Gaming stress!

[Felic23]

My Son is 13, is doing great at school and has outside activities that he goes to 2/3 times a week. He is a week into Easter holidays and the only thing he wants to do is game with friends ir stare at his phone.
I'm a single parent who works which means he is left at home alone for 4 days a week.
I'm finding trying to police his game time impossible. I don't know if I should? I feel so guilty that I have to go to work but I took a day off today to spend time together and all he wants to do is play his game. What do other people do? He is happy to go places etc but in-between everything he is on a screen. Its stressing me out a lot and it's the only thing we argue about. Any advice welcome :)

If he is doing well at school and has outside hobbies I'd let him crack on

My son is the same age and he loves it, apart from a few days away im leaving him to it.

@Remmy123 thanks I'm starting to feel that was cos it's really weighing me down and causing us to argue. I just think it's so unhealthy to sit for hours and hours on end playing a game but then in fairness to him he will do stuff but I can't have things planned everyday as I can't afford that. I just wish he would like to play out but none of his friends do it's all online!

Mine is about to turn 13 and similar let him crack on, if working hard. Especially if playing with friends. We've spent the last two years living online as well, its king if what they're used to.

I do find it stressful at times too, until i speak to other parents and their kids are doing exactly the same!!

I make sure he has breaks, play footie in garden etc but this is what he wants to do. People like grandparents may frown upon upon this but it's a different era, when I was 13 I was nicking my mums cigs and drinking!!

Thank god he is safe and not doing that!

@chipshopElvis the playing with friends is what I like about it as its nice to hear them laughing and joking.
@Remmy123 at 13 I was doing the same and worse! I guess being in the house is safer and tbh its only an issue in school holidays. Thinking of seting a no gaming till after 2pm in Summer holidays as there 9 weeks! In the hope he will do something before he begins his gaming. Won't happen when I'm at work though!

I don't know about letting them game for the whole day. Surely its bad for their eyes their body their mental health?

Aren't we just giving in as parents? Shouldn't he be out seeing friends or hanging out in the park