Since Covid began. Gradually spending more and more time on his own. Immersed in audiobooks/anime/Netflix. Doesn’t want to spend time with his brothers or us. Passed his GCSEs but massively underperformed due to very little engagement in lockdown.
We got him to do some voluntary work in the summer for two afternoons a week but apart from that he just wants to lie in bed read/Netflix. No interest now in friends.
The final straw was today when my youngest said that one of my sons friends has said they have all given up on him as he never wants to hang out/do anything with them.
He’s so grumpy and difficult. Every interaction is painful at the moment. Data is limited and Wifi off at midnight. He does have to do chores but my god the effort and the strops to get him to anything. You need to brace yourself to ask him anything.
He will eat with us at dinner time and we do get him up at weekends at midday.
It’s the friends thing that worries me most. He comes home from school and goes straight up to bed.
He spoke to a counsellor in the summer but was so angry at me for making him. He says he does not have “mental issues” he admits he’s lazy and just cannot be bothered. On holiday he didn’t want to do anything or even see his friend who was nearby.
Does anyone have any advice please?