Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

12 year old won't go anywhere or do anything unless forced.

38 replies

Regularchoice · 07/07/2024 14:43

AIBU to force him then? Everything is met with unenthusiastic response, Everything. Not in the UK so on holidays already. He would literally stay in his pjs moping around the house if I left him to it. He's supposed to be in sports camp, missed a few days last week so I'll have a massive struggle to get him back tomorrow.
He's like this in term time too,have tried lots of sports, scouts etc. He has to be dragged to anything. Not mad about school but he knows that's absolutely non negotiable. He does soccer because all his friends play but even that he will try to get out of. It's exhausting, but I just want him to be active/ out of the house/ finding joy in life/ learning some bloody resilience.
I'm on the verge of giving up pushing tbh, I feel like a bit of a psycho forcing him out. If I leave him alone will he find his own way??( I feel like he won't, I feel like he'll end up a total shut in 😔)

OP posts:
N0tfinished · 07/07/2024 15:53

I wouldn't be so strict on the PlayStation- obvs not free access but it's the way young teen boys socialize nowadays. It's not as brain-numbing as endless TikTok scrolling, it's more creative. At your son's age mine was just playing Minecraft, so no violence etc. He may feel excluded at school if he doesn't have that avenue to make connections.

My oldest was similar, it was all tied into anxiety and sheer paralysis about his peers' opinions. Covid obviously made everything worse. He quit a sport he enjoyed because of some off-the-cuff remark someone made to him. I was very concerned that I wasn't adding another layer of judgement to that he was piling on to himself.

He's improved over the years, 19 now and working, will be starting uni in September all going well. He's still more introverted but that's his personality type... he has friends and ambitions.

Shardonneigghhh · 07/07/2024 15:45

I think you're unreasonable to force him. Not all kids like structured activity. I was pushed into them as a child and it was exhausting. I was left feeling guilty because I didn't enjoy it and as i wasn't good at it I felt I was disappointing my parents.
I've tried a different approach with my kids. I let them choose what to do with their free time and how much extracurricular stuff they do. I have 2 teenage boys (both autistic), one of whom barely goes out and one who is relatively sociable but prefers one to one time with friends over group activities. And my pre teen girl is very active and sociable and goes to several clubs and groups, as well as playing with friends.

They are all different people. The boys are very different to how I was as a teen but actually that's ok.

Needmorelego · 07/07/2024 15:26

Encourage some hobbies he can do indoors/at home.
Lego, reading, art, cooking, gardening etc.
Not everyone enjoys being out and about doing "activities".

Otterock · 07/07/2024 15:22

Sometimes it’s best not to force it and let him get on with it (to an extent). Let him develop his own interests and let things be his idea. Puberty is also exhausting - I very much just wanted to be left alone during my downtime a lot of the time. I definitely didn’t have a zest for life. Give him some space

Balloonhearts · 07/07/2024 15:10

He's a 12 year old boy, it's a case of wait and hope puberty cures him or put him out of your his misery now. 😆

Regularchoice · 07/07/2024 15:05

Thanks everyone for the replies. He was genuinely ill 2 days last week, so that's why he missed the camp. @DaytripperShoes that is the reply I have been secretly hoping for! No no, just leave him to it, he'll be fine without your input 😅
Even one tale of success with the Hands Off method gives me hope.....

OP posts:
DaytripperShoes · 07/07/2024 15:01

This is a very unpopular parenting opinion but we left DS to get on with it at 12 yo and he didn't go out, wouldn't join clubs and had an amount of screen time that would make you faint.

It was all slightly different as he was 12 coming out of pandemic and all our brilliant screen time boundaries had gone to pot in lockdown.

We did know he had friends at school - he was on line gaming with them in his endless screen time. and he would drop everything to go out if a friend was available - bikes/ tennis/ swimming. We'd occasionally drag him or bribe him to a family outing. And beyond that trusted it would come good.

He did this sudden maturity leap at 13 1/2 - (also puberty) changed about 50% of his friendship group. Registered for DofE. Joined a school club.

So I would say as long as the basics are there - keep making it clear you expect him to be out and about doing things, facilitate the smallest steps in the right direction and try not to worry too much.

(Disclaimer - he is still only 14 it could still all go horribly wrong).

LittleLittleRex · 07/07/2024 15:01

Don't give up, he's too young to lose guidance on how full and exciting life can be.

Does he get too much choice and control maybe, why is staying home instead of going to sports camp an option? My DD is 12 and I think most of her peers who are stuck and do nothing have always been given the control/pressure to decide what to do. It's too much and they don't have the imagination or experience to fill their time.

In your shoes I think friends are the key. Get him doing things with his friends, going in and out of each others houses, taking a football to the park, booking a tennis court for them etc.

Regularchoice · 07/07/2024 14:49

No screens at all 9-6. Tv after that, 30 mins PlayStation per day. Maybe too much time on the ps? I have struggled keeping that in place, he pushes for more. He would spend all day on screens if I didn't have strict boundaries.
Dh not great for keeping an eye when I'm not here so I have parental control on my phone to lock it.

OP posts:
Regularchoice · 07/07/2024 14:46

I also joined scouts as a leader when he was little to make it a thing we could enjoy together.

OP posts:
minipie · 07/07/2024 14:46

How much access to screens does he have? Is he choosing to stay in so he can have screen time?

Regularchoice · 07/07/2024 14:46

I'm involved in 2 sports clubs that I love, I've tried to drag him along too but that didn't work out. Dh not really active, self employed so works all hours.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 07/07/2024 14:44

How much exercise do you do OP? How much does he see you/either parent having fun outside, being active etc?