Growing up.

Something that has been weighing on my mind a lot lately is the simple fact of growing up and getting older. I just had my 27th birthday and I love video games more now that I have at any other time in my life. I feel so blessed to be married to the woman of my dreams that's pregnant with my son, Mason (lil' 3N3MY), working a good job and being able to play games as much as I do.

I've known a lot of guys that get married and lose gaming altogether. Their wives deem them stupid or a waste of time and money and put the kabash on the whole thing. My wife, Mrs. 3N3MY, understands that video games are an important outlet for me to unplug the mind and unwind after a day of work. She also gets that they're an important way to hang out with some of my best friends that don't live anywhere near me geographically.

I'm feeling sentimental about growing up because lately because I'm going to be a dad myself and I've had very little time to play much of anything for the last several weeks and I feel it's a trend that is only going to continue for many years ahead. It's not that I'm scared of this or dreading it, but rather view it as an essential part of "growing up" and being a good husband and father.

I work 40-45 hours a week. I'm taking 2 classes at Indiana University Northwest that give me between 10-15 hours of extra work a week, because I'm trying to get my MBA, and I'll be in school for the next 2 and a half years at least. I have commitments at my church for Small Groups (which are some of the highlights of my week because the people I go to church with are some of the coolest peeps I have the joy of knowing) and I have recently become an addition to the praise and worship band there.

During all this busy time I still find hours of time a week to play the games I love. It irks the hell out of me when people tell me that they think I don't play too much or that I could always play more when the people telling me this have very few responsibilities or bills to pay. Even as understanding as my wife is about me playing games it's more important for me to spend time with her and make sure I'm fulfilling my duties as a husband. What kind of a husband would I be if I just ignored her when I came home from work or school or whatever and played games till bed almost everyday? I get home late enough from school and everything else as it is.

I'm not saying that I'm the busiest or hardest working person out of anyone that reads this blog because I don't believe that to be the case. I'm just aknowledging my inability to play games as much as I'd like to or want to because of my responsibilities and obligations that come along with growing up. Does this make me a baby? I don't think so. I think it just makes me a guy realizing that he's not a kid anymore, but he'll always love his videogames.