Parents of small children, when do you have time for playing video games?

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Any_Emotion_3271@reddit

Lol brother I get about 1 hour a day to actually sit down and play, along with the odd stolen 15 mins here and there to play gatcha slop on my phone, and my kids are 4 and 7, in between work, school runs, gym, housework that's what's left over, means I'm not spending hours in open world games or MMOs like I used to, but it's give me a better appreciation for indie titles and linear games that respect your time a bit more

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SlowRaspberry4723@reddit

My child goes to activities on Saturday and Sunday morning, I bring him to one and my husband brings him to the other. We each get about 2 hours to ourselves to do what we like while the other is out. My son also naps for about 2 hours in the middle of the day so we can do stuff then as well (he will drop the nap soon and I’m devastated).

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TermAggravating8043@reddit

Once the toddler is in bed and housework is done, your partner won’t mind you guys doing your own thing as she probably wants some silence too.

I’m sorry dude, this is the part of parenting no one likes talking about. How little time you get to yourself. But it will come back I promise, and one day, you’ll be doing racing games with your 6 year old and they’ll hand you your arse at it

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schraderbrau6@reddit

When does it come back 😭 lmao

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Buffetwarrenn@reddit

4 years old starts to get easier….

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Creepy_Macaron2492@reddit

Not in my experience, but maybe one day….

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kbd_fan@reddit

Nope, reading this as waiting for my 5 year to sleep so I can spend the next hour tidying the house and loading dishwasher FML

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Buffetwarrenn@reddit

Eeeek sorry man, my daughter is in bed at 1930 for stories, asleep at 1955, wakes at 7am

Shes a good sleeper thankfully

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schraderbrau6@reddit

Thank you I can do 3 more years 🤣🤣

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radeonalex@reddit

From 4-5 years on, it get's easier. They begin to go to school regularly, can entertain themselves, can do basics like brush their teeth. You can leave them alone for 20 mins and go for a dump in peace.

The first 4 years can be pretty miserable, but once they hit that magic age where they start to live their own lives and form a personality, it's fantastic.

My kids are 6 and 4 and if I wanted, I could (and sometimes do) play Battlefield 6 each night once everyone is in bed.

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Affectionate-Post289@reddit

When they leave home. Noise stays the same just different tones.

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Zeeshmania@reddit

Ouch.

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Electronic-Bicycle35@reddit

We had one kid only and so got through this phase pretty quickly in hindsight. I have a friend whose oldest is the same age as my kid and they’ve had 3. The youngest just turned 2. They’ve been doing nappies for 8yrs solid, multiple kids at a time. All 3 kids are permanently exhausted, as are the parents.

My 8yr old loves gaming just as much as I do, so now we play together and have done for years. The biggest downside is that she loves the sims so much, I don’t get to play it myself now and just sit next to her watching while she plays.

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TermAggravating8043@reddit

I feel you. I have 2 and it’s definitely getting easier but now they take over the computer/tv and I’m just waiting for them to finish so I can play. So far I am resisting giving them a tablet or computer on their rooms because then I’ll never see them

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Electronic-Bicycle35@reddit

I wouldn’t change it for the world though. My wife isn’t into gaming so it’s something special to me and my daughter that we share.

She asks me for help on tricky parts when playing Spyro and my heart melts.

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

This is one of the biggest reasons I don’t want kids, I couldn’t cope with so little me time.

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Contract-Spirit@reddit

Terribly selfish take.

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

You’re right, I should have kids despite not wanting to. That’ll work out great for everyone, right?

What a moronic comment.

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Contract-Spirit@reddit

You shouldn't take social media so seriously that you need to read through someone's reddit history.

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

Don’t worry I didn’t have to look for long.

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Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit

This is the only disadvantage in my opinion but it’s not long term. Well it is but it’s not permanent

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

Yeah if I thought it was the only downside I’d maybe consider it more, but for me there way too many downsides and not really any positives! To each their own :)

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radeonalex@reddit

The positives are really hard to explain. If you look at parenthood through purely numbers, time, finances etc... the sums never add up.

However, what is difficult for someone that's not been a parent to account for is the feeling of seeing part of you grow. See them explore the world and new things. Teaching them to build something, fix something, win at something. Seeing them ask questions as they try to figure the world out. Learning how to cycle, how to play sports, how to socialise and make friends.

There is an intrinsic value to being a parent that's really hard to explain. But, it's the reason that despite the shit side of it, people come back and do it all over again.

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

Yeah I get all those things and I get why those things might make it worth it for some people. I just know that even with all that, I would be absolutely miserable. I would hate it.

Like I said, to each their own. Just not for me.

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Insideout_Ink_Demon@reddit

As a parent who wouldn't change a thing, but feels like I'm always on empty, don't let anyone pressure you into something you don't want. Last thing you want is to be reasponsible for a little person you resent.

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

Oh don’t worry no chance of that happening, I got sterilised 2 years ago because I’ve always been sure. It’s just mad that every time this opinion is shared on Reddit, there’s always at least one parent who feels the need to chime in with some way we’re ’missing out’ or ‘don’t get it’.

We very much want to miss out and don’t want to get it! We’re fine, thanks!

Anyway thanks for coming to my ted talk :)

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Ok-Berry-7654@reddit

I occupy a weird middle ground where I did want children, or at least thought I did, but it didn’t happen and we made the decision to draw a line under it rather than pursuing IVF, adoption etc. I’m now, genuinely, very happily childfree and grateful for all the upsides that decision has brought me. I look at friends with kids and think that there are some parts of that I’d have loved, but also my god I am grateful not to have to go through some of the rougher parts. Like the multiple friends who have literally nearly died giving birth or have massive trauma from that experience, the career bullshit that so many talented female friends have been through since having kids, the financial strain and relationships being pushed to the brink. I know that for them it’s all been worth it and they wouldn’t change a thing. But it’s also OK for me to be comfortable and happy with the different path life has taken me down.

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Pantles@reddit

I’m with you on this one. I don’t want children, still love them and that, but no desire to have one of my own. I couldn’t bring myself to add the extra stress and sleepless nights to my already stressful and exhausting life. Understanding my own mental health issues tells me I would struggle being a parent, and seeing as I grew up with a struggling parent, I have no desire to put a child through that.

I’m failing on the side where I’m supposed to complete housework before gaming though. I just grab the vacuum or load the washer during natural breaks in my game. Gotta have priorities sorted!

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Insideout_Ink_Demon@reddit

Lets blame it on the sleep deprivation

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radeonalex@reddit

Yeah, defintaly wasn't saying it's for everyone (it's not)... but wanted to correct the idea that in every case, there are more downsides than positives, because that isn't true either.

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Ok-Berry-7654@reddit

I truly think you meant well but childfree people just get a bit sick of being told that they’ll never get it and they don’t know what it’s like. I know I will never fully comprehend the experience of being a parent, I don’t need it explaining to me. The person you’re replying to literally said it doesn’t work FOR THEM and added ‘to each their own’ and you still felt the need to wax lyrical about all the things they’ll never understand or experience as a non-parent. Trust us. We know. We don’t need it explaining.

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radeonalex@reddit

Ah ok, apologies. I'll delete my post. Didn't mean to offend

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Ok-Berry-7654@reddit

Yes that is a fair point!

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

I mean, there wasn’t anything to correct because I literally said for me there are more downsides than positives.

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radeonalex@reddit

Correct probably wrong word. Meant to just expand the conversation and add extra context.

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1CharlieMike@reddit

It’s a little condescending to assume that those of us without children (by choice) don’t understand the positives that you have just listed.

It’s just that they’re not positives for us. We don’t want that and wouldn’t enjoy it.

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Ok-Humor-5672@reddit

I dunno, both my wife and I really like our me time. Our kids are 1 and 3 and we both have about 3 hours after they're in bed to chill and do our thing.

That said, daytime free time is basically non existent. Kids are ridiculously needy all day every day. It's fucking relentless haha. Sometimes you just wanna play a video game or go out for coffee by yourself at 11am but nah that's not happening.

But yeah that evening me time is absolutely enough for us both.

Of course, this is one of many downsides to kids, but in my experience the upsides outweigh the downsides significantly.

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Khaleesi1536@reddit

And that’s great for you both. The things that you and other parents view as upsides are either unappealing to me or not enough to overcome what I see as the downsides.

If I’m really honest, and prepared for an onslaught of downvotes, absolutely nothing about it appeals to me!

As I’ve already said, to each their own

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RoyofBungay@reddit

Yup, 55 and still playing Football Manager for an hour of the evening. Trying to get Chesterfield into to the Prem. As you do.

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blahblahblah1234_@reddit

Same. I feel like especially with young kids you can’t just say ‘I can’t be arsed to get up and do shit.’ You have to always plan everything around your children too. I’m not sure if I’ll ever want kids and I don’t know how some people are so certain about having them.

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fugelwoman@reddit

I wanted kids a lot (and don’t regret them!) but damn, the lack of free time gets to me.

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Ok_Young1709@reddit

I don't know how people don't expect it though? It's a young child, you can't just leave them by themselves for most of the day. 😂 Not unless you have a ton of money and can afford childcare while you don't work.

I don't have a child, have zero intention of having one, mostly because of the amount of time, energy, and money they take. It's obvious. It's not a goldfish, it's a baby. You lose time to yourself for a long time, even when they get older you can't guarantee they will want to play games with you. They might develop loads of hobbies and you'll be out until 7-8pm taking them to hobbies, then feeding them dinner, then getting them to bed.

You might finally get your time back when the are a teenager, but you'll just become a taxi driver then. 😂😂 How do people go into this 'blind' and 'unaware' of how much responsibility it is? Romanticising having a child, pretending all will be well and nothing will change does not go well usually.

