In thinking that I've spawned a vampire?

[Fecklessdizzy]

He's pale, skinny, dresses all in black and fears the sun ( to be fair he seems to fear drizzle, clouds, mist, light breezes and everything that isn't within the four walls of chez Feckless - unless there's pizza involved ... )

Basically, since he got back from an outwardboundy thing in Wales a week and a half ago DS1 has been lurking in his room and resisting all my attempts to get him to come out and Do Stuff. He seems totally cheerful but just wants to potter round painting his little orcs, reading, and watching Monty Python. He's 14 and my first teenager, is this what they do? All his mates live miles away ( we're in the arse end of nowhere country ) and mostly seem to be off on their hols anyway.

Should I be staging interventions or just leave him to it? We're off to the Western Isles in a week or so so he'll get some fresh air then ...

Please tell me if I'm being a pratt for worrying, it's just that my Dad and Grandma used to be forever jumping out on me when I was a kid and telling me to to stop reading/ watching/ listening to that trash and go and do something useful instead so I've got a bit of a guilt thing about leisure!

If he's happy leave him to it. Nowt wrong with a bit of that model yokemabob. I have a mate who's making quite a good career out of it now. Games workshop is it?

He actually sounds like quite a pleasant teen, at least he's not out shagging on the park or getting himself an ASBO.

Sounds like a typical 14 year old to me...

Sounds familiar to me. Does he have siblings?

I found younger teen boys are rubbish at organising things with their friends but that they get better as they get older.
I guess he is warhammer'ing. Can you take him to a warhammer shop to 'play' some games with other people vampires
I wouldn't worry though, especially as he is getting fresh air at other times.

If you managed to send him to an outward bound thing, he's had more fresh air and exercise than mine did at that age. Pottering is good - at least he is entertaining himself and not whining about being bored! You can always mentally labelling "painting orcs" as "working on his creative and fine-motor skills" if you prefer...

Mine's not so keen on black and he's 16, but other than that you've just pretty much described my DS, lol

That's a relief, thanks chaps!

His younger brother is doing a summer school this week but DS1's fell through and he's prepping his army of warhammer wotsits as he's got a battle with his cousins next week ... It's just that I can HEAR my Dad in my head going " Is that all you've done all day ... " and I need some moral support to make the voices shut up! ( Weak and pathetic emoticon )

I think you need to have a look at his orcs - the skill level that goes into painting them is phenomenal. Please don't write it off as "just painting orcs".

I think I'd just be thankful that he can amuse himself. He sounds pretty self-reliant and resourceful!

I didn't paint Orcs (I watched a lot of Star Trek TNG instead) but I did a lot of reading and watching Monty Python and turned out ok!

And I was just saying to DH the other day that spawned should definitely be used more in modern parlance.

Actually Wank ( you need a new nickname, I feel like I'm insulting you! ) he's really improved at painting minitures since he started ... His first ones were well splodgy but he's doing washes and getting the highlights in and everything ... His Dad used to paint all his D and D figures and has been showing DS1 the tricks of the trade. I'm not being dismissive, the models that they've got on display at the GW shop we go to are absolute works of art!

Buy him a ticket to Games Day (birmingham nec, 23rd sept)

You'll be the Best Mum Evar!

(also tell him to look out for dh - short, tubby, long hair, long beard - basically looks like a hobbit)

this pleases me.

Games Day is brilliant fun, but you'll have to go with him as he's under 16. DS and I had a great time at it a few years ago. The level of detailing on the models in for the competition is quite incredible.

He sounds lovely, go to Alton Towers or somewhere like that.

Games Day sounds good ... I'll see if the Big Boy Cousins want to go too!

Anyone know about LARPing? They all want to go and DS1 is dying to spend his birthday money on a foam rubber sword In my day it was a bit pants ( think running about in Chiselhurst caves shouting " You're hit! Lie down! " at people ) Any fantasy fanciers out there who can clue me in on the state of the art nowdays?

I dont think my 14 year old has been out the house since the start of the holidays.
He surfaces from his pit about mid day, grabs a bowl of cereal, takes a hayfever tablet and then watches the Olympics or plays fifa until it is time to eat again.
I am leaving him to it as come next week football training starts again and i wont see him for dust.

My 13yr old has found Minecraft; he's happy and occupied, eats when I remind him, washes when I make him and walks the dog.

I just wish he wouldn't try to interest me in the bloody youtube dwarf 'diggy' stuff

Showtunes Deep Space Nine girl here, DP loves Next Gen. and claims to channel Ryker in moments of stress ( to the untutored eye it looks more like Spongebob )

Tapir DS2 is an utter Minecraft addict! Still, it's basically Lego with added zombies so who could resist ...

Thanks for the reassurance, everyone, I'll stop me mithering, make himself a cuppa and leave him to it!

Feckless Lego & zombies? Actually sounds interesting! Would have to go some to beat Deep Space 9 though; so pleased to meet another fan

He's happy, there's no issue. Going outside is vastly overrated.

He sounds lovely. He's happy, he reads and he potters.
Both mine went through the black thing, Then one day I refused to buy anymore black tees. So they wore old faded ones and looked really bad, so I caved. They finally grew out of it, and go outside in the daylight, exercise and laugh and seem quite normal.
If he happily went outward bound then I think he must be a good 'un.
I hated getting nagged at for reading in summer as a kid/teen.

Another one voting for Gamesday! We could all do a Mumsnet meetup! 3 hobbyists in this house (DP works for Gamesworkshop).

If he's doing his Orcs for a social event next week I wouldn't be too worried. Could always take him instore for a game under the lure of new models if you want him out and about for a bit.

oh, he sounds perfect! what a lovely teenager. not swearing, beating you up, stealing money, selling drugs... you've got a goth, haven't you? they're the best kind - quiet, mooch, read a lot and their clothes don't need washing all the time...