AIBU to expect my teenage DS to do something over the holidays

[Alisonshaw]

My 15 year old DS is completely adiment to do nothing but play computer games all summer. My concern is that over the summer he will likely eat more and move less which will ultimately have a negative impact on his health. Don't get me wrong he isn't overweight (at least I don't think he is) but is broad and is a little on the chubby side. Is it unreasonable for me to push him to go outside and play football (which he loves at school) or even just go for a stroll. He always dismisses the idea of doing anything saying that he can't be bothered which then leads to an argument. My DH doesn't seem bothered about getting him outside and when he's in charge would happily let him eat everything in the house and not even care. Should I continue to push him or just let him be?

This week is a 'just let him be' week in our house. First week of the holidays and ridiculously hot so we're not doing anything. From next week I expect him to go out at least twice and do something. I don't expect him to go out every day, DS is 14

Just let the lad be. As a teen the last thing I wanted to do in the summer holidays was “go for a stroll”. Just make sure the cupboards aren’t loaded with junk food.

Broad and on the chubby side is overweight. And 6 weeks doing nothing but playing computer games and eating will add to that.

I would be encouraging him to go out and meet his friends and making sure their was no crap in the house for him to snack on.
With this hot weather it is an ideal time to break out the salads and fruit without looking like you are putting him on a diet.

In one way you are lucky that he is not out as teenagers can get into gangs and be up to all sorts.
Why dont you get him to go for a walk with you or dh or go swimming.
Go kick the ball with him. When he is ready he will go out.

I agree, for this week I don't mind all that much but completely dismisses any idea of doing anything. I'll remove any crap from the house to stop him from over eating therefore hopefully stopping him from becoming overweight over the summer.

I've barely seen my 14 yo since he finished school! We're lucky to live by the beach though so he meets his mates there to go surfing and whatnot.

It'd drive me mental if he was wanting to stay home all day. What's he like normally? Does he go out and about with friends?

During school term he is very active and goes out his his friends at least once a month. He is always hungry and always raiding the fridge but because he plays in a football team this normally keeps weight gain at bay keeping him at a healthy weight (or so I can tell)

I think it's quite normal for them to want to chill for a bit. DS has friends who are homebirds who don't go out much. Mine is a cross between a Duracell bunny and a social butterfly so wouldn't work for him!

I am already fed up with my 15 year old lounging about while DH and I try to work. There seems to be an expectation that because it is week 1 of the holidays, there is no requirement to do the normal stuff that happens the rest of the year - like helping out, doing a few jobs around the house (I'm thinking running the hoover around sort of jobs, not DIY!). He's even finding it a challenge to remember to flush the toilet after using it. I find it really frustrating and am getting quite pissed off!

So YANBU, OP.

If he's going into year 11, I'd let him rest/ do what he wants tbh, next year will be hectic for him (assuming you're in UK? GCSEs etc.. ). There's a good chance he'll get bored of being inside all the time.
My ds is computer mad but even he gets bored of it after a while haha.

I think it's fine for him to relax for the first week or and he might want to do some more stuff later on. But I'm concerned mostly about the impact it could have on his health, like I said I don't think he is overweight but probably isn't too far from it and don't want this summer, however relaxing it should be for him, to push him into becoming overweight or obese.

My 15 year old is chilling this week. He's had a very small number of things planned for this week but broadly this week is Gaming/YouTube/Reddit overload.

I normally force them out for a short walk each day but not if it's too hot. As long as they don't argue with each other (too much) about whose turn it is on the computer that's fine.

But he does have two weeks family holiday, one week visiting grandma and one week at a camp, so only two and bit weeks of chilling, and he'll have to do a bit of studying in that time.

But this week? I really don't care!

Im convinced some people have kids so they have someone to order about

Its his holiday. Its his choice

As much as I agree that it is holiday it's also my responsibility to ensure that he is healthy and fit and for that reason I don't want him to do nothing and become obese which could damage his life for ever more

Well we have just got home from our last day of school. DD is 15 and has got herself a job in a cafe 3 days a week so I don't mind her lolling a bit in between. She plays tennis with DH once or twice a week and will meet friends occasionally and walk the dog too.