Like some of the others, the title sort of made me go "say what??".
Parenting is not easy. It's certainly not for sissies. You try your best to instill in them a sense of values that will help make their life better, try to teach them the fundamentals of "life's economics*", introduce them to your interests, but most importantly, help them explore their own interests. All of this so they can grow into being their own personality.
* "Life's economics: Simply put: You must always make a profit. That is, do not consistently spend more than you make.
Trains didn't "take" with my daughter (our only child). No, horses were her thing. We did fly control line model airplanes together for a few years, but that too, faded away as dating boys became a priority.
When it was all said and done and she's now been out on her own for decades, she has her own interests and pursuits, and none of them are mine. That's okay. This is why the wife and I raised her: To be her own person.
However, she said she does love riding in trains. (I used to sneak her onboard with me at times for cab rides. Shame on me.) She's also ridden behind me in the passenger train (excursion) I used to regularly run and she loves the sensation of riding trains. (The swaying and rocking.) SO, there's that!
Bottom line: Raise them with the needed fundamentals, love them, and accept the very real possibility that they will not like the same things you like.
Andre
