Weekend routine

[Chatting123]

What does your weekend with teenage boys look like?

I have 2 of them (and a younger child) and I struggle with the fact that I am the flood gate preventing them from spending the whole weekend on one device or another.

I’m a single parent so if I’m out with the youngest or if I’m ill or tired, I’m less able to police their behaviour and they will then spend all of their time on a screen (PlayStation, phone, tv).

If I’m not out, ill or tired, I can get them to:

help a bit in the house (laundry, dishwasher, tidy their room)

read a bit

play a board/card game with me

come out to a cafe with me

play a bit of football/go out for a walk

homework if not done already

But as I say, this relies on me (being there and fit and able) to enforce them to switch from device to one of these things and not without a deal of effort on my part.

What does your weekend tend to look like?

My ds is 14 and trains with his football team on a Saturday and usually has a match on a Sunday. The rest of the time he plays xbox,watches TV, does homework if nagged a lot. Sometimes we go out for a meal as a family...that's about it!

Thank you. Sounds very similar but mine have given up their football teams recently.

Anyone else?

Anyone…?

I don't have teenagers yet but work with hundreds of them. They all pretty much spend their time on devices at this age, or occasionally out in the town with mates. I really wouldn't stress about it. At least they're home and not out causing havoc with substances or mayhem right?

My teenage DS is just the same. Trains for football on a sat, and plays a match Sunday but other than that - he's on Xbox, phone or watching tv unless nagged. He will spend time with us but never for long. Hates going shopping unless it's to the Nike shop!!

Ok - thanks everyone for the comments. At the moment they’re in their rooms ‘doing homework’ (doubtless on their phones) but if this is normal then maybe I should just relax and let them be.

As you say, @Rtmhwales, there are much worse things they could be doing!

I'm impressed that you can get them to help out around the house! My DS15 plays football on a Sunday & watches football but other than that it's nagging to do homework, nagging to come off the Xbox to go to bed, nagging to put clothes in the wash etc....

Mine has 3 hours of training on a Saturday and 2 on a Sunday (and if competing would be out for hours more). He has a few hours worth of homework to do, and will do a bit of housework when asked, and clean out the chickens. He'd come out to eat with us, but otherwise will be gaming and chatting to his mates online

Mine lies in bed on his phone, occasionally watches a film, sometimes goes to the skate park. That's it.