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Mickxomatosis@reddit

I think most people go in knowing what to expect, but nothing prepares you for QUITE how demanding they are, not just on time but on mental and physical energy.

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Ok_Young1709@reddit

But again, how not? Like I say, unless you have a lot of money, you can't just put them down and walk off for a few hours leaving them alone. They aren't a cat. They depend on you constantly really unless asleep. And if they don't sleep well, good bye sanity for a while.

Prepare for it by burning half of your wage each month, setting multiple loud awful alarms through the night, force yourself to get up and sit around for 30 mins not going back to sleep, and then try to function the next day. 😂 Introduces you to it fairly well.

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Mickxomatosis@reddit

I think there’s a difference between thinking about it and doing it. Trust me, the real deal is intense.

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SpiritedGuest6281@reddit

Me and my partner have a couple of nights a week where after the little ones asleep we have alone time. I might game, see friends, watch my own shows. The missus then does her own thing.
Also little one spending the day with grandparents can give you some free time to game.

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mynameisjodie@reddit

This is so true 😂

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spriz2@reddit

Also, finding time to game is not very high on the list of priorities when you do have kids. Once their in bed, it's dinner, cleaning the house and then I get about an hour of free time before sleep. Life with children is pure routine.

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vikingraider47@reddit

Totally agree. Gaming time was limited for me, but now me and the little one play lego racing games together and it's great

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Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit

Can’t wait for the racing games! I ain’t going down without a fight

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DiddyBCFC@reddit

Sounds like your partner doesn't want you on it? Surely your kid is asleep by 7/8pm? That's when I turn my pc on.

My boy (2 in Feb) is with a childminder Tuesday/Wednesday now and every other Tuesday I have the house to myself as my gf is working. It's a bloody great day 😂

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Additional_Monk_765@reddit

I would give them a spare controller lol

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Illogical_2025@reddit

Don’t worry. In another 6-7 years they will become gamers and you can bond gaming with them. Just need to hang in there 😥 😂

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BarNo3385@reddit

You've answered your own question, once everyone is in bed and the housework is done.

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

Home at 6

6-8 Children time

8-10 wife time

10-12 me time

6am-8am mad fucking morning time

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Whole_Necessary2040@reddit

Wife time? :)

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deus-noster-refugium@reddit

We do: Home at 6 6-9 family time 9-10 us time (me and wife) 10-12 all the other work I couldn't do in the day 12 pass out, if I haven't already 6 am tantrums/insanity/school runs 9-6 rest in the office (/s)

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Mickxomatosis@reddit

3 hours of family time sounds dreadful!

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atomatoflame@reddit

Unless you can live on 6 hours of sleep, some can, then this is a recipe for burnout. I appreciate the drive though!

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Buddy-Matt@reddit

Been doing it for nearly 5 years 👍🏻

Appreciate it's not for all

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Outrageous_Bar6729@reddit

Im with you, its either live with the lack of sleep or have no me time.

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BarNo3385@reddit

I've found I have to stagger it. So, I have 2 nights a week I stay up late to game and meet friends, and 2 days a week I go to bed early and recover the sleep debt.

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Chev--Chelios@reddit

This is the way unfortunately. Or ask your missus if she minds you gaming for an evening. I sometimes get some in if she's out. But I really struggle to find the time. Not sure how I'm going to manage GTA 6 coming out.

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joebmc@reddit

But... but the housework is never done...

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Auntie_Cagul@reddit

It's about prioritising on what really needs doing.

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DeliciousAd3894@reddit

Then you never play lool

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Curious-Term9483@reddit

Or you ignore it for an hour and permit yourself to have some down time - assuming the stuff that still needs doing is ignorable and your wife is also having down time too. I do not recommend this strategy if she is still standing up and doing stuff.

I did find I could successfully hold/use a playstation remote while breastfeeding. At least till said child got too big and wriggly anyway!

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HotSpotPleaseItch@reddit

Once every month or two I’ll wait for my wife to go to bed and then binge my games until 2am.

Aside from that, I found that the key is to find a game you can pick up and put down. Basically nothing competitive & online multiplayer. Example - I play Gran Turismo and just do the time trial challenges or try and set personal best lap times with certain cars. That way I can just pause it & do my bit, then come back to it when I’m free again.

I love Arc Raiders at the moment. I’ll play one or two games a day. It’s only 15-20 minutes a round (average) but you don’t feel like you can really get into it.

I have recently found street fighter 4 on the PlayStation store and I can now do 3 player street fighter with both of them on a Saturday morning. That’s a really special moment when we’re all playing together. The 3 year old has no idea what he’s doing but he’s happy to mash buttons and join in!

I have 2 boys 7 & 3.

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Jeggasyn@reddit

Yeah this is it. I always found, even before having a child, that if I wanted to game slowly or with a interruptions I'd choose a point and click game (I'm a PC gamer), so for me the perfect game for this scenario is Civilization. Great thing about Civ is that if you are interrupted you can spend the time you're interrupted thinking up about your next turn or your strategy. It also means you can 'manage' the interruption really well, such as if your wife or kid needs you in that exact second or two, you can turn away and commit without losing any progress on the game.

Tldr: find that game you can quickly put down and pickup reliably.

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Curious-Term9483@reddit

Now in my house we have teenagers. I don't get a look in when it comes to using a console 🤣

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Key-Specific7807@reddit (OP)

This 💯 😂

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Hiraeth90@reddit

I’m sure there’s one or two nights a week you and your wife can do your own things?

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Apteryx88@reddit

Every gamer who is a good parent gave up or severely reduced gaming for a few years but got it back later. My husband and I also have a 19 month old and are both gamers. I had a ton of n hobbies but all on hiatus for a few years. I have no regrets coz I knew this would happen.

Our days are focused on our son, being outside and giving him a rich life. When he's finally asleep and the chores done, it's 8pm, we're knackered and we chill together or sometimes do separate things. You do get pockets of time and we still dabble in games now, but infrequently. My husband plays more than me, but not by much. Solution was to play together now... We often pick story games and he plays while I watch. I don't have brain space to game by 8pm. I started 2 games since my son turned 1 and never made it past a couple of hours. I also used to read a lot, but no time or energy now. None of it is a priority right now, too much important stuff has to be done. But I know it will all come back. I had decades of game and hobbies and while I sometimes wish I could do them again, I remember none of them were as fulfilling as spending time with my son and I will miss these days in the future.

I do have a silly mobile game though... That has helped me feel like I'm still 'me' while being a mum 😅

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Raisinsandfairywings@reddit

My partner pretty much does it like you say at 10pm ish when everything else is done, although he does sometimes manage to get an hour or two on the PlayStation on a weekend, especially if I take the kids out.

I also often go to bed as soon as I can (around 7-8pm) as I’m just so exhausted all the time, so he often has a little bit of time to game when me and the kids are in bed. I don’t have time for hobbies or anything at all (I can’t even be bothered watching tv) but I’m just too nackered to bother with owt.

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Obscure-Oracle@reddit

Mines not so small now but I'm just as busy if not more busy. I used to game on the PC but I just don't get the tune at all so I now have a Nintendo Switch Lite and game in bed for maybe half hour or so just to chill. It's a great way to actually squeeze a bit of gaming into what would otherwise be a gameless day.

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Even_Video7549@reddit

you don't have to sit with your wife every night, take one night for yourself

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AussieManc@reddit

It’s nice you don’t just shut yourself off all the time when you do get a chance.

As a dad of 3, this was me. Now I’m a single dad of 3, I don’t have any time for myself at all. Haven’t played games in a long time.

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natej82@reddit

My kids are in bed by 8pm so after that is my only time I get! Problem is I’m up at early am for work and I like to get good sleep, so most nights I’m in bed by 9- 9.30pm and sometimes I’m too tired to even boot up the gaming PC! I know I could go to bed later but I like to think I’m putting my health first….Sad times, but I’m looking forward to when they grow up a bit lol

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Impossible-Alps-6859@reddit

Don't waste time on your bloody 'gaming'!

Spend every minute you have with your wife/partner and children - the rewards are infinitely greater, both now and, believe me, even more so in the future - that time is an investment with priceless returns.

No one ever ever had their gravestone inscribed with 'I wish I'd spent more time gaming'!

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Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit

my dad used to sit me on his lap while he played baulders gate II on our playstation

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Comrade_pirx@reddit

Um none of us are perfect, and we all have to pick our own battles, but it is not recommended to give your kids screen time under 2 years old and only high quality supervised programming over this age.

https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/screen-time-under-5s/

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Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit

I think it's a bit more nuanced than that. Playing sonic the hedgehog with your kid for an hour or so isn't the same as shoving an ipad in their face with youtube kids on repeat.

I reckon some controlled and supervised game time is a wonderful way to bond with your kids

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hockeynut15@reddit

Biggest misconception when it comes to screen time. So many people are terrified of a screen in any format, I've seen parents literally shield their child from a TV screen before. Utter insanity.

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Dico80@reddit

This isn't an attack, but do you have kids? Sometimes, with all the knowledge about screen time, you just need to do something, anything, to stop the chaos. I'm not perfect, my kids aren't, so sometimes you just need to pull the cord and give them a screen for 20 mins. I know that isn't ideal but parenting is hard!

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Comrade_pirx@reddit

Yes, I'm sorry I tried to heavily caveat what I said but I thought it worthwhile to present the guidelines as a baseline. I was impelled to by the suggestion it's OK to prop your 18 month old up while playing your games. That may have been ab uncharitable reading of what was posited but I just felt the need to post a PSA. I'm not perfect!

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Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit

the link you shared literally makes an exception for shared activites lmao

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Comrade_pirx@reddit

I took that to mean a video call maybe, but I guess whatever, I tried to couch it in terms of people have to make their own assessments!

