Reassure me that I'm not the only ones whose DC are gaming/in their rooms?

[2023istheyearigetmyacttogether]

DC are 13 and 10. Like most other people, this has been our first proper Christmas since pre-Covid but the DC being that bit older has made it feel so different. Gone is Playmobil, lego and baking together. Instead, it's about meeting friends, gaming and just being more independent. In some ways, today has been bliss as I have read a book and sorted the house out post relatives staying whilst DC1 met up with friends and has then been in her room and DC2 has mainly been gaming but I feel slightly bereft and guilty.
Please reassure me that this is entirely normal and that I'm not doing anything wrong!

Totally normal at that age. xxx Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can xxxx

Entirely normal here! Mine are 13 today, and almost 16. They have spent some time down here but mostly either in their own bedrooms or in dd1's room together (more space in there for dd2 to set up the camp bed).

Tbh, as much as I enjoy the time together, the peace & time to potter on my own is just as appreciated as well.

We have almost no plug sockets so there's no tech in e7ther of my children's rooms; they have, however, spent a long time on the PS downstairs and on their phones. They're 10 & 11.

Mine are 11 and 6, and it's the same here. I'm enjoying the peace and quiet. We have been to the pantomime and for dinner at the GPs this afternoon though, so we have done stuff together. The 6yo likes to play board games with us as well, we have played A LOT of board games over Christmas. It's doing us all good to chill for a bit though.

Nothing to feel guilty about - you are giving your DC the perfect Christmas!

Yup, here too although my younger two have done some baking. There have been a few family games but it all feels a bit flat!

Mine still does it. And he is 19. His girlfriend is a gamer as well. So they are in there for hours.
Think about what u did when u were their age. I didn’t have computers that long ago. But I would spend all the hours in my room reading , listening to music and drawing.

Mine got a gaming PC and has been playing and chatting with friends she ordinarily wouldn't speak to until term starts again.

We go out to walk the dog at lunch otherwise the peace and quiet is wonderful. She's 10 and we have no issues, just sensible blocks to online gaming (can only play with friends when we check).

14 & 10 here. Hardly see the eldest - sleeping, with girlfriend or gaming. Youngest more of a mix of activities - but yes totally normal. I've binge watched a TV series today. Bliss!

I hear you. My oldest is 12. If he could he would Game all day. It's a point of conflict tbh. The second I ask him to come off he needs me to entertain him. I just want him to have a pass time when he entertains himself rather than being entertained by me or the screen. He's into baking. But is dyspraxic so needs support. I beat myself up and nag him that we haven't managed to establish a non screen based hobby yet, after years of trying. Tbh it's got worse as he's got older as he has grown out of Lego and that used to keep him amused. Maybe I'm over thinking it, but I thought all parents tried to limit screen time? In my mind it's the biggest curse of the modern age.

I'm relieved to hear it's not just in our house then. I think part of the problem is that I've almost forgotten what I like doing after spending years constantly running around after young DC and then have the hell that was full time work and home schooling.
I also feel that I should impose limits on screen time but I haven't figured out how that works when DC1, for example, has been using her device for homework, chatting to a friend, gaming, watching TV and is going to sleep listening to a podcast. It would also be a bit hypocritical given the hours I've spent today on mine!

10, 9 and 7 and no real access to games so no.

It’s definitely more of an issue when the weather is bad. Much easier in the summer to get them out and about.

This thread is reassuring!

Normal sadly