For the Parents

[omicronx]

This one goes out to all the gamers out there who are parents. I have recently joined the ranks of fatherhood and have found my gaming time cut tremendously, so much that I took about 8 months off, this does make playing an MMO somewhat difficult especially since I enjoy playing with friends, doing FC activities, and playing healing classes. This has forced me to manage my time better, not just for playing games, but for all aspects of my life, not that I had to many issues before this just gives me that extra incentive to manage it. Aside from the time management difficulties I'm actually looking forward to the day I can dress my kiddo up as a Moogle

So here's the question that I post to you gamer parents.
How do you manage your parental duties with gaming habits?

[coldreactive]

I would tell you, if I really was a parent, but I know a few of my FC people are parents, but never really come onto the forums (Which is one way they are able to manage it :P) From what I understand, they just immediately log off if they know they have to do something. No questions, no nothing, they just do it.

[Autumnfire]

While I am old enough certainly to be a parent, I don't have children of my own. HOWEVER, I am the daughter of a gamer. XD My mom brought me and my sister up on video games. Make it a family activity! I loved the nights the three of us would sit around with some fresh hot cinnamon buns and some game controllers in our hands! 30 years later and our tradition still continues. ^^

[Aegis]

The kids reach phases where they can be moderately trusted to sleep for at least x hours. Shit happens, but for the most part during those phases you can maintain a gaming schedule. First few months? Forget about it.

[PoxyPriceless]

Became a father in 2013. I've molded myself to being able to function off of 4 or 5 hours of sleep for the past 15 years. Which means...I get to play FFXIV for a couple of hours in the evening after child and wife are asleep...(or until she gets done playing Dragon Age).

Normally around 11:30pm-1:30am is my gaming time.

So yeah...those days of gaming for like 8 hours straight...if you ever did, are over my friend. But have no fear. You're not down and out. Just have to budget your time...and becoming a night owl wouldn't hurt.

[LalaRu]

How do you manage your parental duties with gaming habits?

My habits haven't changed at all, were playing on the evenings before, and playing on the evening after.
I just go afk when I need to, and don't care if my game character dying in the process.

[Mayh]

Congrats on becoming a Dad!
I am the mother of a toddler who has been playing this game since Beta.

Of course, my motherly duties are my first priority so usually I'll play during nap times (and after bedtime). If my kiddo wakes up from nap while I'm healing a dungeon or something, then I'll let him sit next to me and watch YouTube on the other monitor, or I'll find him something to do right next to me until I can finish and log off.

I suppose my advice would be to make certain you actually have a good chunk of time to play before you log in, and when its time to log off... just do it. Try not to fall into that trap of "let me do one more thing....."

[AldoVonAlexandros]

Im like u, my baby girl is 3 months old and after she was born I used to play 6 hours a day, noy that time has been cut to 5 or 6 hours per week what I do now is just capping my poetics and 1 day of raiding with my static, until l she grows up and sleeps a lot more, but yes, I completely undestand u

[Eye_Gore]

Been at it now for about 8 months, parenting that is. Got very adept at using the PS4 controller one handed. Did alot of gathering while feeding the baby. I'll play when she naps or goes to bed for the night, thats when I'll do dungeons, never during the day. It does help break it up though so you don't get burned out on the game.

[Korilynn]

Babies nap, take advantage of that time. They get older. Have them join in. Even if it's them playing a different game as you play yours (my daughter prefers pokemon and CoD over MMOs for instance). They get even older and they start to play outside with your ever watchful eye.