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Dico80@reddit

No chance with my kids, as soon as they get a sniff of a controller or mouse they're all over it and me, no chance of them just sitting watching. I get an hour or so in at night when they're asleep, if I'm not exhausted.

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a_peanut@reddit

as soon as they get a sniff of a controller or mouse they're all over it

That's what the second, unconnected controller is for

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CuriousDataScientist@reddit

mine are 3 and 6; now i put on smash bros / mario cart etc for them.

or ipad/tablet games are doable if your kids like tv. osrs / team fight tactics etc is perfect, easy to put down

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Dico80@reddit

They're too smart! They know the guide light doesn't light up, they quickly realise I've done a number on them and proceed to grab at the working controller fighting each other at the same time, it's just impossible.

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Limbo365@reddit

Same, at 18 months they are old enough to want to grab controllers etc

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Odd-Paramedic-3826@reddit

try something thats visually appealing but with gameplay the kids won't mesh with. I think thats why BG2 worked on me.

Also, I REALLY strongly reccomend putting kids onto family-friendly games from before their time if you have the means to (either via retro consoles or emulation). Basically every major game from my childhood is one that was already pretty old by the time i got to it. I think the first game I played in its release year was pokemon sun and moon when I was 12

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Dico80@reddit

It just never works regardless of the game I try, they just want the controller or yo smash keys on the keyboard. I've accepted it'll be like this until they're a bit older.

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BlondePotatoBoi@reddit

This is similar to my intro to gaming.

My dad had a PS1 and 2 when I was a baby (born just before the 2 came out) and was nursing a football injury. So he'd be laying in bed playing Colin McRae or Syphon Filter with me in the cot right beside him. He'd always pause it to check on me and then get right back to driving like a nutcase xD

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hockeynut15@reddit

I promise you, that time to yourself slowly comes back, and it's not even years away. In the meantime, a bit of communication with your partner and just scheduling it in one or two evenings a week is the play right now. No it's not the freedom you used to have, and that's the harsh reality most discover after having kids, but you'll probably find that works really well and keeps you sane. It's so important to not completely lose yourself and your hobbies, especially in those first few years. It will make you a happier person and everyone else only benefits from that.

I know so many other Dad's who do/did not change their lifestyle at all when kids came along - the fact that you're buying in to the work and being present with the routines all day and wanting to be considerate of your relationship with your wife... you're doing an awesome job mate.

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This-Draft797@reddit

So I know people in similar situations, the best thing I’ve seen work is a set time once a week / every other week / longer time but once a month- what’s ever agreed - where you have dedicated time on it. Speak with your partner, I’m sure they have something they want to do that they don’t get time for and you can both benefit from dedicated hobby / me time! For me it would be- please can I have two hours a week for arts and crafts and you can have two hours a week for PlayStation etc etc

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ASY_Freddy@reddit

Basically anytime after the other half is asleep or when they are doing their hobbies - the balance is your sleep needs or other interests

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Mickxomatosis@reddit

After 10pm when my wife is in bed.

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Littledino711@reddit

Has your wife got any hobbies? Sometimes I do crafts and my husband games, we organise nights where we do our own thing apart, and make sure that we're still spending enough time together as well

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nat_urally@reddit

Eh, both me and my husband were, we just prioritise now, meaning we don’t get to very often. I don’t try shoehorn it in to the detriment of my sleep. Sometimes things just “give” when you have small humans, in time we’ll get it back. But I refuse to be one of those people staring at it constantly while the kids are up. Occasionally in the evening we do but it’s usually too late by the time we get chance and then don’t bother

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Beer-Milkshakes@reddit

Between 8.30pm and whenever I feel is too late. So like half past tomorrow

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Acceptable-Word-1204@reddit

Brother im 3 spawn deep all under 5 i have abandoned hope of regular enjoyment of my hobbies, be a kick ass dad and look to the end of that golden road your time will be yours again someday... Just not today 😂

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Oxi_Ixi@reddit

Normally when kids grow up

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EmmaStar611@reddit

Surely after they've gone to bed? Obviously not gonna be every night but I'm sure you could speak with you wife and occasionally play a game for a bit.

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TheToolman04@reddit

My wife and I have an agreement, where we get to spend an evening or 2 doing our own thing. She'll watch her shows and I will game. It's mad to spend ALL of your time together.

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robstrosity@reddit

Yeah it's really hard. Even when everything is done and I finally sit down to play, I'm tired and have to stop and go to bed

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dan102uk@reddit

Football manager for me i can put it down when ever im needed, I dont have to worry about pausing or being in a lobby. I just have to put up with the Mrs telling me im sad watching dots move around

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Rhym3z_Official@reddit

Ever since I've had 2 kids I've always been able to have around 32-36 hrs of gaming a week. Maybe the first few months was getting used to things but after that its pretty much been like that since the start and now my kids are 5 and 8

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Latter-Corner8977@reddit

You don’t. You give it up for a few years until they’re old enough for you to find a game they love and you can build a narrative around while you play in small bursts. As they get older you find games you play together.

Then you realise that playing games with them is the best experience. Doesn’t matter the game, it’s time spent with them.

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Insideout_Ink_Demon@reddit

Not sure I agree with that one, apart from really short bursts of being willing to give something new a try, all mine want to play is Roblox. I tried playing it, I hate every min of it

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Remote-Attempt745@reddit

me too... try stikbold it was on sale on PS4/5 the other day.... 6 year old loves playing that with me... otherwise the latest Sackboy (6 year old now likes David Bowie and Bruno Mars from it.)

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Any_Platypus_1182@reddit

yeah love a bit of gaming with my kid, she's allowed 30 mins a day, only at the weekend. bit of mario kart or mario or minecraft.

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dl064@reddit

Thank you, Yoshi

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Lottiepop420@reddit

You could play with your wife when your child's in bed

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Ned-Nedley@reddit

That’s how he got the kids in the first place.

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Key-Specific7807@reddit (OP)

That’s why I wear 2 bin bags to bed

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Lottiepop420@reddit

Well I meant video games. When does she get time to play?!

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RoutineAbroad3486@reddit

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gherkinassassin@reddit

Back of the net

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mister-rik@reddit

Oh, that's lovely. That's first class.

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arenaross@reddit

That's what got him into this mess.

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DeliciousAd3894@reddit

You might be on to something

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ConstantNorth2283@reddit

Sorry player, in my experience you may as well hang up the spurs until kiddo is at school.

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Bec21-21@reddit

Parents of small children often find they have no time for hobbies, PlayStation or other wise. Children are time consuming and raising them is kind of your hobby now.

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malumfectum@reddit

You have to make the time for yourself or eventually you’ll go insane. Source: am parent.

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NotAProperAccount3@reddit

Yeah, my partner and I make running a priority, because trying to maintain some level of heath/mental health is important and it fits around parenting a lot better than some other activities as you can just step out your door and be off, or do it from work, or do it halfway through your commute home if you go past somewhere scenic.

Like I currently do a run at lunch two of the days I'm in the office, lucky to have showers, but can also do it the days I'm working from home. Some weeks when the sleep is low because the kids are up in the night things can go to pot pretty quickly.

I think once number two came along we actually became a lot better at one person taking both kids so the other person could get some down time, because at that point you really have to start thinking about things if you want to have any free time. Sometimes feels like you have so little time that you can't even have those conversations though!

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TheTackleZone@reddit

Exactly this. You don't find time, you make time.

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RoohsMama@reddit

Indeed. I found myself doing the me time in the wee hours. Ended up with a huge sleep deficit.

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ChewpapaNeebrae@reddit

I have a 4m and a 10moF and I sit down after work at 11-11:30pm, go to bed at 00:30-01:00 and wake up at about 7am, with some wakes in the middle of the night. I'm so incredibly tired 😩

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RoohsMama@reddit

That’s rough! You’ll be like a zombie for the next two years at the least

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Koholinthibiscus@reddit

I started playing video games again when my kid was about a year old. Thankfully me and my husband are into games so we’d play co op together or sit together on the sofa playing different systems (one time during covid we got another monitor down in the living room, that was fun.) Maybe if your partner isn’t in to it you could game every other night? Or see if she wants to try a couch co op game with you? Me and the husband stayed up till 2am one time this week playing power wash simulator 2 listening to our favourite podcast 😂

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PiesPiesAndPies@reddit

The same way that other parents fit in their marathon training 🏃

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Carmarthencowboy@reddit

I pretty much stopped for a few years which was a shame but on the flip side when I started again I had an amazing list of games to get through. Last 8 years or so has been great.

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JonJo42@reddit

We made sure our toddler was in bed with lights out by 7pm . That gave us time in the evenings to unwind, play on the PlayStation or watch a movie.

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Oshova@reddit

I remember being at a kid's party and one of the parents was talking about how they never have any time to themselves and how hard that was. I heard them later on telling someone their kids (youngest is 2) go to bed at 11pm AT THE EARLIEST!!!

If my 4yo is still downstairs by 8pm then usually something has gone wrong. 2yo is currently any time from half 6 to 7.

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Imaginary_Hall_3413@reddit

This. My 19m/o has just gone to sleep as I type this, I could have a couple of hours gaming tonight if I wanted. Not sure about all these people saying ‘you don’t get to do anything fun you’re a parent now’ of course there’s less free time but it’s still there.

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Missing-Caffeine@reddit

Listen to this: children won't sleep at the same time as they need different amount of sleep. If I put my toddler to bed as 7pm the party start will at 4am. Am I willing to join this club? Nope.

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Worth_Gap4226@reddit

Dad of two young kids here. I pretty much only game when I'm WFH.

