Stroppy son

[Brunolarge]

My son is 13 and is becoming increasingly withdrawn and stroppy when asking him to interact or do anything that doesn't involve gaming. We had a family get together yesterday and he sat sulking and with a face on him for the entirety of the evening wouldn't join in, was borderline rude to Dhs family
Husband thinks I should have a stern talk with him about how to behave around company I'm just concerned for his mental well-being as it feels he does not want to participate in anything in real life.

Any advice please?

Sounds like a classic case of puberty starting

I presume he’s your husband’s stepson as he wants you to address his lack of manners / behaviour with him (rather than do it himself)? I’m a step mum and if my SC were rude to my parents I’d have no problem pulling them up on their behaviour myself.

Kids need to learn they don’t always get their own way (I presume he wanted to game in his room, on his own) and you should treat people how you would like to be treated. Sitting there sulking & being rude to hosts is unacceptable abs he needs to pulled up on it. He might be a teen but it’s no excuse (and I would nip this in the bud before it gets worse).

And please don’t trot out the ‘I'm just concerned for his mental well-being’. Neurodiversity or mental health seems to be trotted out all the time when kids can’t behave. It’s absolutely not an excuse.

Yes I had a chat with him and told him his behaviour was not acceptable. It is his stepson...he's quite anti social and I wish I could change that he doesn't seem to want to interact with people outside of the gaming online world which is worrying for his future years.