Is it over for me?

hasenfang

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Well, it is official... the wife is pregnant with our first child, I am very excited, and cannot wait for this new adventure to begin! Having said that, when I wanted to purchase something arcade related late last week it happened, for the first time in our marriage I was told "no." She said we will need that money for baby stuff. To be honest, we have done very well and while we are not rich we are more on the mid to upper middle class range. So, anytime I have wanted something I didn't ask, I just informed this is where I am going, if you notice something in the garage, thats mine. Now that the baby is on the way, is my run in the hobby over? How do you guys with kids balance between new arcade items and something for your kids? I was told by a friend of mine (with kids) that it won't matter to me anymore, I won't think it will be about your kids and that's where your mind will be at, is this true? What do the future days of arcade collecting have in store for me?
 
congrats on the new baby, unfortunately i can't offer advice being i don't have kids, nor will ever have them!!! so my advice is pointless. it's good advice. but it would be coming from me! congrats again!
 
I have 3 kids and another on the way and I still buy arcade stuff :D I just make sure the family has what they need first, the wife is happy as long as the family is happy.


And congrats, it will be an AWESOME time :)
 
Your wife is "nesting." She'll be unreasonable during this time. Just roll with it, as it will pass in time.

- M1A
 
Well, it is official... the wife is pregnant with our first child, I am very excited, and cannot wait for this new adventure to begin! Having said that, when I wanted to purchase something arcade related late last week it happened, for the first time in our marriage I was told "no." She said we will need that money for baby stuff. To be honest, we have done very well and while we are not rich we are more on the mid to upper middle class range. So, anytime I have wanted something I didn't ask, I just informed this is where I am going, if you notice something in the garage, thats mine. Now that the baby is on the way, is my run in the hobby over? How do you guys with kids balance between new arcade items and something for your kids? I was told by a friend of mine (with kids) that it won't matter to me anymore, I won't think it will be about your kids and that's where your mind will be at, is this true? What do the future days of arcade collecting have in store for me?
From your post it appears that you already know the clear answer. Don't ask, problem solved! She isn't going to know what you just bought from what you've already got from a hole in the wall... :)
 
1)How do you guys with kids balance between new arcade items and something for your kids?

2)What do the future days of arcade collecting have in store for me?


1)Well kids come first, and unfortunately one might learn children will not eat power supplies.

2)In the words of Rambo, via First Blood: "NOTHING IS OVER!! NOTHING! YOU JUST DON'T TURN IT OFF!!".

In other words, you won't lose sight of your hobby, in fact it may become a quick moment of retreat from parenting. Feed the baby, put it to sleep for a few, then relax and go install a joystick for 15 minutes.
 
No, it's not over. I've got 4 kids and I still buy stuff. It's a matter of priorities. Family first. However, it's not uncommon to overreact with the first one. Wait until someone sneezes around the kid when it's still a newborn. See how quickly your wife wants to get our of there.

Congrats!
 
Congrats Mike! I'm excited for you!!! Kids and family needs will definitely come first. Both in money AND time. You'll see your game hobby be a much lesser priority. However, once the kids get older it gets really cool for them. I wavered on selling off the collection years ago, but it was my wife who told me my son liked the games and I should stick with it. Glad I did! Now my daughters love to play the games. My 8 year old plays the 48in1 every day. She's good at several games on it. Pretty soon you'll have to get a crane game for girls!

I don't buy much arcade related any longer. Money and time are tight. But we have a lot of fun playing together.

Hey, we have to have another game day soon!

Jeff
 
Nah you'll still find time. Just roll with the punches until you see what it takes to have kids and your hobby.

May I suggest turning a Star Wars cabinet into a crib? They make awesome furniture from what I hear.
 
From your post it appears that you already know the clear answer. Don't ask, problem solved! She isn't going to know what you just bought from what you've already got from a hole in the wall... :)

Exactly. As long as the family is not hurting for anything, get what you want, and if she asks, tell her it was there all the time.

(In all honesty, I always ask about entire games, I have to use her van to get them. But, on the other hand my daughters are 30 and 17 and I started in the hobby when the youngest was 3.)

