How do you all, with families (wife and kids), mix your pool shooting time with your family time? I love to shoot pool and would shoot 7 nights a week if I did not have family but now that I do, my wife does not want me to shoot pool very much and she says too much is a couple of nights a week. I have two kids, one is two and the other is a newborn. Thanks.
Pool and family
- Thread starter wbweld0
- Start date
First things first: congrats to your newborn.
Then about pool, you are in a good and lucky situation having only you playing. I'm living my familylife with wife and two children and both me and my wife are playing. That creates a totally new aspect of trying to find time to practice when there is two persons who really want to go out and play.
Then about pool, you are in a good and lucky situation having only you playing. I'm living my familylife with wife and two children and both me and my wife are playing. That creates a totally new aspect of trying to find time to practice when there is two persons who really want to go out and play.
Life can be a very busy time with kids that age.I have two girls that are 8 and 5.I also have the most understanding wife a guy could ask for.What makes it real easy is I only have to walk down the stairs to my basement for my own poolroom.Heres a link to some pics if you want to check it out.Also my 8 year old has been playing alot as of late.I think shes going to be good-
http://community.webshots.com/album/250122488NabqRx
http://community.webshots.com/album/250122488NabqRx
I have two little ones (3/5) and a wife who doesnt play pool at all. Plus I work 50+ hrs a week. Something has gotta give, and in this case, its pool. I have cut back my play to 1x a week when I got out and shoot in tournaments locally. Right now the kids and wife all want me home and I want to be there with them too.
One day I am sure the situation will be different. Mostly I think the kids will grow up and no longer want to spend all their time with me and my wife. The way I figure it, I should make the most of this while it lasts as they only stay so little so long.
One day I am sure the situation will be different. Mostly I think the kids will grow up and no longer want to spend all their time with me and my wife. The way I figure it, I should make the most of this while it lasts as they only stay so little so long.
wbweld0 said:
I solved it easily. Until about 5 years ago when my youngest was half way through college I was lucky to get out and play twice a year. I would have loved to have been out shooting, but I could afford neither the money nor the time. I might be a better shooter today if I had done otherwise, but I'd like to think my kids are better men for my sacrifice.
Frankly, assuming you can affore the $$$ though I don't think 2 nights a week is too much at their current ages, but you should grant your wife some time out too. When they're older maybe 1 night a week is a better formula. My case I coached youth sports, ran a lot, and couldn't fit the pool in too. I think individual circumstances have to be evaluated, what's right for me might not be right for your circumstances; but above all else your family MUST come first.
uwate said:
Amen to that brother! My youngest is now 22. I love my young men, but you've no idea how much I miss my "little ones".
Congrats on your newborn and family, and welcome to the forum.wbweld0 said:
I wonder the same thing. I'm also a young parent with a 10-month old, and my wife needs all the help she can get. My pool life has definitely taken a back seat in my life, though I make up for it by posting here.
Since my daughter was born, I manage to squeeze on average an hour of pool a week. Those are on sunday afternoons when my daughter takes a nap. However, once she wakes up, my wife calls and i have to scurry back home...LOL.
So that's the state of my pool life for now until I buy a house and get a pool table myself. That dream is the only thing keeping my pool dreams alive. But first, I need to buy a house.
I only have one daughter thats 9 years old. And like you my wife thinks twice a week is too much pool.
But like another poster said give her her own time to go out with the girls. I break it down as two nights for her, two nights for me. My daughter loves the one on one time. We also have a special family night in which my daughter gets to pick the place and activity. With our suggestions of course...
But like another poster said give her her own time to go out with the girls. I break it down as two nights for her, two nights for me. My daughter loves the one on one time. We also have a special family night in which my daughter gets to pick the place and activity. With our suggestions of course...
family comes first.
Having 2 little ones in the house like yours is a very special time. I'm amazed you're able to get out 2 times a week. I think, and I could be wrong( I am quite often), that unless you want to end up with lots of time to play pool because you no longer have a wife you should take a realistic look at how much time you spend playing vs. how much you're wife thinks is acceptable.
Then again, I'm quite happy having the best of 2 worlds. I have 2 beautiful girls that spend half the time with me and lots of free time to play pool. This of course didn't come about because I wanted more time to play pool, and I wouldn't suggest that someone look into divorce for that reason as someone before mentioned. (but it does work)
As for balancing my family time with my kids and pool there are a few things my girls will and will not put up with.