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Numerous-Corner-6303@reddit

Didn't you receive your government issue tranquilizer gun yet?

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_MicroWave_@reddit

I didn't

My kids are now 6 and 4 and I'm maybe starting to get 2-3 hours a week for my hobbies.

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dlystyr@reddit

Its currently 6:50am and my 16 month old is still asleep :).. tonight when he sleeps i can have an hour though.

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Swansboy@reddit

I don’t have kids but in your own free time which you do have but that 10.00pm-6.00am but you need to sleep so either play it at 10.00pm and go to sleep at midnight or go to sleep at 10.00pm wake up at 4.00am play it until 6.00pm.

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Mystic_Carrot69@reddit

I go in my garage gym 2-3 times a week st 9pm. I used to be 6-7pm 4/5 times aweek. Anyone that manages to maintain thier hobbies to the same level when they become a father is either being a rubbish Dad or rubbish partner.

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April-Is-Cute@reddit

Right so im not a parent BUT i was a child with gamer parents and the real tech is to introduce the child to said videogame so then you are both spending time with and playing trust its the tech

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QwanNyu@reddit

Didn't you get your letter?
You don't anymore, the letter thanked you for your years of service and dedicated, but they do not require your services anymore.

It does get better, but in the end you will carve out some time to play, but long are the days you could play for multiple hours in a row, maybe 2 at a push.

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Missing-Caffeine@reddit

Yup. This. Nowadays I go to bed 1h after my 2yo is in bed and this hour feels like my brain is fried - as she still wakes up between 2-5x overnight. Haven't had a full night sleep since she was born. Nowadays I have to plan ahead with my partner so I can wash my hair, mind you play anything 🫠

But hey ho, love her more than life itself and wouldnt change a thing. One day I shall return :)

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Buffetwarrenn@reddit

God this is so true it hurts

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weezifer95@reddit

Me and my hubby have a 6 month old.

He is extremely busy studying and working at the minute, but we really do try to “watch” the baby every now and then for each other to get a reprieve.

My husbands way of relaxing is films or tv, so I might take the baby upstairs so he can watch his show for an hour or so. Or he will take the baby and I will go for a soak in the bath with a book.

If you can do that 1-2 times a week for each other it makes a big difference. However, you will need to decide if you want to game, exercise or whatever other hobby you can squeeze in 🤣

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Rozefly@reddit

Rarely, if ever. My hubby isn't a gamer, but I enjoy it. However, I decided to have a baby. Gaming is a sacrifice I knew I was making.

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pullingsneakies@reddit

Get the chair in front of the TV, turn on the console and sit the kid on the arm of the chair or in a bouncer and boom! he's now watching you play games.

Give them one of those toy controllers, they now think they are playing the game too.

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theresabearonmychair@reddit

Me and my partner play something most evenings - we have 4 children ranging from newborn to teen.

I’m a SAHM so I often play for an hour a day once I’ve done my standard chores round the house, with the baby asleep on my lap. This evening I played 3 hours with baby sleeping on me while my partner read his book on the sofa next to me. When he plays I knit or doom scroll. Or play on the switch. Sometimes we watch tv together but we’ve been together a long time now and are very happy just sitting in silence doing our own thing at the end of the day!

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Sardinesarethebest@reddit

We play videogames in the hour or so we have after kid is in bed.

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elogram@reddit

Get your wife into video games and then you can both play (co op or your own separate games) right after the kid goes to sleep. That’s what me (the wife) and my husband do :)

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Sage-Freke-@reddit

I tried to do that, but she’s very picky when it comes to games. She likes It Takes Two (sort of) and Overcooked, but that’s pretty much it. Maybe some old platformers, like Castlevania.

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elogram@reddit

Well, the other thing we do is that I will cross stitch while my husband plays video games. And, really, I think it’s just the understanding between us that once the kid goes to sleep we can choose to spend the time doing something together or we can choose to spend the time doing our own thing. But I think it just helps that both of us are the sorts of people that like our own time so we don’t really demand the other person spends time with each other.

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ColdHandGee@reddit

When they turn 18! /s

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beeotchplease@reddit

Nintendo switch games

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Mysterious-One1055@reddit

Yeah pretty much after 8pm when the kids are asleep. My wife and I have our shows to watch and she has a few other hobbies too so we just rotate things.

One thing I really got into though was android/Linux gaming handhelds.

I have a couple of Anbernic handhelds loaded with all my favourite Master System/Mega drive/SNES/GBA/PS1/arcade games that I can just switch on and have a quick 20min gaming session on the go.

Then I also got an AYN Odin 2 Portal which emulates up to PS2/GameCube upscaled, also Switch and WiiU. It also can run light Steam games and I've set it to Stream from my Gaming PC - that device is the best thing I've bought myself in a long time - look it up!

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Background-Factor817@reddit

Our 2 year old is usually asleep by about half 6 to 7 very latest.

Then we’ll either do some gaming together, or I’ll play something while she puts the tv on or just chills on her phone, usually go to sleep around 11pm latest, kid is usually awake around 6 but is quite happy to chat to himself in bed or play with his toys.

There’s plenty of time dude.

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lilidragonfly@reddit

I did, but that was together time for myself and my other half, which made it easier to fit in.

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simply_smigs@reddit

In 66 months

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72dk72@reddit

The older they get the worse it gets, less and less time for yourself ( well not to bad in Primary school as the child may play games with you) . Under 3 my mine was in bed by 7, didnt help much thoigh as i did and still do most of the cooking.

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IITommoII@reddit

I have a 6 and very nearly 3 year old. Bed time is about 8pm. Most night me and the wife watch something together until about 10-11 she goes to sleep I watch whatever I want until I fall asleep usually about 12.

I usually get 1, sometimes 2, nights a week on the Xbox when she goes out to a friend's. I get about 3 hours before she comes home and "we" go to bed.

She does also game from time to time so maybe a couple times a week she plays on the Xbox and I get demoted to xcloud on the iPad. I maybe only get 1-2 hours though here before she's wanting to go to bed.

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finH1@reddit

Steam deck/ps portal would be your friend

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Takklemaggot@reddit

r/steamdeck

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Mighty-Wings@reddit

Talk to your partner about it. Honestly, a good partner will recognise that need, as long as you reciprocate. Doesn't have to be everyday, but you could offer to be chief in charge of the little one for an hour each Sunday in return for a gaming hour somewhere else?

Alternate is get up sooner or strike a balance. I've played games on the TV (with no sound) whilst the misses has watched her programmes on a laptop on the coffee table. We are still together, however we get to enjoy what each person wants to do.

Either that or get a small retro handheld and have a lot of bathroom breaks.....

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luala@reddit

My husband occasionally games after the kids in bed. I don’t mind at all because I like to read instead of spending time together. I’d mind if he didn’t pull his weight. But he does.

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Imadeutscher@reddit

I get time to play at 11pm but by then im beat

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yessuz@reddit

When kods sleep. Late evenings

At the cost of sleep.....

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DoItForTheTea@reddit

after bedtime, we both do our own thing most nights

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Jasey12@reddit

You need a playstation portal sir.

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thatbloke83@reddit

As a new dad of a nearly 10 month old - the answer is after the kid is in bed, if I'm awake enough. Fortunately my wife also enjoys playing certain games with me and my friends, and our latest obsession is Slay the spire 2 which can support up to 4 players and can easily be paused/saved at any moment if one of us needs to go check on the kiddo. It means the vast majority of my gaming now is turn based stuff or at least stuff that can easily be paused/resumed without negative consequences but I'm OK with that.

If its something affordable for you then Consider a handheld gaming console sometimes you can leave kiddo on their own and you can whip out the handheld while they are occupied with their toys.

The other thing we'll do every now and then is make time for the other parent to have time off from the kiddo so they can do whatever they want. So, wife will look after kiddo for 2-3 hours and let me do whatever I want in that time. If that's some gaming then absolutely fine.

I will then do the same, and exclusively look after kiddo, maybe take them out somewhere on my own, so that wife can also have a proper break for a few hours and do whatever the hell she likes.

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Jaded_Ad_6658@reddit

When they turn 13 years old, at which point you realise you’re too old for gaming.

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Appropriate-Bag5290@reddit

Since we have kids , my husband has max 1 hour to play videogames. Per week.

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Iforgotmypassword126@reddit

I feel very similar to you with how our day feels and how we mostly spend our evenings, but we like to carve out time for our own things sometimes.

I’m going to over share, sorry!

Does she have anything she likes to watch. Could you have a few nights a week playing a game and she has other nights watching or doing what she chooses? Like a balance, still having shared things too.

My partner watches football (I just go on Reddit, like right now) and I sometimes I watch my programme and he’ll just go on his phone. This isn’t every week tho in summer it might be, I don’t follow football.

Sometimes he will play a game either a short one in the evening or a longer one on the weekend.

This isn’t EVERY week. It might work out he can’t play in the week at all. Sometimes it’s just a quick 30 minutes one night in the week and then not much time at the weekend. As bay gets older your partner will have plans with friends some nights, when I go to see a friend one weekend, he just game when she’s asleep.

I’ll either take my daughter to my parents for a bit or he gets up early and plays (we split mornings at the weekend). In return I usually sleep or see friends.

There’s nothing wrong with booking annual leave and taking a day as long as it doesn’t impact any care etc.

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AgonisingAunt@reddit

My husband games 2-3 nights a week. He has the baby monitors but the kids (2 and 5) are pretty good sleepers once they’re actually in bed. He gets time to game and I get my own time to do whatever the hell I like, usually the gym or drinks with the girls and trying to remember who I was before kids.

