For the Parents

[LineageRazor]

While not a parent myself, I play in a group with my brother and sister, both of whom have children (one aged 2 1/2, the other aged 1 1/2) as well with a friend who has a kid (aged 5). We play as a group one evening per week, for about three hours. Outside of that, the three of them are rarely online, and when they are it's usually after the kid's asleep.

No question, having kids - particularly young kids! - can seriously cut into your playtime if you're used to regular four-hour game sessions or longer, but it certainly doesn't have to be the end!

You may find yourself resenting "the grinds" a lot more than you used to, though! (My sister's response to Atma? Nope nope nope nope nope nope...)

[Teryaani]

When my daughter was younger, we took advantage of naps. She's a teenager now, so she's pretty much self managing now.

[Kaelah]

I have an (almost) 2 year old. She currently naps 1pm-3pm so that is my play time. I have to alternate between XIV and console games each day if I ever wanna play both. When she's in bed, if me and my husband don't want to watch anything together he'll play his PS4 and I'll play XIV again for a few hours in the evening.

I had much more play time when she napped 2-3 times a day lol. Now it's only the once I have to sometimes do housework instead of play during my me time. Try to play during naps. You could also suggest to your partner that you both have an hour or so some days where one of you will watch the little one while the other does their own thing. To give each of you some extra me time. Worked well for me and my husband.

Congrats on becoming a father!

[NoF2P]

How do you manage your parental duties with gaming habits?

Teach them how to use the microwave. No, seriously, parental duties get absolute priority. It's the responsibility for a child's welfare, and who could love a game more than their child? You'll still get some time for yourself when they are asleep.

[Koenignovi]

In similar fashion to the OP, I am a new father too. She's a bouncing lil' Lalafell and full of energy. I have had my ups and downs in trying to get some gaming in as well. From my short lived experience so far, I wait till the evening, after she's gone to sleep with Momma Lalafell, to get my gaming in. It might only be a couple hours of play but I make them count. You got to or else you squander the short time you have. It's been a good time to grind out the relic weapon actually.

Mamma and myself have both agreed we're going to raise our little one into gaming. There is just no way we as gamers, and now parents, can deny her our youthful experiences. We plan to make gaming a family experience and allow her to explore on her own through the vast gaming community with some guidance.

My advice to the OP, take advantage of down times when it comes to your own gaming. Make sure priorities are straight of course... But game on new Papa!

[Stihllodeing]

Congrats on becoming a Dad!

Good times ahead mate

As far as balancing time I macro craft. It's really all you can do unless you're willing to go afk or have people to play with that can understand. If you decide to do dungeons when they're awake use caution. Kids have a way of making more "OH SHITE!" moments than real life ever could without them, as I'm sure you're quickly realizing. God love em

But ya, I macro craft when I'm home and they're awake. May you and your new child forever walk in the light of the crystal.

[zar]

I keep it in a cage and let it out 3 times a day for food. Takes about 30 min total out of my day.
Highly recommend investing in soundproof curtains.

[Lemuria]

I have two children, but only one is quite dependent on me as she's still very young. Her big sister sometimes keeps her occupied with games, and the two are often inseparable so I can trust them to play nicely. I've had to afk a few times to deal with a few minor issues between the two, and I rarely spend more than a couple of hours on the game at a time unless the kids are at school / playgroup.

Most of my play time is in the evenings, when the youngest is in bed and the eldest is winding down or doing her homework. They always take the highest priority with me though. There will always be another day to complete that raid, but time with the family is priceless.

[omicronx]

Kids have a way of making more "OH SHITE!" moments than real life ever could without them, as I'm sure you're quickly realizing. God love em

Totally had one of those moments, I was healing <insert dungeon here> and had kiddo in his bouncer drinking a bottle. Somehow he managed to fall forward, bouncer and all. That was one heck of an OH SHITE moment.

[Animarelic]

As a parent your gaming life comes second or third. I've learned to multi-task until my child becomes old enough to not require my attention every 10 seconds which won't happen until they are almost teenagers. The biggest thing I suggest is play with other parents and if you do DF let the others know before hand that you are a new or active parent and may need to suddenly stop when your kid learns how to make fire for the first time.

For tools I use a 17 button mouse to play one handed for feeding and tending to boo-boos.
A single ear piece so I can hear TS, music or w/e and still listen to my child talk about nothing for 30 minutes in my other ear but still pretend to be overly excited & interested to spare his delicate feelings.
I also use two cross eyes one for focusing on my monitor and the other for looking at my child's 15th awesome stick figure drawing of his family and to make sure he's hasn't wandered anywhere un-designated since they are excellent at Parkour.