Maybe things have changed (for the better now), but back in my day, it wasn’t that cool to be considered a “gamer”.
We’re talking ’80s and ’90s here people.
Yep, back in the day, I bloody loved gaming as much as I bloody love gaming now, but at school and surrounds, that made me a (wait for it)… NERD!
A nerd?
Now, to be honest, I never really gave a shit about being a nerd. I was actually quite proud of it, if truth be told.
But with that tag came the usual baggage.
- No, I didn’t get many girls.
- No, I never excelled at school because of said gaming addiction.
- No, I didn’t have a huge circle of mates at school, just the dudes mainly who shared my love for gaming.
Now, as life usually does in these cases, once you leave the bullshit of high school things tend to sort out and people become adults and those sorts of tags tend to remove themselves from you.
Indeed, at every school reunion I’ve been to since, I’m far from “a nerd”… I’m more like the party animal.
Anyhoo, life worked out for me and I met the girl of my dreams, got together, lived a life, got engaged, married, kids, yada yada yada.
Now here’s the rub. 11 years into being a parent and it’s suddenly dawned on me.
Gamers make the best partners when it comes to being a parent.
Why is this so, I hear you ask? Well, this is why.
I actively encourage my wife to head out and head out often… get away from the kids and the monotony of being a Mum to get some her time with her mates.
I’m talking, once, twice a week.
Meantime, I handle the nightly duties when it comes to bath time, dinner time and a little bit of reading / TV time before the bells of bedtime ring at around 8.30pm.
From then on, whilst wifey is out having fun with her friends, I’m gaming on with my mates online. Kids safe in bed, sound asleep, and me just bloody gaming on with a cheeky drink or three and some good old fashioned banter.
Wifey comes home a lot happier for the chance to be out and free from the shackles of parenting for a night, and I get some quality, guilt free, game on time.
Win bloody win!
Now, wifey doesn’t do it every week, and I stress, you still need to find room for some quality time together, but… for the most part, at this stage of our lives where the kids are too little still to be left at home AND we don’t have enough spendable cash to justify regular babysitting stints, well, what can I say but…
Gaming saves the bloody day! Again!
This is why, fellow gamers, we truly make the best partners for those who don’t game!
Written by: @dantheinternut