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Limbo365@reddit

Try speak with your wife and establish one night a week where you each get to do your own thing

Bonus points if the other person also does bedtime that night so you get an extra hour or so of personal time

I'm sure your wife would also love a night "off" once a week

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BillyBigNuts1934@reddit

This is why I have no children …

I build engines after work and a baby / child would stop all that

People make choices in life and kids / responsibility / no money and 5am screaming kids on a Saturday was never ever selling itself

I know from my friend circle that kids destroy relationships and they constantly look drained and broken

Dads, If you could turn the clock back, would you have those kids again???

My best friend ended up living in the spare room, his wife hated him and he was basically just a paycheck, he’s been depressed for years and is what I see as ‘stuck’

No thanks

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Several_Copy_3219@reddit

It gets slightly easier as they get older, you find having some time back. Routine helps in terms of having bed times for kids etc

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CrazyPlantLady01@reddit

We play together when the kids are in bed, and once they were old enough, we play some games as a family of 4

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BasisOk4268@reddit

Between 9pm-12am every night

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r_keel_esq@reddit

I don't play video games, but I play guitar, and small children can impact that hobhy just as much.

The short answer is that I barely played for eight years when they were both in school.

They're now teens, and I've spent the last hour in the garage playing guitar with my boy, so there is light at the end of the tunnel

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Proud_Ad_8915@reddit

My ex used to play on it all day long. I did everything else. Ideally after the children have gone to bed through

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Sage-Freke-@reddit

😢

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Redditreallyannoysme@reddit

After bedtime is 'stop the house being a shithole' or 'talk to each other about finances/work/planning the next week's meals and plans' time though

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hadawayandshite@reddit

You can do the second whilst playing…also you don’t need to do that 7 nights a week

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Redditreallyannoysme@reddit

Nah it doesn't feel right to give 50% attention if my wife is giving 100% of hers.

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hadawayandshite@reddit

She could half arse it too

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RoohsMama@reddit

I can see why he has become the ex…

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SimplyFootballNet@reddit

Not much.

But I do prioritise language learning and part of my learning involves playing RPGs in the language I am learning.

So I game a bit via that - when time allows.

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belladonnapopsocks@reddit

Give them a dead controller and let them sit with you. They'll think they are playing.

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Samuraisheep@reddit

Alternate who does bath and bedtime, the other parent plays games/does whatever they want. (This obvs works better with one kid, people will have to weigh in if this is possible with two). Get the chores done before bedtime when kids are awake.

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Sage-Freke-@reddit

Just got my 5 year old asleep. Going to play some nightreign now. I didn’t really play anything for 2-3 years but there are a few less things that urgently need doing. My partner is self employed and works odd hours, so we don’t get to do a lot together to be honest. It also helps that I’ve started playing with my old friend again occasionally, which my partner’s more ok with rather than me playing on my own while she’s here, as it’s the only time I really socialise with him (he lives over 2 hours away). There’s housework to do, but I’ll do it some other time…

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simon-g@reddit

Definitely dropped off in the early years but you do get to a point where you (mostly) have evenings back, blitz a bit of cleaning/tidying and have maybe an hour to yourself before bed.

Then it’s just prioritising playing something over scrolling nonsense on your phone or YouTube videos. I found single player stuff with manageable length and ability to just pause where I wanted was the best fit, but some people like the open-ended stuff just doing a session at a time.

Steam deck and switch make it even easier now to just pick up and play for a bit, if you’re tired or interrupted you just hit the power button and come back to it later.

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SkipperTheEyeChild1@reddit

Get a PlayStation portal. I grab half an hour here and there during bed time or when everyone else is asleep.

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superplex100@reddit

I'm pretty much in the same boat. The kid is 18 months old and I just game or catch up on TV shows at night. On weekday, I'll start up the playstation at 10pm and can play until around 2am. Wake up time is 7am. I'm able to function quite well on 5 hours of sleep.

Wake up time is slightly later on weekends - 9/10am. So I could play until 4am if I wanted to.

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Great-Activity-5420@reddit

I'm not a gamer. But my partner is and he only started gaming again the past year. That's one day when our daughter is at school and I'm in work. And he stays up late most nights which annoys me. Our daughter is four.

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Willy-Sshakes@reddit

Maybe once a week I get a 9pm to 11.30pm slot... But then I'm tired the next day. Sometimes I get an hour here or there. My new video gaming is getting 9 hours sleep where I can

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Greedy-Mechanic-4932@reddit

I don't.

And it's been that way for the last 10 years.

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Plastic_You137@reddit

Well, my son is nearly 13 and my husband has just got his old PlayStation/Nintendo Wii out of the loft!! My son has a PS5 that no one else is allowed to touch 😂

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JoeDaStudd@reddit

When they nap or at night when your partner is also asleep

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WarmCat_UK@reddit

It’s really tough man, once he’s around 6 it is much better and you can get more free time and also play stuff together like Minecraft etc.

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Alert_Ad_5750@reddit

When about 8 years have passed i guess.

Currently my kids are 1 & 2, I barely have time to leave a room or shower and once they’re in bed i get the house sorted maybe sit on the sofa for an hour then up to bed… I don’t even notice my head hitting the pillow anymore.

Or you can forfeit some hours of sleep to game instead but then your whole day the next day will feel 10x harder and to me that’s just not worth it.

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anoamas321@reddit

During working hours.....

No chance when the kids are about or after bedtime when i have to tidy up

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The-Ginger-Lily@reddit

We have a 3 year old and another on the way, my husband works from home for more context and is a massive PC gamer. He plays games during his lunch breaks and 5-6 evenings out of the week after our son has gone to bed 7pm onwards...

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British-Bot@reddit

Late night gaming. You need to risk loosing sleep to find game time.

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Auntie_Cagul@reddit

My sister found it difficult after she had her children as playing computer games helped her wind down and there just wasn't time.

However, after several years when your children have grown up a bit, you will have a bit more time when you can play games again.

One option could be to organise 'time off' with your partner. One evening you do all of the chores: making the kids dinners, getting them ready for bed and then another evening your partner does them.

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Scofield442@reddit

My 3 year old is in bed by 7:30. So I game once she's in bed. My wife likes to read, watch her YouTube videos or play on her steamdeck. We tend to watch a show at 10pm before bed.

I got 70 hours into Crimson Desert since it's release. Great game.

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Novaportia@reddit

Do something that you can pick up and put down easily, like OSRS or similar :)

Welcome to parenthood!

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malumfectum@reddit

Give it time and they’ll end up demanding to play them with you, which is exhausting in its own fashion.

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Tinywrenn@reddit

My husband and I game together on a Sunday after our little one goes swimming in the morning. He hardly ever has long naps, and they are always contact naps, but that one nap after swimming when he’s really knackered gets us 1.5 - 2 hours of game time!

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RainbowPenguin1000@reddit

Why does your wife have to be in before for you to play a PlayStation ?

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royals796@reddit

He already said he wants to hang out with his wife if she’s awake

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Key-Specific7807@reddit (OP)

Yeah I’m not choosing PlayStation over her or my son 😂

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RainbowPenguin1000@reddit

It’s not choosing it over her though it’s just enjoying your own hobbies.

I’m sure one night a week or an hour here or there you can play your PlayStation and she can do her own thing on occasion too. Being married doesn’t mean you have to do everything together all the time.

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royals796@reddit

You don’t have to, but you might want to

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RainbowPenguin1000@reddit

Obviously

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DuckCritical@reddit

You must not be married or you’d know the answer to this 😉

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TubaCulosis@reddit

The first few weeks with baby sleeping on my chest and the wife asleep in bed. Then it was a couple of years later when they went to visit her parents. Then it was a couple more years later when everyone had gone to bed. Now I am too tired to stay up later than the rest of the family…

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Important_Ruin@reddit

I've got 11 month old. Its usually once he is in bed and everything is done around 9 for an hour while GF watches her own thing before bed. I WFH few times during the week so lunch time races too.

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jilljd38@reddit

Probably when said toddler is about 25 lol

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DamoclesBDA@reddit

Wait until your kids are a bit older and then play with them.

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Royal_Turnover6332@reddit

I used to just give my kid a controller that wasn’t connected, then I’d play on the one that actually worked. This worked until they were about three and a half. We’d spend half an hour or so after they got back from nursery, they thought they were in control. Now we just play Mario Kart together on a Saturday or Sunday morning for an hour.

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BigfatDan1@reddit

Playstation Portal?

I play it next to my wife while she watches whatever trash TV show she is binging (currently MAFS Australia)

Failing that, my lad is 8 months old, so we contact nap and I play for the 2x 1 hour naps with him on my lap

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the-TARDIS-ran-away@reddit

You might find your wife wont mind you playing games some nights when the kids are in bed. She might want to read or take a long bath or just doom scroll but she doesnt want to be rude to you either. Talk to her.

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sm3g-h3ad@reddit

There's a secret among dad's with kids and it has been hidden in plain sight all along. It's called getting up at 5am.

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Any_Boysenberry655@reddit

You don't have time for video games. If you're a responsible adult and parent, and you're core duties are done after 10pm and start at 6am then you might as well sell your playstation because there should be no reason you should sacrifice sleep to play video games. Of course, you might want to but then that's not a responsible decision.

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You_just_never_know@reddit

My other half and I both like games, so we’ll literally play during nap times and when our son has gone to bed. And on days when he’s in nursery, and it’s one of our days off, we can play all day!

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Spottyjamie@reddit

You dont til they get older sadly

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jennymayg13@reddit

When they’ve moved out

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Asaxii@reddit

You should check out r/daddit

I’m the primary carer of our child, I used to squeeze short game sessions by scheduling my time around my son’s bottle feeds when he was younger. But never anything intense. So no big story games and MO games had to be short. But only play after everything else is done, or when my wife is either at work, or at home but wants her alone time, then I squeeze some time in. My son just turned three, and sleeps a solid 11-12 hours a night / rarely stirs or wakes up now. I get more time now.

