Home Gaming Minions have spawned: You don’t have to give up gaming when you have kids

Minions have spawned: You don’t have to give up gaming when you have kids

4 min read
70

Parenting-level-gamer

There comes a time in most gamers’ lives when you welcome a newborn baby into the family. Naturally as a parent, you think that you’ll have to put gaming on the backburner. Well, you don’t.

At least, I didn’t. As most of you know I’ve been away for the last two months on maternity leave and even I thought that I’d have to give gaming a rest for a while once the baby was born. But when she arrived, I was surprised at how much time I had to just do whatever I felt like. Here’s the thing: babies sleep a lot. This gives you at least three hour increments between feedings for the first two weeks to jam some games, and after that, four hour increments. Which is in fact, a hell of a lot of time to play games and even occasionally do some other stuff. You know, stuff normal people do. Like watch some series and chores and… okay that’s all I got. I don’t actually know what people do with their time if they’re not playing games or watching series.

The biggest thing standing between you and playing games is you. Those misplaced feelings of guilt that you’re being a negligent parent by maybe committing an hour of your time to do something that you love. I don’t know why society has this attitude that if you’re committing time to video games, it’s automatically unacceptable. Especially if you’re a mom, because you’re supposed to be the “primary caregiver”. And how dare you have fun while your baby is sleeping?! Fun is bad. But if you spent that time doing something else, like being a couch potato just watching TV, or reading a book then that’s okay. I say to hell with that! Even though it’s frowned on by the average folk, I will play games guilt free when I have some spare time.

i_had_fun_once_it_was_awful

Don’t be fooled though, it won’t always be smooth sailing. Some babies, like mine will unfortunately have colic. Now I don’t know if you guys have heard the horror stories about colic babies, but for the most part, they are true. My oldest son was a colic baby and my fiancé and I as new parents had a freaking terrible time. Mostly because we were inexperienced, and had no idea how to deal with that. Luckily now that we’re older and wiser, we’re coping with it awesomely, and even baby is happy most of the time. When she’s not, it’s hushing and rocking and shushing for one, two hours at a time. Sometimes more. Needless to say, it’s not ideal when you’re looking forward to some downtime with your favourite game.

Babies also tend to have this sixth sense, where they would be sleeping peacefully, but as soon as you start up a game client, they wake up and start crying. And then they don’t stop until you’ve closed the client and walked away from your PC or console completely. As soon as you’ve done that, silence, and they go back to sleep. I guess this is could be them just trolling you. Who knows?

The ultimate “sin” of course is playing a game while you are holding the baby. And yes, it’s completely possible. For example, just last night I totally won a game in Dota 2 while holding the baby in one arm, and only playing the game with my mouse. That being said, she did sleep through the entire game. She was happy, I was happy, every body was happy.  I’m sure many gaming parents have mastered the art of gaming and parenting simultaneously while either holding both the baby and the controller, or the baby and the mouse. This ladies and gents, is nothing to feel ashamed of, unless you actually are neglecting your kid. In which case, you shouldn’t really be having kids.

not like this

Before I start running the risk of this becoming TL;DR, I’ll finish off with this: If having a new baby in the house has taught me anything, it’s how to manage my time better and how to not feel like a failure as a parent just because I love playing video games. I haven’t given up games because of what people might think and neither should you. 

Last Updated: June 19, 2013

70 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 19, 2013 at 12:35

    I missed your articles a lot Yolanda, this was and is an epic article.

    I salute thee!

    [Admiral Chief Stamp of Approval]

    Reply

    • Airborne

      June 19, 2013 at 13:01

      Egzachary!!!

      Reply

    • That Tall Twit

      June 19, 2013 at 13:09

      🙂

      Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 19, 2013 at 13:30

      Thanks Erwinning! xD I really missed writing.

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 19, 2013 at 12:36

    I had a momentary lapse of breeding fever, thought awwww, so cute, then I remember the crying and the pooping and the crying and then there was my daughter crying and pooping as well.

    Heh, all in all, good times.

    Reply

  3. John Ambitious

    June 19, 2013 at 12:43

    Don’t you just hate it when people try to make you feel bad for being a gamer and enjoying time spent playing games?

    Reply

    • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

      June 19, 2013 at 12:44

      You’re such a bad parent. you’re wasting your time yadada … wish I could smack them upside the brain

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        June 19, 2013 at 12:56

        At least gaming is better than days of our lives and that nonsense right

        Reply

        • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

          June 19, 2013 at 12:58

          So people can spend hours watching soap operas and sports but man, let it be the case that they are playing video games…You’re automatically wasting your time. It all boils down to doing something you love, don’t know why gaming is any different

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            June 19, 2013 at 12:59

            100% agreed with you there hey

        • John Ambitious

          June 19, 2013 at 12:59

          Boom!

          Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 19, 2013 at 13:32

      Yeah I’m really quite over it. I prefer keeping my brain occupied with constructive things, like video games 🙂

      Reply

  4. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    June 19, 2013 at 12:43

    Nice Article! I’m quite afraid of this lol … you gave me hope

    Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 19, 2013 at 13:33

      It’s really a lot simpler when you stop worrying about what others think.

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        June 19, 2013 at 17:03

        Yeah don’t really care about other people…more concerned with father time. But at at least you gave me some hope..then again i want six kids lol

        Reply

        • Yolanda Green

          June 19, 2013 at 17:48

          lol let’s see how you feel about that after the first 2 😛 There’s always time if you make some :>

          Reply

  5. Matthew Holliday

    June 19, 2013 at 12:46

    babies are less noob friendly than the dota community.
    They intimidate me and complain far more when I do something wrong.
    cant even carry when the wife is around, always relegated to a support role…

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      June 19, 2013 at 12:48

      Hahaha, funny 🙂 Made me chuckle

      Also, I assume you mean intimidate?

      Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        June 19, 2013 at 12:49

        yeah, edited the spelling on that, brain doesnt work as fast as my fingers sometimes.

        Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      June 19, 2013 at 12:52

      Hahaha. I had to laugh at this

      Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 19, 2013 at 13:07

      Support: I hope that is my role!

      I am not so good around the little ones. I am told that this will go away when it is my own little one, but I am not sure.

      Reply

      • Andre116

        June 19, 2013 at 13:23

        Support? Is that like throwing down random tissue packs every now and then?

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          June 19, 2013 at 14:08

          Nah, a whole lot more than that, I fear.

          I will be at work, she will be home all day and when I get home and tuckered out from a days hard work (yeeees), she will want a break from baby too. So I will have to step up there. Just guessing, of course, but it sounds very likely.

          Reply

  6. Happy Hamster

    June 19, 2013 at 12:49

    If you teach them early you can play multiplayer split screen

    Reply

    • HvR

      June 19, 2013 at 13:02

      give that one another year and he’ll start QA testing the controller.

      He will find the torque strength of anything sticking out of the controller.
      The fluid repellent and retention ability of the controller.
      And what force the controller body breaks.

      Reply

      • Happy Hamster

        June 19, 2013 at 13:06

        And write a review on some gaming website hahahahaha

        Reply

      • Brady miaau

        June 19, 2013 at 13:13

        sounds like fun….

        Reply

    • Sageville

      June 19, 2013 at 13:07

      I call photoshop on this picture!

      The controller is clearly not in the kids mouth,as it would be in reality.

      Reply

  7. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 19, 2013 at 12:51

    I heard this before, and its more than true (its actually better)

    Having a kid is like having a puppy that learns to talk

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      June 19, 2013 at 12:53

      lol! You’d get alot more money for a talking puppy bud!

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        June 19, 2013 at 12:54

        You’d sell a kid???????

        O_O

        Or even, sell a puppy????

        Reply

  8. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    June 19, 2013 at 12:52

    Top notch article. Well done!

    Reply

  9. Anon A Mouse

    June 19, 2013 at 12:54

    Allow me to be the last of the brat pack and welcome you back Yolanda. Best of this is now we can look forward to a double header ION. Yay is us…

    Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 19, 2013 at 13:36

      Thank you kindly good sir ^_^

      Reply

  10. Skyblue

    June 19, 2013 at 12:55

    Having kids has impacted on my competitive playing days. Stopped competing years ago and only play for fun now. They compete though and make me feel really old.

    Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 19, 2013 at 13:38

      Can’t say that I’d be able to compete now, it’s not really the time, just the timing. Hubby still competes though :>

      Reply

  11. That Tall Twit

    June 19, 2013 at 13:05

    Header just reeks of WIN!!!!!!!

    Reply

  12. Brady miaau

    June 19, 2013 at 13:06

    Thanks, that was awesome to read. I fully plan to still continue my lifestyle and in fact teaching and showing my daughter (We do not know yet, but hey) that you can have fun, play games, be social and have a balanced life.

    I will speak with knowledge of this subject from December onward,

    My wife figures, since I go to sleep at midnight or 01:00 most of the time anyway, she can handle any problems after that. I wonder.

    I have a feeling the best laid plans will all be for naught. I like plans.

    Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 19, 2013 at 13:40

      You’re welcome 🙂 we’ve been teaching our boys (4 years and 5) about gaming, and letting them jam PC and console games. They’re awesome kids!

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        June 19, 2013 at 14:05

        Good to hear that!

        So 3? wow, not sure I could cope with the thought of 3! Suppose i am just a scaredy cat. (insert picture of scared cat here that I could not be arsed to look for)(

        Reply

        • Yolanda Green

          June 19, 2013 at 14:53

          well, I play video games 😛 our boys are very independent, so mostly it’s their sister that needs the attention constantly.

          Reply

  13. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 19, 2013 at 13:12

    AAwww! Look at that little gamer!

    If I ever have a kid, I’ll dress him up like Mario or Batman every day.

    Can’t you get one of those strap-in baby holders (i.e. strap the baby to your chest, and game while he/she is snoozing)?

