meet a little owl who finds courage in his pocket.
"No Lecturing, Just Storytelling"
The core philosophy of MindBuds is Positive Parenting. We don't say "Share or you're a bad boy." We show characters experiencing feelings, making choices, and seeing natural consequences.
As I built this, I realized I wasn't just solving my own problem. I was solving a problem for many parents who want to teach emotional intelligence but don't always have the "perfect script" ready when a tantrum strikes.
Join Our Journey
MindBuds is a labor of love, coded during nap times and late nights. It's imperfect, but it's growing—just like our kids.
I’m building this in public, sharing both the technical challenges of being an indie developer and the messy, beautiful reality of raising a child.
If you're a parent, an engineer, or just someone cheering for the little guys, I'd love for you to join our community. Let's figure this parenting thing out together, one story at a time.