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gherkinassassin@reddit

My PlayStation is for Octonauts, Creature Cases and Miss Rachel. My games are for decorative purposes only.

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asterallt@reddit

I’ve got three kids - oldest 14, youngest 9. I played on my son’s PlayStation for the first time two weeks ago. Used to love racing games (was always crap at shooting games). But genuinely didn’t play anything until literally two weeks ago.

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spriz2@reddit

Can't remember the last time I played the ps5 when it wasn't dark. For what I would do for a wake n bake and some gaming in the morning again....ahh such is life.

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InitiativeConscious7@reddit

Some nights i sit with my partner, some nights I game, some nights I so Uni stuff, usually rotate between the 3.

[-]

Jassida@reddit

I have no children or animals and still struggle to find proper gaming time

My BIL has two daughters and a busy job. I don’t think he’s gamed for years and this will go on on for a few years yet

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Individual_Eye_257@reddit

Dad of a 2 year old here, I used to game all the time before little man came along, 6+ hours in an evening but in the last 2 years its been an hour every couple of weeks, sometimes i'd not play for a month and then have a couple of hours, i'd love to game later at night but once little one is asleep I just wanna chill with my wife, watch a couple of episodes of something and then go to bed because I'm exhausted.

I found mobile games helped scratch the itch, one handed games mainly so when I was getting him to sleep when he was younger it was easier to play and rock him to sleep.

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PlatJC@reddit

I have 2 young children. I get to play video games from 7:30-10:30PM every night once they’re in bed. Me and my partner will clean up the house during the last 30 minutes whilst my children are awake, getting them to help or one reads the book and the other cleans. Currently I don’t work so I do a lot of the main chores during the day.

Once kids in bed we do our own thing and go to bed at 10:30. It’s not very romantic that we don’t hang out as a couple often, but we value our own time doing our own things/hobbies whilst we can. So I’ll play my games and my partner will watch her anime/KPOP shows. We’ll meet in bed for sleepy/sexy time. Maybe once a week one of us won’t feel like doing our own thing so we’ll just hang out for a day, usually with a takeaway and a show before bed. During the weekends we try and spend the whole time out as a family as collective time. But yeah, it doesn’t work for everybody as I’m sure some couples need more time together in the week.

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Buffetwarrenn@reddit

You Still do sexy time?

What magic is this……?

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Visible_Pipe4716@reddit

Oh my sweet summer child, your previous life as you know it is over. I have 2 kids and my PS5 has literal dust on it.

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dod_murray@reddit

You know how you try to sleep for 8 hours per day? If you use 4 of those hours for gaming instead then you won't die, you'll just be really really tired

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Buffetwarrenn@reddit

Yep it is basically impossible mate,

My daughter just turned 4 and she enjoys playing games with me, we do that maybe once a week at 1730pm after her dinner fir like 45 mins max

Only other time i can play is afrer 10pm when wifey goes to bed lol

We are doomed

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Anathita@reddit

Firstly, eighteen months is very small. It does get easier. Secondly, myself and my husband have a system where a couple of evenings a week we spend together, and other evenings we are free to do our own stuff. We're both introverts and can need time to recharge doing our own things.

We also, when we have time on a weekend that's at home, will often split the day, so I might have the morning to myself to do hobbies or chores that are on my mind, then in the afternoon I would be the designated parent. We also do things together at the weekend of course, but not always.

Do you both do bedtime and bath? We have for a very long time had a rota so one person does bedtime and the other does the clearing up, This can mean if the clearing up is simple you get a bit of extra time too.

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TheMcCannic@reddit

OldSchool RuneScape has a mobile app. Adventure Quest Worlds (Infinity) is getting a mobile app hopefully later this year.

Otherwise get used to incremental gains. Currently I'm getting a couple of quests in diablo 4 done every couple of evenings. Finished Resi 9, Resi 2, God of War 2018 & Ragnarok over the past couple of years. It ain't much but it's honest fun.

Literally a game or two of overwatch is enough too, stops me getting to tilted if games go poorly. If they go well, I can walk away the champ.

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Boboshady@reddit

'You' time becomes 10pm - 4am, and you learn to cope with being a zombie.6

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Elysiumthistime@reddit

My son in four and I've only just started playing regularly again...when he's staying at his Dad's house for the night 😂

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Scottish_Santa@reddit

You don't 😂

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Purple_Kidneys@reddit

If it helps I had a similar situation, but have managed to solve it, it takes patience but you get there.

First you have to wait it out, took until mine to got to 15.

Then they either play it with you or are off doing their own thing.

Source: my life

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Flosstopher@reddit

Either when the kids are in bed or I will use TOIL or leave to play if I need a day to myself.

If there’s a game I want to play the same day it’s released, my husband finds something else to occupy his evening so I can get stuck in. Usually involves asking me all sorts of questions about the game and story 😂

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Foxtrot7888@reddit

I have a nine year old and get to play for about 30-40 minutes every other day when it’s my wife’s turn to do bedtime.

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RatSalad32@reddit

In the evening when the kids are in bed. Why is it rude to play while you're wife is still awake? Surely you don't do everything together. If i didn't play games some evenings id go mental lol especially after been out the house for 11 hours and the mad rush of tea, bath and bed

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Spartanrage94@reddit

Only when they become 3 years old and started Nursery 😂 Now I get a couple of hours a week to game, it's perfect.

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Hazmanscoop@reddit

I have 2, luckily, they were both early sleepers. About 6/7 o clock they go down.

You need to have a chat with your wife and just say you want some time to yourself, and im sure she would appreciate it, as it gives her time to do stuff.

My second is older now, and goes to bed at half 8 (he's ten) and my wife normally goes to bed around 9 as well.

So I get some time once that's all done to play. Normally until around half 10/11

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2stewped2havgudtime@reddit

I bought a handheld PC (Steamdeck) as a way to get a gaming fix.

I don’t play online games, just going through the Steam catalogue with some gems I missed.

It’s great because you can hit the standby button, leave it a few hours and pick it back up for 30 mins when the kids are distracted or whatever.

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Biga-Biga@reddit

I feel this. First thing - ask your wife! Mine is totally cool with me having my own time after the kids are asleep. She even likes watching games with a plot she can follow along (the last of us or similar). Maybe yours will be cool too, or have a desire to do her own thing some nights each week.

Other tips I’ve gleaned over the years:

A handheld is great so you can game in any room (Switch / Steam Deck / PS portal).
Modern consoles are a godsend with fast loading and ability to suspend the game - you can be playing in 60 seconds so a 10 minute gaming session is feasible.
Play something your kids like watching. I got through all of Zelda BoTW when they were small because we decided fantasy violence was ok.
Play one handed games (civilisation etc) if you’re holding the little one.
I met one sim race nerd (as in full sim set up in the garage level nerd) who raced with his friends every Wednesday night. The wife had the kids that night and he had them another night so she could do her thing.
Sometimes the washing up can wait.

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KrayzeKeef@reddit

Get divorced and see them on weekends haha. That's what worked for me..........or was the reason I got divorced. I can never remember 🤔

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WestleyMc@reddit

Same boat.. 10pm-midnight and cut into my 7-8 hours.. or nothing..

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HulkJ420@reddit

I manage to get on around 9pm. RIP the days of gaming all day and night 🪦

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serenityxfelice@reddit

Adding all the responses to the list of reasons why I don’t want kids👀 People don’t speak enough about the fact everything needs to be put on hold when u have kids

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faroffland@reddit

I’m a big gamer and a mum to an 11 month old. Back in the newborn days I would PlayStation when I was breastfeeding her lol! As one sitting can take like an hour with a proper tiny one.

Now my baby’s mobile I very very rarely get chance to boot up the PlayStation. However handheld consoles are your new best friend!! Once my baby’s gone to bed I can pick up my switch or game on my phone for an hour or two at the end of the day, I do it when we’re vegging in front of the TV so it’s still kind of time ‘together’.

I’m mainly an RPG person so my PlayStation games tend to need a good solid few hours per session but I’ve found loads of games on my switch/mobile that scratch the itch but I can pick up and drop way easier. That way it’s not a big thing to just turn it off as and when my baby needs me in the same way a proper TV console is.

The trick is to not take over the TV or do it every single day (as you absolutely need quality time when you’re properly present in the evenings with your partner), but just carve out a few sessions a week where you give yourself an hour or two. Find ways to do it and still kind of be ‘on call’ e.g. with a handheld console. But ultimately yeah having young kids is harddddd and unfortunately some weeks you will get very little time for your hobbies!

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Spyro_0@reddit

I genuinely could've wrote this post myself, very similar situation on my end. My daughter is 14 months now and we have no time for anything else really, especially at the moment the Mrs is on a job hunt. Eventually the kids will be able to entertain themselves more, maybe they'll even wanna sit and watch you race or have a go themselves in time.

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MachineJunkie08@reddit

Steamdeck was my solution.