They will gladly come to the pool hall with me and play some pool
They refuse to watch and protest loudly when anything pool related is put on the TV.
My youngest girl (7 yrs old) thinks it's her responsibility to make sure my cues are clean and polished. She actually gets put out if I do it myself.
So in conclussion since I've rambled on entierly too long, there is a balence to be had between family and pool. It's different for everybody, so it's up to you to find where yours is.
Having 2 little ones in the house like yours is a very special time. I'm amazed you're able to get out 2 times a week. I think, and I could be wrong( I am quite often), that unless you want to end up with lots of time to play pool because you no longer have a wife you should take a realistic look at how much time you spend playing vs. how much you're wife thinks is acceptable.
Then again, I'm quite happy having the best of 2 worlds. I have 2 beautiful girls that spend half the time with me and lots of free time to play pool. This of course didn't come about because I wanted more time to play pool, and I wouldn't suggest that someone look into divorce for that reason as someone before mentioned. (but it does work)
As for balancing my family time with my kids and pool there are a few things my girls will and will not put up with.
They will gladly come to the pool hall with me and play some pool
They refuse to watch and protest loudly when anything pool related is put on the TV.
My youngest girl (7 yrs old) thinks it's her responsibility to make sure my cues are clean and polished. She actually gets put out if I do it myself.
So in conclussion since I've rambled on entierly too long, there is a balence to be had between family and pool. It's different for everybody, so it's up to you to find where yours is.
Two days a week on your situation is quite nice. Anyways when kids grow up you'll have more possibilities to either go out and play with them or just go out alone. When having small kids at home it takes time and that given time is needed if you want to keep your family happy. So just take the best out of your practice and enjoy the ride!
mapman72 said:
Come on, try to be realistic.
Try getting a divorce, moving out of the house, and quitting your job, then you can dedicate the time you need to your game.
I am in the same boat, with a 18 month old.
The thing I remind myself is that pool will always be there for me. There will always be another ball, another rack, and another match to play. My child will only be young once. Once he is two, he will never be one again, so focus on what's most important to you in your life.
I get out once a week on Thursdays for league, Sunday night at my buddies house on Sundays, who lives blocks away, and once a month or so for "alternate" Tuesday night team.
Ours
I have twins (Boy and a girl - 8 months old)
Our solution was to divide the week up i.e. You watch the little ones twice a week while she enjoys some freedom and on two other nights you get to go out and play.
Also make sure that you don't try and take 2 weeknights watching the kids while you stick her with weekends...as the arrangement will not last. (Can't blame a guy for trying)
We usually do one weeknight and one weekend for one person while the other gets two weeknights and swap the next week...
While this works great, be sure to make some time for just you and your wife too!
-Mike
I have twins (Boy and a girl - 8 months old)
Our solution was to divide the week up i.e. You watch the little ones twice a week while she enjoys some freedom and on two other nights you get to go out and play.
Also make sure that you don't try and take 2 weeknights watching the kids while you stick her with weekends...as the arrangement will not last. (Can't blame a guy for trying)
We usually do one weeknight and one weekend for one person while the other gets two weeknights and swap the next week...
While this works great, be sure to make some time for just you and your wife too!
-Mike
It's all about compromise. You get a night or two out a week to play pool. Then you watch the babies while your wife has a night out with her friends. And don't forget a night for the both of you together.
poolhall maven "married 26 years today"
poolhall maven "married 26 years today"
wbweld0 said:
If you can afford it and you have the space why don't you think about getting a table? It doesn't have to be a 9 foot Gold Crown, just something affordable and at least you can shoot pool in the evenings or something. Anything is better than nothing.
Gregg said:
Gregg,
Beautiful post, Gregg. I guarantee you, when your child is 6 or 7 and you toss out those old baby toys and stuff, you will have a strange nostalgic feeling, and maybe a cry. The same will happen when they're 10 and they want a cell phone instead of a toy.
We all have fantasies about winning the big tournament, but being involved with and loved by your children as a father is the single most rewarding experience in a man's life.
Chris
TATE said:
More rewarding than a century in snooker??????????????????
poolhall maven said:
Congrats a day late.
