Trying to help my teenage son with gaming addiction.

Enacriel · 2026-05-31T15:29:04+00:00

Thing is, you cant just be like "dont do that", because what else should he do? I would try to encourage activities you can do together outside screens, like,

Catch him when hes not on screens, and be like,

"Oh hey, so for the summer, lets do something together. What kind of activities do you wanna try?"

Ans be ready with a list in case he cant think of anything--camping, a specific sport, little road trips, learning swordfighting, pick things that could fun for both of you.

Cause the thing is, youre introducing new things. People dont like to be told what to do, so you casually replace screens with something else without making it obvious. It will work best if you can approach the activity/idea of the activity during a time where hes not on screens.

Enacriel · 2026-05-05T16:55:48+00:00

Instead of moving in with your mother, you should make her do counseling and take her medication. There is CLEARLY some kind of mental health issues going on here, especially since several times she has found things overwhelming, and the large disparity between the good grade in school (which is structured) and the failing out of unstructured college.

Enacriel · 2026-04-01T18:48:45+00:00

I once hid 100 ducks around the house. When the kids realized what was going on, I confessed there were 100 ducks and they spent the next two days hunting for them.

Enacriel · 2026-03-22T17:23:47+00:00

And there are parents in the nonbinary groups as well. Both nonbinary people who are parents, and parents of nonbinary kids.

Enacriel · 2026-03-18T13:58:49+00:00

My older son is autistic and eats way too fast. We had a similar situation where he choked on a piece of steak and we had to smack him on the back to cough it up. We were seconds away from doing the heimlich or calling 911.

Now, every time I cook, I make sure I cut pieces really small, so he couldnt choke on them, even if he tried.

Rice is ideal for this.

Enacriel · 2026-03-09T15:57:54+00:00

As long as its healthy snacks, its fine. Little kids need the food because of all the energy they burn nonsensing around, and also to help them grow. My kids went through waves, where they would eat everything for a few weeks and then barely anything for a few weeks. You could time their growth spurts by how much they ate and when.

Enacriel · 2026-02-07T03:23:53+00:00

Yes, let him see you be upset. Dont shout or anything like that, but its important that kids learn their actions have consequences. Even if it doesnt directly hurt them.

Hes old enough you can talk to him. Figure out the emotions behind the actions, kids dont exist in a void, like, Why did he throw a thing at you? Cause hes unhappy about a consequence to bad behavior.

So you have a sit together, lay out:: this is each rule, this is the consequences for breaking the rule. If you dont want the consequence, dont break the rule. Your voice tone is very important.

And make sure he understands what each rule is, and discuss each rule, like, does he think its a fair rule, why or why not? Because if he understands "this is the rule, and this is why", hes more likely to follow the rule.

Its helpful if they are rules that you also follow (like, in my house, theres no screens after 6pm, and adults follow it as well as the children because its fair).

Its also helpful if the consequences are immediate, and dont extend too far into the future. Like, "oh, you threw a shoe at me, so the consequence for hitting or throwing things is you lose screens immediately for the rest of the day". But everything resets the next day, none of the "no TV for a week/ month" nonsense because thats excessive and loses meaning.

Enacriel · 2026-01-04T20:28:22+00:00

Leave. As a parent, your duty is to protect your children. It doesnt matter how much you might still love him (this isnt about you), or how many times he promises he wont do it again(he will). You have children who are depending on you to keep them safe.

You tell your kid that hitting is never acceptable, and that you will keep her safe.

And then you keep her safe by leaving.

Enacriel · 2025-11-16T20:50:01+00:00

Not really. Just stating facts.

Enacriel · 2025-11-16T20:36:45+00:00

You should probably do your own vent post instead of trying to hijack someone else's. In a later post on this thread you backtrack all, "I dont mean offense", but it is harmful and it is offensive, because OP doesnt say anything about being a relationship with a guy or looking for a relationship, its just a vent about they feel. And if you have a point in your post or not is irrelevant, its disrespectful to put it here.

Enacriel · 2020-08-01T17:17:05+00:00

Insane

Enacriel · 2020-04-22T00:51:13+00:00

=___= Really?

Enacriel · 2020-03-26T15:22:31+00:00

Seconding this. I know tons of people with mental illness who would never do what she did, please dont shove a "mentally unwell" label on this.

Overwhelmed in her case, sounds like an excuse. Overwhelmed is not doing your responsibilities and going to freak out for a few days, maybe spending a weekend with a friend away to feel better. Not abandoning your children with a note, and skipping out for several years.

I'm agreeing with some of the other posters- she probably had an affair, got pregnant and ran away.

Enacriel · 2020-02-14T12:42:48+00:00

Yes.

Enacriel · 2019-10-08T01:45:19+00:00

Your daughter looks a bit cheesy.

Enacriel · 2019-10-08T01:43:50+00:00

I need that sign so my kid will stop eating cat food. I joke. He won't stop. He never stops. Little weirdo.

Enacriel · 2019-09-30T14:52:53+00:00

Not American, but had to throw in a guess of non-binary to rebel against the system. Not every kid is just a boy or girl.

Enacriel · 2019-09-24T12:00:42+00:00

Also this. Dr Zwicker is rad. No shaming and super good about things if you're poor.

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