SC is 8 and pulling the strings

[bells1970]

SC is 8, and gets a lot of time to himself at home, to do as they please. They have a phone there, fortnite etc and no limits.

When at ours every other weekend and couple weeks nights, we try so fun activities (go out for walks/park etc) and do things together, albeit limited due to covid.

They're now complaining to their mum they gets bored here, and wants to stay there. They don't have their phone here because we usually collect from school and we don't think they need one at 8 anyway. We let them play fortnite but limit it.

Any advice? DH is panicking as he doesn't want the dreaded day they no longer want to come ofc, neither do i. Our child loves when SC is here.

My title was supposed to have ?? In - I'm not suggesting they are, but asking are they?

Really here you need the support of his mum. My DSDs mum doesn’t push her to come if she says things like this and it makes it very difficult for us. Unfortunately that’s meant that we allow far more time on phone/iPad than we’d like although she’s more tween age so it’s a bit different.

Sounds like maybe SC gets to do whatever they want at their mums and resents that at yours. I don't know what your relationship is like with the mum but I wouldn't cave to it, and at 8 they don't really get to choose where they spend their time.

I have a similarly aged step child who as soon as they are not allowed on Xbox or iPad, kick off with being bored. I have no time for it. Be bored. Go entertain yourself! (I have DC of my own and I have the same philosophy with them)