It hasn’t always been that way for me. When I first got ‘addicted’ to poker back in 2005 I started playing a lot. I have a wife and daughter. My wife especially saw the change right away. We had several arguments about the time I spent on the computer playing poker. Some of them got pretty heated.

I had to find a way to satisfy my wife and my ‘addiction’.

I believe many to have this problem and I can now tell you there is a way that family and poker can coexist and even thrive !!

The keys are communication and flexibility.

The first thing I did was to listen. I believe that listening is truly a lost art in today’s world. Some people listen but don’t hear a thing. Some people talk and say nothing.

When I actually listened to my wife I found out she did not want me to stop playing poker but rather ‘pick your spots’. After all the basis of her argument is she wanted to spend more time with me. We came up with an solution to fit both sides. You see my wife and daughter usually turn in early and I do not. There’s our answer ! I get in a couple of tournament most nights during the week and we talk about what we want/need to do on weekends and I play around that schedule. If there is a particular tournament I want to play I simply provide notice to my wife and everything is good. If there is an event she wants us to attend she gives me notice and were all good.

I haven’t had an argument over poker with my wife for quite a long time. Now and again I’ll admit I increase my playing time but and abuse our agreement but now I recognize when that happens and usually try to do something to make up for it. (dinner, movie etc…)

I love my family and I love poker … you can have both !!