Gamer Mom

I'm truly proud to be considered a gamer, probably even more so now that I am a mom. It feels like some kind of achievement, juggling kids and still finding time to be this other person that so few of your comrades understand. It's actually common practice for my husband and I to be running a heroic in WoW while having to excuse ourselves for a quick minute because the 3 year old is knocking on his door yelling he has to poop. For us though, World of Warcraft came before our children and now when I think back to a time that we played it so carefree, I am boggled.

World of Warcraft was the first game I ever really played with so much intensity. I didn't grow up with this uber gaming background, I had an older brother who used to charge fees to our phone bill calling the Nintendo Hotline trying to figure out how to beat Zelda for my SNES. Those were the days before internet and walkthroughs, but he was 6 years older than me and I was only allowed to watch him play Zelda because it was my SNES. If it had been his, I would have been forbidden to touch it and probably look at it too. I got my first game boy for my 5th birthday, my first lunchbox when I was in Kindergarten was Super Mario Bros. Looking back now, it seems so obvious where my future should have been headed, but then I got off course and the only thing I played during my high school days were Neopets. Ouch, the shame... I still have that account too. The night World of Warcraft came out, I was at the Walmart at midnight, but not to buy the game... I didn't even know anything about the game or Warcraft in general. I was there to buy stuff to surprise my best friend for her 18th birthday, we also picked up fresh Krispy Kremes for her and when we got home... she wasn't even there. A month later, Christmas, I got a new computer... my boyfriend/now husband searched around for a copy of World of Warcraft thinking that I might like to try it now that I had a computer good enough and if I didn't, then he would keep the copy and that was it. We had to find another copy, I made my NE warrior, leveled to 60, farmed for my Arcanite Reaper, raided Molten Core and BWL with the guild I am still in. I remember falling asleep at the computer at 4am on our millionth attempt at the Tiger Boss in Zul'Gurub and I remember having our server first Zin'Rokh, Destroyer of Worlds... those were great times.

I've come a long way and some things I am ashamed I knew so little about. For instance, I recall being in a Gnomeregan and someone asked me how I was spec'ed and I literally had a couple of points in each tree. I also used to put intellect stuff on my warrior because I wanted her to be smart.

My whole point is that I have learned a lot... tons, more than I could have ever imagined. World of Warcraft isn't the only game I play now - I play lots of games and all different kinds. I used to be scared to play Tomb Raider because the creatures run at you and now my husband and I play Left 4 Dead 2 like it's nothing. (I get in trouble for shooting him sometimes though) I am just so greatful to be a part of the gaming community, I may not have been there my whole life and I still have to play catch up sometimes, but I love it and I love the people. I am so damn excited about going to my first convention this year and even more so that it's PAX East. This whole thing was suggested on a whim this year by my husband, but it's all come together so naturally and I am pumped to be hanging out with thousands of people who share my passion in just 43 more days. See you in Boston!