ArcadeMaze!
 
congrats! you will learn to live without sleep. of course the baby will come first. i have four.
and they help convince mommy why we need another pin or game.
 
Congrats on the new baby! My wife is pretty cool and supports my hobby better then the first time I started collecting games that said family comes first. I have 2 kids my youngest being 3 years old yes when little ones come around the focus is going to be on them not the arcade games but as long is food is on the table and bills are paid my wife doesn't say anything about me bringing games home the fun part about it is when they get older they are curious about the games and want to play them I have pictures of my daughter 2 years old playing the games by herself and those are great moments! But hang in there things will change for you it's not over!
 
Based on your wanted signature, I'd buy that Qbert quickly, before that becomes an issue! :)

Congrats on the new addition. You may be a holding pattern for a while, but you will balance the family and the hobby, eventually. Use the Force.
 
Thank you for all your kind words...

Obviously family comes first, I am slow but even I get that! I guess it seems odd for me, since for so long I have had the freedom and means to do whatever, whenever I wanted, the idea that era is over is a little daunting..

I have no idea what to expect, I know nothing about kids, I don't have any (until this one on the way), no one in my family has had them, I have not been around them and when I have hung out with my friends, they typically ditch the kids to go do something. So I really have no reference point on anything.
 
Well, it is official... the wife is pregnant with our first child, I am very excited, and cannot wait for this new adventure to begin! Having said that, when I wanted to purchase something arcade related late last week it happened, for the first time in our marriage I was told "no." She said we will need that money for baby stuff. To be honest, we have done very well and while we are not rich we are more on the mid to upper middle class range. So, anytime I have wanted something I didn't ask, I just informed this is where I am going, if you notice something in the garage, thats mine. Now that the baby is on the way, is my run in the hobby over? How do you guys with kids balance between new arcade items and something for your kids? I was told by a friend of mine (with kids) that it won't matter to me anymore, I won't think it will be about your kids and that's where your mind will be at, is this true? What do the future days of arcade collecting have in store for me?

OK, first child and all, she's feeling a bit scared by everything. Honestly, take a break from adding to your collection for the next year or so. Fix what you've got - she won't likely object to small purchases for parts to fix up existing equipment, finish projects, etc. And, given the state of the economy, you might want to enlarge your nest egg for a while. It can't hurt to save a little now - you can always spend it later!

Once the little one joins you, you can see how much money is available for the hobby (trust me, kids take up LOTS of money. I wouldn't have believed it before I had mine). You'll probably have no trouble with arcade purchases. The thing you're going to have trouble with (and the reason I say take this time to fix things up and finish off projects) is that you're going to have VERY little free time for a while once the baby is born.

Congratulations, and good luck!
 
Well, it is official... the wife is pregnant with our first child, I am very excited, and cannot wait for this new adventure to begin! Having said that, when I wanted to purchase something arcade related late last week it happened, for the first time in our marriage I was told "no." She said we will need that money for baby stuff. To be honest, we have done very well and while we are not rich we are more on the mid to upper middle class range. So, anytime I have wanted something I didn't ask, I just informed this is where I am going, if you notice something in the garage, thats mine. Now that the baby is on the way, is my run in the hobby over? How do you guys with kids balance between new arcade items and something for your kids? I was told by a friend of mine (with kids) that it won't matter to me anymore, I won't think it will be about your kids and that's where your mind will be at, is this true? What do the future days of arcade collecting have in store for me?

Buy what you can now, because once the kid gets here, you wont have much money to spend. Its all good though, its a good tradeoff. The other killer is lack of time to mess with stuff. I havent bought any games for myself since ive had my son, but on the other hand you wont see me selling off the collection anytime soon.
 
I have a 22 month year old and my wife is prego right now. We are both teachers so we don't make a lot of money. It has definitely tough to collect Arcade games as they cost money and take up space.
Both bother her.
The way I look at it is, FAMILY FIRST, then your hobby.
Save your cash and spend it smartly on a game you want.
Hence why I bought a 60 in 1 iCade and installed it in a DK machine. I knew I would never have the space or money for all of them, so why not get the chance to play them, even if it pisses off the purists.
 
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