Chris Sirisereepaph - Venture Capitalist
"It takes (and is beneficial to have) a village to raise a child."
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I'm a partner at Saison Capital, an early stage venture capital fund.
How old are your kid(s)?
My son is 4 this year.
Who is the primary caregiver in the household, and what are you and your partner’s do parenting philosophy?
My wife would definitely be the one taking the lead for most things related to our son. She works with children professionally and legitimately knows what she is doing. I'm just learning on the job and trying to keep up most of the time.
We do have a helper and lots of support from the grandmothers of both sides. That's a big part of our parenting approach, in that we believe it takes (and is beneficial to have) a village to raise a child. Our son is also pretty familiar with our close friends and enjoys their company.
What's your favourite moment in the day with your kid(s)?
It would probably be when I see him for the first time in the morning (he sleeps in his own room and usually wakes up earlier than I do). I still find it amazing that he is always excited to see me in the morning and I am very aware it won't always be this way!
How do you keep yourself sane?
I used to play a lot of computer games as a kid, and probably still spend way too much time doing it now. If I'm feeling particularly drained that day, that would be my go to activity after my son goes to bed.
Best tech tip on parenting. This can be apps / hardware / gear you use, and how you use them.
My most important piece of "gear" would be a set of ear plugs on my bedside table for use when I want to sleep in some weekends...
Most helpful advice you've received as a parent.
That your child will learn from what you do and not what you say.
What lessons do you not want your kid(s) to learn?
That his worth is measured by his accomplishments (or worse, grades).
What was the best lesson you learned from your child?
Authenticity. Children do not see the need to hide who they are or pretend to be someone they are not. They can also be brutally honest which results in really amusing conversations.
What is your proudest dad moment?
My son is quite cautious by nature so him trying something outside his comfort zone makes me really proud. We went to Universal Studios recently and (after some encouragement) he sat on all the coasters that he was tall enough to and ended up really enjoying them. He decided one was his favourite and we sat it 4 times!
If you could ask anyone, dead or alive, for their best parenting tip, who and what would that be?
I don't have someone in mind now, but something I'm currently seeking advice on is how to manage ongoing concerns and stresses at work while still being emotionally present with the family when it is time to. I'm not someone that can compartmentalise well, so I can end up being physically present but still thinking about other issues that need my attention. Would be keen to hear from other parents who have found ways to manage this!
How do you manage technology exposure for your child/children. For eg, thoughts on screen time etc.
We do actively avoid exposure to screen time currently, and he probably gets maximum an hour of screen time in a week across multiple sessions. Most of that would be watching some of his favourite cartoons on Netflix. We are trying to help him develop a love for reading and felt too much screen time exposure might hinder that. It’s not something that applies to every child, but something we think applies to him specifically.
What hobbies do you and your children share?
We try to spend our weekends doing something outdoors. Cycling, swimming or going to a playground would be the common activities. I'm waiting for the day it will be appropriate to introduce him to some of my favourite computer games.
Finally, your best dad joke!
Let me tell you 3 jokes! Joke, joke, joke.