Last weekend, I found myself in a situation I never imagined would occur: I pleaded with my fourteen-year-old son to invite some friends over.
In the years past, our home had been the epicenter of raucous activity, thanks to his friends who unleashed a whirlwind of energy that left quite a few lamps, wall decorations, and even a window screen in disarray as they climbed out. I thought I’d welcome a reprieve from such chaos, but when I noticed Max’s social life had dwindled, with him spending entire weekends lounging around in his pajamas, with the shades drawn and yelling at his gaming console, I knew it was time to take action.
“Hey Max, how about having some friends over for your birthday? We can order pizza and you all can watch a movie,” I suggested.
“Not interested,” he replied.
“Why not?” I pressed.
“Just… not my thing.”
Ah, the classic teenage response, full of mystery and depth. We broached the topic multiple times, emphasizing the importance of “face time,” which means interacting with real people, not just their online personas. We insisted that going on real adventures in nature could ignite his imagination in ways no video game could match.
Yet, he remained unconvinced. I mean, if I were a kid today, how cool would it be to have constant access to friends from the comfort of my own room without the need for real-world interaction? Back in my day, I had to make do with limited phone time, often hunched over a long cord in my mom’s room.
I’ll admit, I felt a twinge of hypocrisy. One Friday night, I was comfortably settled in my bedroom, cocktail in hand, engaging in a lively video chat with fellow bloggers. My two sons peeked in, looking bewildered.
“Mom, what’s going on?” Max asked.
“I’m video chatting! Come join!”
“Ugh, Mom, seriously? Get a life.”
“Excuse me? I have a life! What exciting plans do you have, Mr. Know-it-all?”
That evening, from my cozy spot, I virtually traveled through downtown Singapore, hung out at a Ruby Tuesdays in Minnesota, took a house tour in Texas, and chatted with friends in England, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and even Hawaii—all while sipping my drink.
For reasons unknown, Max kept reentering the room, craning his neck to sneak a peek at my laptop. Before long, both boys were sitting next to me, introducing themselves to my online friends.
I get it now. Honestly, getting dressed to socialize in person is quite the task for me. But I do it (sometimes).
Then came the weekend when Max announced he was heading to a friend’s house to collaborate on a school project. With real kids! Five of them, to be exact.
“I might stay for dinner,” he said.
“Fantastic! Go! Enjoy yourself!”
Of course, I had my video chat to attend to.
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Summary
In a humorous reflection on parenting in the digital age, Lisa Carter shares her experience with her teenage son Max, who prefers video gaming over real-life interactions. After a period of encouraging him to socialize in person, she finally sees him take the leap to hang out with friends in a productive setting. The article emphasizes the balance between digital connections and face-to-face interactions in today’s world.