Sadlt Internet addiction is a real thing and it sounds very much like your wife has been sucked into it. I very much think she needs to get help. Too much screen time is not just bad for children but its bad for adults also as they are not getting out and interacting with the real world.

Such a tricky situation. I can understand the husband got angry with his wife when she forgot to pick up their son and didn’t notice any of the texts coming in from his basket ball coach. It is well possible that she was pretty shocked herself as her eyes grew wide when she realised her mistake. However his reaction of blowing up to his wife may well have pushed her into defence. A calm conversation as two adults together could be more constructive. Sounds to me she could do with support and help.

I can see why people get addicted to this game, there are endless hours that can be spent playing this game. I haven’t gotten into it myself but i do know others who have. It is important to remember it is a game and there is more to life than sitting on a computer or ipad. This mum needs to stop and look at whether this game is affecting her life and family, forgetting to collect your kid is not good.

Aww. I’m sorry to see any couple having problems. This is hard for both of them. I definitely think the NUMBER 1 key to a good relationship is communication. They both need to sit and discuss the situation and work it out together. Technology can be very addictive and that requires support and understanding. I wish them the best of luck with it

Oh my goodness i cant even start to imagine how your son might have felt in that situation and not knowing anything about what happened with his parents and all. My heart wouldve sunk the whole trip there not knowing if he was even still there waiting! I dont blame you for getting upset at the situation at all

I find this very hard to understand – but I’m a person who doesn’t get caught up in scrolling and can regulate my time online without too much trouble. I know others find it harder. But I just don’t get prioritising it over your kids. Maybe she needs pyschological help? Perhaps she has an illness.

I can’t understand her lack of remorse. That ‘one’ time should be the wake up call she needs to put that ipad away. She clearly has a problem if the game is distracting her and putting the children’s safety at risk.

Addiction starts somewhere and it seems that this is getting out of hand and the dad is well within his rights to be upset. He has noticed his wife slipping and pulled her up on it gently previously. Forgetting a child is inexcusable! I can’t even imagine sitting down to play a game at such an early hour while the kids are still awake!

I think the dad has been very understanding and patient and I can totall understand that he got angry for his wife forgetting to pick up their son because she was so carried away with playing her games and hadn’t heard phone calls and text’s coming in. For he to wave it away with that it was a one time thing and saying that her husband is an asshole for getting angry, is unreasonable to me.
Husband and wife should sit together to discuss how to tackle this problem and consider professional help when needed.

I think you have been more than a good person and have bent over backwards with her obsession, but now is the time to get professional help so that she can overcome her addiction. Hopefully she will also realise this, but it’s time for a quiet chat, no raised voices, so she can see where this is leading. I do hope things work out for you both.

I love gaming and Im a mum but not enough to neglect my children. Thats overboard any addiction is horrible. Hope she gets some help.

It’s one thing to get carried away with a game and not get housework done during the day but, to forget to pick up your child so late at night is so wrong in many ways. If it hadn’t been for the coach anything could have happened to him. If the coach was ringing why didn’t she answer the phone? We all forget sometimes when we get engrossed in something but this is unforgiveable. No, you aren’t the asshole for caring about your son. Maybe change contact details to you instead. I’d only do the laundry for you and your son to start with.

She needs help. If forgetting her child doesn’t wake her up to what is happening then she needs professional help. If not the situation will only get worse, not only for the family but for her. It’s sad but she needs some tough love. See how she goes if you switch the internet off.

There was a time when I was addicted to playing Candy Crush, I would be on my phone constantly playing versus other people. When the kids needed me I’d take my phone with me. Housework was piling up and it was starting to affect my relationship. Thankfully I came to my senses one day and deleted the app right then and there. Haven’t looked back

There are many red flags in the article and getting on technology and playing games at bedtime is a big red flag. Sleep hygiene is important when going to bed and using technology fires up the brain when it needs to wind down and relax and sleep. Rules about sleep hygiene and bedtime routines can assist with not using technology and not feeding addictions.

Addiction issues are complicated. No matter what the substance. Unfortunately there’s less awareness or concern about technological addictions, but for families living with tech addicted parents, the impacts are just as profound. Like any other addiction, the person with the addiction needs to want to make change and it sounds like this woman isn’t even ready to admit there’s a problem yet. This will be a long path.

Ouch! Forgetting to pick your child up (especially leaving him at night) is a big red flag and should wake here up to how dangerous her addiction has become. Luckily Dad is looking out for the family. She needs to be off the online game and take care of her family.

i would be very upset if my child was left when i thought my partner was collecting him. I would have been very mad, what if the coach couldn’t stay with the child, that is unacceptable behaviour from the mum. Her responsibility is her child, not a computer game. I have seen how computer games can really become quite addictive. Hopefully you can both sit down and discuss in a calm manner and this doesn’t occur again.

Calling this a “one time thing” is trying to make it sound trivial. No, she deserved what she got. She needs to get her priorities in place and delete the game, what a waste of time. What if something had happened to him and that poor coach has a life too. He may have had kids to pick up himself.

Id be upset too. Hopefully it will give your wife the wake up call she needs to deal with her addiction. I’m sure she feels terrible forgetting her son. I know myself personally that would be enough for me to never touch the game again ( not that I play it anyway) but I’d be mortified.