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Invisualracing@reddit

One day in the surprisingly near future, you will sit down to play a game with your kid wity a cup of coffee and a lemonade and it will all be worth it. It's just tough gor the first 5 years. Enjoy

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Particular-Lime1651@reddit

In 5 years or so

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stuaird1977@reddit

My lads 10, with full time work, housework, my training 2 nights a week, his training which is 4 times a week plus all the outdoor activities we do together before he's too old I'd say about 1-2 hours a week but I only play a football game on the pc which is 12 mins per game so it's all good. Sometimes we will play together but not that often My advice is enjoy your child and family time, blink and you'll miss it

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TurkishSte@reddit

I read the title and though “haha good one”

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zelandofchocolate@reddit

Mobile gaming is the way

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Low-Run9256@reddit

When we have settled all the kids down my wife will watch one of her shows I don't like and I'll play a game then we'll relax together afterwards

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TheBunnyBaker@reddit

if your worried about being rude and ignoring your wife it might be a good idea to have a set day like on thursday evenings youll be doing that so she can plan to have an extra long bubble bath or a hobby of her own. having time to yourselves is important for both of you

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81optimus@reddit

I bought a r36s handheld from Ebay. Helps scratch the itch

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Any_Platypus_1182@reddit

good news : it gets easier.

less good news: it'll take YEARS before your kid sleeps regular hours.

My six year old needs 11 hours sleep a night.

Trick is to encourage your wife to do her own hobbies so you can get an hour or two gaming in a couple of times a week.

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Earthed_Guy@reddit

That's the cool thing, we don't!

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Doragan@reddit

Got a kid around the same age.

We don't both look after her at the same time. Usually one is looking after her while the other is doing some kind of chores. Sometimes we do it while the other is having some time to themselves. My wife enjoys a long bath and has one a couple of times a week (although one of those is usually after bedtime for little one), and I'm happy to do childcare then. Sometimes my wife is getting her ready upstairs and I'll grab 20 minutes on the Switch or Playstation.

That, and not needing to spend all evening with my other half, I guess.

For me it's actually the opposite problem to many when having kids. I dropped my main hobbies around the same time as she came along, and now I sometimes feel like I need more to do 😅

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malehumangeek@reddit

I get up at 5am. From 0500 to 0630, 4 mornings I exercise, 3 mornings I game. 🤘🏻

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RevFernie@reddit

Step one: Arrange for kids to stay at Grandma's

Step two: Treat wife to spa day

Step Three: Crank up the playstation

Step Four: Miss your wife and child, realise Vidya games are not all they used to be

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ScarletScotYew@reddit

When my eldest was born I was able to do lots whilst he was napping but by the time he turned 6 months no gaming for me...for about the next 4 years lol. Like most folk have said after the kids are down and the 'urgent' housework is done and I actually have the headspace for it, I usually get an hour before bed. My eldest is now at the stage where he is playing the PS5 with supervision, and has been enjoying playing Slime Rancher 2.

I'm just about to start an early mat leave for baby 3 and plan on catching up with all the games I missed in the meantime

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Far_Kaleidoscope_102@reddit

Get yourself a PlayStation portal, official console of new fathers.

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Skruffbagg@reddit

Between 11pm and 1am. That’s it. If my Mrs is out for a night at the weekend I occasionally get a full night of play.

I’ve still managed to complete Baldur’s Gate 3 and about 92hrs into Crimson Desert with those parameters.

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BobBobBobBobBobDave@reddit

I don't play games any more, but to answer the question another way, the only time I have time to myself for stuff, other than if I make a special arrangement with my wife, is when everyone else has gone to bed.

Pretty much all my reading, watching TV, other hobbies etc. happens after 9pm (my wife goes to bed early).

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Rough-Sprinkles2343@reddit

After thyre in bed so 9pm

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Gazado@reddit

Pretty much what you've said. When the house is asleep I get to game. My wife is good in that if a major game comes out and I want to steamroll it, she'll let me game earlier, even if she's awake and not snoring on the sofa. In return she gets to watch things like Bridgerton that I can't stand. Give and take abs compromise is the key really. You can't game as much as you did before but it's not the end of the world.

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TheIhsaan7@reddit

They key is to not leave tasks for later. Treat real life like a game. Completely things as soon as they come up. This way you get time to yourself.

Also single players games are your friend as the pause button is a life saver.

I am speaking with 3 years experience. Maybe not the most qualified but I wish I knew this earlier.

Also guys please try and give time to your so aswell. We take it in turns. Or do things together.

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hadawayandshite@reddit

8-9pm whilst the kid is in bed and my wife wants to watch something on tv

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turkboy@reddit

I literally make AAA videogames for a living and couldn't scratch out more than a man hour here or there for a while. They're older now and we play together, which is great, and for my own games time I go portable and play in bed and in little pockets of time. The days of playing MMOs or massive 100 hour monsters are behind me in practical terms, and somewhat of a busman's holiday!

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cosmiccarrie@reddit

I stopped playin for about 5-6 yrs👍 coz of the little ones 🤷‍♂️

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Regular_Zombie@reddit

When the kid is about 7 or so. They are less messy, are on a school routine, you've figured out more of your own routine and are generally less tired.

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itsfourinthemornin@reddit

Mines not so young now, but I'd sometimes sod the chores off to nap or game when he did. Slightly different circumstances so he'd have days out with dad and grandparents so I could use that time if I pleased. Hour or two was enough the odd night for me before bed.

He's 11 now, a little gamer himself (FIFA, racing and he likes simulators, usual of Roblox and Minecraft too). We regularly play a few things together when he fancies it, as well as he gets his own time to game on an evening, he comes off for dinner and time before bed - we eat as a family and have "wind down" time prior to bed. These days he plays with friends from school and a club he goes to, if I haven't much to do, I'll go play my own games at the same time.

Don't believe anyone who says that time is over. Child and wife should be your main focus yes but you both deserve and need hobbies to keep yourself sane. :)

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louloubelle92@reddit

When my toddler is in bed.

You also need a handheld so you can sit next to eachother but both do your own thing at the same time, have you looked into the PS Portal?

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mas-sive@reddit

Sacrifice sleep, only way.

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LowarnFox@reddit

Probably you and your wife both need to carve out a bit of time for yourselves if you can? So maybe one evening she takes sole responsibility for bath and bed, and you game, and another you do, and she pursues whatever interest she would like to, or even just goes to see friends or similar? You still have 3 weekday evenings to spend together, plus the weekend?

If neither of you want that, then you probably have to accept your gaming time will be minimal? But she might also like an evening "off" to do whatever she likes? It's worth discussing?

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arenaross@reddit

A Steam Deck is your friend for this phase of parenting.

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Ok-Constant-2683@reddit

Once a fortnight she goes to her Grandma's house overnight with her mum, and sometimes I'll get to play a bit of Switch on the shitter. That's about it.

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UKxFallz@reddit

Pretty much the same, I treat that time midday to midday like Gods second chance. Steak night and video games.

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Taxman1975@reddit

When my son was a baby I thought with all the naps and everything I’d have plenty of time for gaming. I went out and bought a PS4 RDR2 pack thinking it would be a great time to explore the game.

That went as well as can be expected and I still don’t think I’ve played more than 2 or 3 hours of RDR2!

My tip is find a game you can play on short bursts. I like roguelike games for this very reason. slay the Spire has been my go to for the past 8 years of so.

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Loud_Narwhal7721@reddit

My other half plays Xbox when our 3 year old goes to bed. I play when she’s at nursery.

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broonskie@reddit

Your other half goes to nursery?

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Loud_Narwhal7721@reddit

I wish.

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dazabhoy67@reddit

Your an adult now, get used to it.

I used to game like mad all weekend an evening before my kids. Now I've lost the spark completley.

I was always too tired or I'd prefer to watch something with my wife once the kids were in bed. After a few years I just lost the urge.

I recently bought a ps portal to make it easier to pick up and put down. Tried it but I'm utterly dog shit at cod and battlefield now and fifa doesnt feel good like it did back on like 12-17.

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4x6x8@reddit

I play when they eventually go up and leave home…

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Niadh74@reddit

Ia m a member of an Eilte: Dangerous squadron and father of 2 girls. Our squadron motto sums up this situation perfectly.

When the kids go to be. We go to space.

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3a5ty@reddit

My wife goes to bed at 9, so I get an hour or 2 about then. Got a 3 year old.

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Zavodskoy@reddit

Not a parent myself buy my friend who I play most co-op games with has two kids (4 and 6 years old)

We game some point vaguely after 7pm when they've gone to bed at around 7 - 7:30 and we play for a couple of hours, sometimes he has to step away for a bit to go check on them / do something for them but that's not the end of the world. He gave the headset to the 6 year old the other day while he went to go help his girlfriend change their bedsheets before bed which was quite funny as he kept asking me why I talk so weirdly (They're Geordies and I live in the south of England)

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ExquisiteBooks@reddit

I’m sure your partner won’t mind if you spend the odd night a week playing games after the children are in bed. As long as you have special nights together too. I’m sure they have their own hobbies!

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Global-Figure9821@reddit

I haven’t turned my console on since my first child was born 4.5 years ago.

Prior to that I was an avid gamer.

So to answer your question, definitely not in the first 4 years. I will report back after they turn 5 to see if any thing has changed.

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barejokez@reddit

One of the things I have discovered as a parent is that you lose that low key personal time. Whether you're changing nappies or helping with homework, it is true for a long time.

If you have a hobby that you are truly passionate about, it is possible to carve out time for it, by communicating with your partner and pulling your weight to help them find the equivalent to e for themselves.

Unfortunately the "few minutes on the PS5" may not make the cut in terms of life priorities. On the other hand maybe it should in which case I urge you to talk to your partner about what it means, and also what it does for you. If it's your only source of stress relief don't give it up! But if it's one of half a dozen hobbies you may just have to learn to accept the new reality.

FWIW it does get better because the kids need you for less time, and they also learn to respect that you will come and help in 5 minutes when you have finished what you're doing!

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candigirl16@reddit

We do it after our twins have gone to bed at 7. One of us does bath time and the other does jobs downstairs so when they finally get into bed we can just chill. We get 2-3 hours per night most nights.

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Who_Knows_M3@reddit

When shes home we play when she's in bed (8 onwards) or each give each other some own time occasionally to do something, whether that's games, read whatever.

