I let my son play video games for 50 hours a week – trolls think I’m a bad mum but he’s a genius
ARE your teenagers addicted to video games?
Mum-of-two Clare Matthew claims her son Ben spends a whopping 50 hours a week on his XBox, and she won’t stop him because he’s top of his class.
Clare, 44, an admin officer from Colchester, says her 13 year old is addicted to his games console and spends every waking moment playing online with his friends.
“Every day Ben comes home from school and plays on his XBox until bedtime and he won’t leave his room at the weekend,” she reveals. “He’s totally addicted but I don’t care – he’s so clever.”
According to Clare, her son has consistently excellent reports from his teachers who gush over his top test scores.
“The teachers think the sun shines out of his backside – they’re constantly telling me how clever and lovely he is.
“I’m so proud of my teen genius – Ben can be anything he wants to be and if he wants to play on his XBox for days on end, he’s got my blessing.”
Clare bought her son his first games console when he was four years old and he was addicted from day one.
Ben’s new tech made him a little monster and mealtimes were a massive challenge as Clare couldn’t tear her son away from the screen.
“He’d scream and shout at dinnertime when he was made to put down his controller and eat at the table,” she recalls. “We’d have to threaten him with a games ban but he learnt quickly. If he doesn’t come down for dinner I’ll just switch his console off at the wall.”
From FIFA to Fortnite and Call of Duty, Ben’s a hardcore gamer and his mum’s got used to hearing all sorts of scary noises from behind his bedroom door.
“There’s always gunshots and war cries echoing around the hallway,” she laughs. “It’s like a real life horror story and his latest game is the worst.
“At first I thought Ben was in danger, but I’ve got used to him screaming the house down as he exterminates giant spiders on the screen.”
Instead of meeting mates in the park, Ben sits in his bedroom with the curtains shut – but Clare says it’s totally normal and nothing to worry about.
“He never meets his friends outside,” she explains. “They’re all in their bedrooms chatting away on their gaming headsets.
“I’ll stick my head behind the door once a day just to open his curtains and air out the room – teenage boys stink!
“He’s not interested in spending time with us, so I’ll leave him at home most weekends while I run errands. I’m not going to force him outside if he doesn’t want to go.
He’s totally addicted but I don’t care – he’s so clever
Clare Matthew
“I know some people will say it’s unhealthy or I’m a bad mother – but Ben’s so clever and content, why would I change that?”
The only time Ben’s XBox gets a break is when he plays football. Three times a week, he laces up his footy boots as the goalie of his local team.
“He’s the star of the squad,” gushes Clare. “He’s really fit and healthy but he doesn’t need to be – he’s just catching balls, not running around the field.”
Clare knows she’s not the only mum who lets their child spend hours in front of a screen.
“All the mums I speak to feel the same way, but I’m not sure their kids are doing so well at school. The difference between them is that Ben is really smart.
“If trolls call me a bad mum I won’t be offended. My child isn’t wasting away in his bedroom, he’s thriving.
“I don’t think any mum should be worried about their game-mad kids. As long as they’re happy, engaging with you and doing well at school, they’re absolutely fine.”