Kids- How do you do it?

[Eeralai]

I highly recommend getting involved in a stay at home dad playgroup or a group specifically for parents with twins. The lack of adult socializing through me for a loop as a stay at home mom. Getting involved with a playgroup really helped me and our son. I think if it had not been for the play group, he would've been the kid screaming for mom his first week of kindergarten

Otherwise, enjoy!

 

[Sledge]

My biggest advice is to remember that your children are people. They will be unique and different. While you may find similarities with the behaviours of other children, your children will have their own definition of what is normal. Soon you will know what is normal for your child and be able to help them through their lives.

P.S. don't worry about gaming. Sometimes you have to take a break from it, but if you really enjoy it, you'll find time for it. Don't be afraid to walk away from the books for weeks or months at a time if needed.

P.P.S. Invest in jumbo dice. Too big to choke on, but still usable. It lets them feel like they can play. I've found that jumbo dice and a blank character sheet will keep kids happier during game time than anything else.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

While I can't give you any real advice as my husband and I have yet to have our first child, I would like to say congratulations!

I've been told that having children will be difficult for me, and it always gives me hope to hear of other couples that had children against the odds. *smiles* Yay for you two!

 

[Eeralai]

sorry, my post got posted twice somehow.

 

[Aeolius]

Well, PbP games require less time, I think. At least, the time is spread out more.

As the father of three (ages 11, 7, and almost 2) plus we're in the process of adopting internationally, PbP is the route I took as well. My offline schedule is too unpredictable, for regular gaming sessions.

 

[warlord]

As a twin who was once a baby I have to warn you although you will love these kids at certain times they will make your life what seems like a living hell using a unique brand of twin based trouble making. Oh and Congrats.

 

[der_kluge]

Dude, I am so sorry!

Also, congratulations. You're going to totally understand what I mean in a few years.

I've heard from people who have multiples that it's not hard because "we don't know any different". Us wusses with only one child pity those folks with multiples but to them, it's natural.

You probably won't notice much of a routine change in the first three months. You just keep them in their carseat, and you can take them out to eat. They sleep through anything. Nighttime is a real headache. My wife and I swapped out those duties. So, every other night we got to sleep in the spare bedroom with the door closed, and there we couldn't hear the baby. So, every other night we got a good night's sleep.

 

[BlackSilver]

Few years ago my wife is told that our chances of getting pregnant are next to Lotto winning chances.

Anyone can win if they buy enough tickets.

Now on Friday she hands me a card telling me that we need to by two of everything. Oh, crap- twins! :\

Do you know the sex/es yet?

Also how do you manage to game with kids- specifically the little ones.

Can't help you with that, other then to say- children sleep, Grandparents love to baby sit, friends understand, and there are two of you.

All our best wishes, Harmon. You have been blessed and you will make a great father.

 

[Templetroll]

Congrats! It is possible and beneficial for children and gaming to co-exist and mix.

Go to Paizo and get the plush D20. If it survives long enough you can teach your kids to count! They will realize it is important to learn since Daddy always plays with his d20! keep in mind the size of the d20 has to be bigger than the kid's mouth at all times! (my daughter's choking incident was 2 quarters and a nickle she found on the floor of a gaming room that had been 'baby-proofed' by three adults. Kids always trump adults in things like that; see these grey hairs? I earned those suckers!)

When my daughter was ready to be taken out one of the first things we did was get back to our regular gaming group! Luckily, it was half female, almost all married and some had kids of their own. We had no problem with someone to watch the baby while we took our turns and roleplayed. Once, I ran a game at our house and one of the players suggested that my now sleeping daughter be put in her room, since it was convenient for once. I did so... By the time I got back to the living room we heard on the intercom that she was awake and wanting up. I brought her back down and started the game again. Snooze-city for the kid. Noise, especially that associated with gaming, was a comfort to her! dang, that was sweet!

Once I was playing Magic:TG with my wife and we heard our daughter tell her grandmother, "I turn Thomas (the Tank-Engine) and you take 3 points of damage!"

She started playing D&D with us when she was 10; she is 15 now and it is very cool. Her first character was a teenage witch named Sabrina.... She died at the Moathouse in the ToEE module. She has since played an cat that could turn into a panther (worked through 5 out of 9 lives before a TPK) a flying cat sorcerer, an owl druid, a faerie dragon, a silver dragon, a sabre-tooth tiger druid .... you get the picture, I'm sure.

In a Greyhawk campaign I'm running for my wife and child she is playing a tiefling from Kanak in the Dry Steppes and a creature based on an illustration - kinda catlike with fire on the tip of its tail. She wants the tiefling to be related to characters like Vash the Stampede and Shoshomaru.

We've found that her math skills improved when she started playing D&D as well as her vocabulary. Imagination is always a great thing for a kid to use; keeps them away from the Tv for a while - up to you whether it kept you from a bad crowd...

 

[Digital M@]

Congrats!

I have a 13 week old and I game once a week, but my wife does not. I have two dogs and they are 4 times as hard to take care of as one dog, and I have to imagine the same goes for kids. You have your work cut out for you, but the reward is worth it all.

I imagine that face to face gaming will go away for awhile, but look what you are trading it for. I hardly call it a loss. I have yet to meet someone with a newborn that enjoys long visits. 60-90 minutes seem to be great, you get to say hello, people can see the baby/ies and then they go. Your energy is limited and entertaining or playing a four hour game while trying to balance 2 newborns will not work.

Congrats again.