I love this story, Kathleen, and kudos to you for being such an open-minded mom! Your son sounds like a cool kid. I can’t even tell you how many hours I spent on video games in elementary and middle school (or then computer games, up through college)… and I have no regrets for having devoted so much time to them. My cousin, brother, mother, and I all have fond memories of playing games together, and it was also nice to connect with neighborhood friends that way. Video games don’t necessarily make you antisocial or poorly adjusted.

Moreover, depending on what sort of games you’re playing, you’re getting an incredible and immersive (if virtual) moral education. For instance, I was captivated by fantasy RPGs, with their rich character development; plethora of archetypes, myths, and symbolism; and complex, multi-world storylines. In fact, these kinds of games, with their focus on defending the underdog and speaking truth to power, were what inspired me to become a writer at all.

Who knows, video games might one day inspire a career for your son? ;)