    Reply

  14. Sageville

    June 19, 2013 at 13:16

    Yeah, for me the kids meant I couldn’t continue to play as dedicated as before, but I’m happy with the balance we have now.

    Next thing the Green will encounter is when your kids actually stop sleeping though your games and start paying attention to them, thats another hurdle.

    Yes, kids probably shouldn’t be watching you play Last of Us or MK9, but then again they love LBP or Injustice and it’s win, win. Now, I have awesome conversations about Sackboys and the who’s the bestest superhero (Apparently “Ninja Hulk” takes the prize).

    Reply

    • Alex Hicks

      June 19, 2013 at 13:36

      I have the same journey. I still game – but at odd hours and about a fifth as much. And one of the boys, James, is particularly fond of the superheroes thing. He’s pretty coordinated too, and is doing the educational gaming thing at school. Thinking it may be time soon for him to get introduced to my world. Maybe I’ll wait till next year – after he turns 6.

      Reply

  15. Rinceyouropinion

    June 19, 2013 at 13:17

    Welcome back Yolanda. We all missed you, but Zoe is awesome! We hope she doesn’t vanish forever now! Also, only 2 months maternity leave? What kind of operation is Gavin running?

    Reply

    • Sageville

      June 19, 2013 at 13:24

      Yes, also will there be a fight?

      The Green vs Zoe, would be epic maybe with some jello/mud involved.

      P.S. Best to give Yolanda some time to shed the preggy gut first though, then maybe hook it up with a twitch channel for the event. If that won’t expand the LG reader base then theres just no pleasing anyone.

      Reply

      • Rinceyouropinion

        June 19, 2013 at 13:27

        0-o

        Reply

      • Happy Hamster

        June 19, 2013 at 13:31

        Is there going to be a blow up swimming pool filled with jelly or with oil where this will take place

        For example

        Reply

        • Sageville

          June 19, 2013 at 13:35

          Ahhh, interwebs, you dissappoint us not.

          Reply

  16. fred

    June 19, 2013 at 13:45

    As long as it is not online multiplayer games ……. pausing a game is essential with family care.

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 19, 2013 at 14:34

      yeah, I had thought of that.

      Wonder how other people do it? Or do Yolanda and others mentioned here not play such games? Perhaps arrange time with partner, next hour or two is mine, you deal with it

      Reply

      • Yolanda Green

        June 19, 2013 at 14:51

        Well, it depends what online games. Obviously if you’re just messing around on BLOPS2 pub you could quit any time. Or just questing in an MMO. If you know you’re committed to a game of Dota 2 or LoL, or a raid or dungeon, you make sure there’s a back-up.

        Reply

        • Brady miaau

          June 19, 2013 at 14:55

          fair enough

          Reply

  17. hairyknees

    June 19, 2013 at 15:00

    Babies sleep?!!?!?! Lies… my child is going to hold a mouse instead of a rattle and their first words will be “Dota”. After years of raising them with Dota instead of sleep, I might just have a champion worthy of competing in The International 36 😀

    Reply

  18. Skande

    June 19, 2013 at 15:02

    Oh yheaa, I can almost hear my wife complaining…. “Why are you playing games when I take my afternoon nap???” …. I can watch TV but not play games…. ignore 🙂

    My daughter loves playing xbox and pc, loves playing games with us and alone, played her first pc game at 2 and hell man, showed her once and then watched her play on her own. Even my wife started playing Skylanders with her and some other family games and dare I say it ENJOYED it 🙂

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      June 20, 2013 at 08:06

      Yes, watching tv is ok, but playing games on the tv is not?

      Reply

  19. Lupus

    June 19, 2013 at 15:54

    Congrats on the new baby, but unfortunately wait, they do become a lot more work. Especially around the walking age, I now wish my 19 month old would just sit and relax.

    Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 20, 2013 at 10:37

      Know the feeling! Once they start getting mobile you wish they’d be new born again xD

      Reply

  20. Craig Lotter

    June 20, 2013 at 07:33

    And then they turn two.

    Reply

    • Yolanda Green

      June 20, 2013 at 10:38

      The year between 2 years and 3 years old was the worst for me, they become more awesome at 4 😀

      Reply

      • Craig Lotter

        June 20, 2013 at 10:44

        Luckily I’m having a pretty easy trip through to 3 (in November). Plus, I can always count on her going to bed round 20:00, meaning gaming isn’t completely out of the window! 🙂

        Reply

  21. Zubayr Bhyat

    June 20, 2013 at 08:02

    Agreed with you about the baby. During the day no games, once he’s asleep I play. Usually it’s two days a week but that time is very precious 🙂

    Reply

  22. Skoobaz

    June 20, 2013 at 12:11

    Hehe…69 comments!

    Reply

  23. seahen

    August 25, 2013 at 06:52

    If you had six kids, you could dress them up as a minion wave for Halloween, with daddy Super Minion and mommy Ashe or something.

    Reply

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