Playing video games is a regular part of life for millions of teenagers.
Whether playing with friends or alone, they can often spend hours in front of a screen.
This can be a concern for many parents, but Clare, a mother of two, couldn’t be happier.
“I don’t mind that my son plays 50 hours a week”
The British mom revealed that her 13-year-old son, Ben, loves to play his Xbox for hours on end.
In fact, he plays 50 hours a week.
“Every day Ben comes home from school and plays on his Xbox until bedtime, and he doesn’t leave his room at the weekends,” he told The Sun UK.
Her son’s “addiction” to games doesn’t faze Clare because “he’s so smart.”
According to the mother of two, her son comes home with consistently excellent grades and his teachers adore him.
“The teachers believe that the sun shines on their rear; they constantly tell me how smart and charming he is,” she said.
Speaking enthusiastically about her son, she goes so far as to refer to him as a “teenage genius.”
The only time he’s not playing is when he’s on the soccer field.
Considered the “star of the team,” Ben plays three times a week for his local soccer team as goalie.
“He’s really fit and healthy, but he doesn’t need to be, he’s just catching balls, not running down the field,” Clare told the publication.
Son “never meets friends outside”
The mother bought her son his first console when he was four years old.
From then on, he was hooked on video games.
Growing up, she had trouble separating Ben from the screen, especially during meal times.
“He would scream and yell at dinner time when he was forced to give up control and eat at the table,” he explained.
Threatened with gambling bans, he “quickly learned” to listen to his parents’ commands.
“If you don’t come down to dinner, I’ll just turn off your console on the wall,” Clare laughed.
You are not alone in your addiction to gaming. “He never meets his friends outside,” she said. “They’re all in his rooms chatting on their gaming headsets.”
He added that occasionally “he sticks [her] head behind the door” to open the curtains and air out the room. “Teenagers suck!” she laughed.
While she runs errands, he will stay in his room and continue playing.
“He’s not interested in spending time with us,” she explained.
But this is not a problem for mom. “I won’t force him out if he doesn’t want to go,” she added.
“I know that some will call me a bad mother”
Clare understands that the critics will disagree with her upbringing, but she said they couldn’t change her mind.
“I know some people will say it’s unhealthy or I’m a bad mom, but Ben is so smart and happy, why would he change that?” she claimed.
It’s something she understands other mothers go through, but she thinks her son is superior to other children.
“All the moms I talk to feel the same way, but I’m not sure their kids are doing as well in school,” she confessed. “The difference between them is that Ben is really smart.”
She added that she is “not bothered” by trolls as she focuses on making sure her son is happy and “thriving.”
“As long as they’re happy, interacting with you and doing well in school, they’re absolutely fine,” he said.
“Ben can be whatever he wants to be and if he wants to play on his Xbox for days on end, he has my blessing.”