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kaleidoscopememories@reddit

I disagree with all these comments saying you're a parent you don't have any time for hobbies anymore. You just have less time and have to coordinate a lot more!

Why don't you takeover kid/house duty for a few hours once a week so your wife can catch up on her hobbies and then in exchange your wife does the same so you get your time too?

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Shoddy-Reply-7217@reddit

You have the same amount of time for that as your wife has for her non-child or house related interests or hobbies.

That is, very little for now.

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AzzA01@reddit

Got 2 PS5 and 1 Series X. Neither have been switched on since my daughter was born a year

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Wild-Individual6876@reddit

Haven’t touched a console since my 12yr old was born

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Dico80@reddit

As others have said, either once the kids are in bed (and you aren't completely exhausted), or you just don't. I used to play a lot but since kids (3yo and 2yo) there isn't really time and I'm knackered all the time anyway.

But, recently I have started joining a regular Friday night session with friends, and I do get the odd game in weekdays evenings if I can, but it's nowhere near the level of the before times, and I do have a wife to spend time with too. Just accepting that it'll be a few years yet until I can get more time tbh.

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coffeexcoffeex91@reddit

During naps and when my husb takes them after dinner for the initial bedtime routine. After an hour or 2 (or whenever they initially wake up), we switch.

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okwhateveryouwin8@reddit

Personally I packed the console away in a cupboard for a couple of years because I was finding the same struggle as you, just didn't have the time. Raising kids is hard work when they are so young while trying to still maintain a healthy relationship with your partner. It's up to you though.

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Reallyboringname2@reddit

Six months after you wrote this post is when I accepted that gaming was no longer an option and I donated my Xbox to charity.

My 6 year hiatus only ended due to lockdown when I decided to make an executive call and buy a PS4 because it looked like this was going to be a long time at home.

My son’s 14 now and we live in a two PS5 household (sorry, darling!)!

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SkylineR33FTW@reddit

What're you doing between 7pm bed and 10pm? Sort the house while the other does bed in 20m then crack on, best switch we made was eating together as 5/6 instead of starting cooking at half 7

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Minute_Syllabub_3368@reddit

We went for one evening a week each doing our own thing. Could be pub, gaming, going to see a friend etc. That still leaves 5 evenings a week for couples time, but still time for individual interests too.

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MindTheBees@reddit

How much time are you expecting to play?

I sleep usually between 12 and 1am, so if I start at 10ish (post kids and wife going to sleep + important household chores done), I'll usually get 2-3 hours of gaming time.

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MercatorLondon@reddit

Please be present for your child. When with your child play with your child. And help your wife. Your gaming years are on hold or maybe over. You may be lucky to spend one hour here and there but don’t count on it. If lucky I spend an hour a month to replay some old games.

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Key-Specific7807@reddit (OP)

Yeah that’s exactly my point. Them first, the gaming is just something I’d enjoy if I get free time which doesn’t look like it’s happening 😂 I wouldn’t change things though just wouldn’t mind a race or 2 once a week 😂

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CrimpsShootsandRuns@reddit

I have about 20 minutes between putting the kids to bed and making dinner. Aside from that, I sacrifice sleep and have a late night once a week.

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JohnMatrix1986@reddit

Unfortunately your time gaming for hours at a time has finished....for now!

Once the kids are old enough to join in the real fun starts.

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Unusual_Entity@reddit

My son loves Lego. So naturally, I'm biding my time until we can co-operatively play the Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones!

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TheNotSpecialOne@reddit

I 'work from home' in other words. I'm in many boring meetings while gaming.

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Ned-Nedley@reddit

I used to put my boys on my lap whilst I got an hours gaming in. Give them a disconnected controller to hold and they were happy as Larry. Now they both have gaming pcs and we all play together.

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mynameisjodie@reddit

My husband did this too and now my 8 year old is really good at racing games

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mynameisjodie@reddit

My 2 kids used to sync up their naps so I would get an hour of the sims when they napped 😂

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Scared-Room-9962@reddit

When my first was born on 2019, I gave my PS4 to my mate because he worked away from home and had nothing to do when not on the job.

I didn't play any computer games until January 2023, by which point I had a 4 year old and a 1 year old.

I bought a Steam Deck which was absolutely perfect for the situation. I'd play when my wife was settling the kids or when everyone was in bed.

I bought a PS5 in November 2025 and I find I have decent time on it, though largely because I work from home and have a lot of down time.

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Competitive_Pen7192@reddit

Hah my wife goes off to sleep or watches shite in TV after the kids are in bed. So I game then.

I'm also able to do it at work on breaks and commuting on the train.

A Steam Deck is very good for this.

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Unique_Protection_44@reddit

I’m a single mum, work full time and have the house to keep clean 😂 usually from 8pm onwards I would game when the wee one was in bed. He’s 8 now and we game together 😊

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MissingScore777@reddit

I play most evenings after everyone has gone to bed.

Kids are in bed by 8. Me and the wife watch something until she goes to bed at 9.30.

I then play until 12.

I'm lucky I'm a night owl and wife is an early bird.

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Feckin_Loser@reddit

I do almost all of my gaming on a handled device. switch 2 or if you prefer there are handheld pcs.

Switch 2 has a pause mode when you shut it down it auto starts where you last stopped. I’ve been playing subnautica for about 25 hours and haven’t turned the game off yet. Just turn on the switch and it’s still there invaluable when you only have 10 minutes.

I’d say as well, pick your game well. Not everything suits playing in short bursts. Best to go for something that works well with shorter or broken play sessions.

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Live-Guidance7244@reddit

I have a 2 and 3 year old. In bed by 8pm latest, clean downstairs for half an hour me and my partner and he will play on his games whilst I shower and I’ll usually come down and read a book or watch YouTube until we feel like going to bed

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No-Owl-5625@reddit

We have 3 kids 7, 3, 9 months, my partner isn’t into video games but loves going to the gym and running, and I do the same, so he’ll do evening runs after the kids are away to bed, or he’ll finish work and go to the gym after, I go for a run or go to the gym early in the morning, our 7 year old enjoys exercising aswell so on Saturday mornings we usually wake up early and go for a run, sometimes the younger kids go to my parents for breakfast and other times we just do runs with the pram

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Bombadier_@reddit

I have a 2 year old, goes to bed pretty reliably around 7.30. dedicated social gaming night that goes from 8-11 once a week. After that I have 3/4 nights where once we’ve eaten/watched a couple of episodes of something I’ll have 10-11 or so. This is in bed with headphones on while the missus reads, so we’re still together. The social night is in the spare room.

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dl064@reddit

This is where Nintendo Switch is the balls.

As you say, 10pm. You want rapid on and off.

Also, if you're doing something like Ferber, Switch is again great.

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CatsChat@reddit

The upside (or downside) is that when your kid is older they might love to join you! You might want to negotiate lie-ins with your partner so you can sometimes have time to yourself late at night and lie in the next morning, and so can your wife on other nights.

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Ok-Comparison2978@reddit

Honestly, you’re doing it right already. Most gaming happens after bedtime or early mornings at that age.

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Environmental-Cut779@reddit

when they are in bed.

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Phat-Lines@reddit

Easy just stop sleeping, maybe get some stimulants and play games when you should be sleeping. It’s not sustainable or a good idea but you’ll get to play video games.

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Ok_Adhesiveness_8637@reddit

We did this...

I played wow (was a pretty hard-core raider) on my 3 nights a week, she got to watch her programmes on those 3 days. On those 3 days she would deal with the little ones (if they woke up or whatever) and on the other nights I would.

We also took it in nightly turns as to who would wake up in the night with the kids, as well as who would have the Sunday lie in (I worked Saturdays at the time).

Just have the conversation with her mate, everyone needs some alone time in the week, im almost positive she doesnt want to be connected to you at the hip every evening (no offence, its just the reality of relationships!)

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LJ161@reddit

My eldest is 7 and youngest is 10 months and as of this week ive finally cracked his sleep routine and so i get 30 mins to an hour in the evening to play.

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herpaderpa123217372@reddit

Just play when the kids in bed. I have 3 under 4, will get to game 7-11 most nights. Wife sits next to me either scrolling or playing the steam deck I got her for Xmas.

If she wants to watch some mindless stuff like Kardashian she can, sometimes if there's a movie we want to watch together we will.

I wouldn't tolerate having to watchsomething like the Kardashians or something I'm not interested in, just like I wouldn't expect her to watch game of thrones or something.

You can do things separately together which is actually really great and works really well. Game time will be reduced greatly when they are older I would imagine so I'm making the most of it now. Games do not get out on when kids are awake for the most part, unless one of them wakes up from a nap and the others are still asleep and I was in the middle of something.

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Adventurous-Ad1585@reddit

Just tell your partner 1 day a week you want to game - find a day she goes out with her friends for an evening or just a day where you both can do solo activities. Most of the time a relationship is better when you both can do some hobbies and have time to yourself as well as time together.

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Low-Rooster5398@reddit

I don't, pretty much gave up on gaming after my 1st born.

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clickyclicky456@reddit

My gaming habits basically stopped until my youngest was about 8 or 9. It's just not a priority when there's so much else to be done. When I did start up again the landscape had changed a lot and I started playing different types of games than I used to.

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walnutwithteeth@reddit

Welcome to toddlerhood. What you've described is entirely normal.

The only thing I can suggest is rope in a well-meaning grandparent for a day and a night to babysit at their house. Agree with your spouse that half the day will be focused on one another (date night etc) and the other half will be time for you both to focus on your own activities/hobbies that may have gone by the wayside.

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JustJoshwaa@reddit

When they’re at School or little ones napping or kids in bed

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