Hi @Confusedmum2007 , welcome to the ReachOut community - it's great to have you here 
Thank you for sharing a bit about your situation, it sounds like you're going through a challenging time navigating your son's preferences and balancing family activities. It's completely understandable that you feel anxious when trying to encourage him to participate in family events, especially when you're met with resistance.
Finding the balance between encouraging your son to engage in family activities and respecting his preferences can indeed be tricky, especially during the teenage years when autonomy becomes more important.
Have you had a chance to have an open and honest conversation with your son about your concerns? It might be helpful to hear his feelings out while also expressing your thoughts on the importance of family gatherings to you. Perhaps there's room for compromise where he feels heard and understood while still participating in some family activities.
In case you’re interested in learning about ways to help your son manage his screen time, I wanted to share two articles from the Raising Children's Network. These touch on tips for finding a balance between screen time with other activities - you can access them here and here.
Remember that every family dynamic is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer to when to let go. Try to trust your instincts and communicate openly with your son as you navigate this phase together. You're doing your best as a parent, and that's something to be proud of.
