Without knowing any context, I strongly believe this is an ADHD comic.
The boy clearly has a sharp mind, but has a problem channeling it towards what the outside world demands of him. Instead of helping him do that, the outside world reprimands him and drives him towards escapism. Then, the game gives him a singular purpose: to win, and validates him for doing that.
I see this not as a story that celebrates video games, but as one that mourns how the only validation minds like that boy’s often get is from an electronic toy.
I used to suffer from much the same problems, as does my kid. I used to escape to video games the same way he does, but I decided I would treat my kid differently. When they took a hammer to a delicate thing, instead of being angry at them, I showed them how to do it properly and how to put it back. Instead of reprimanding them for acting up while shopping, I let them find the aisle and pick the products. They could replace batteries in their toys before the age of four, and could finish a round of shopping on their own a year later. The face of pride when they did that can not be bought with money.
On the other hand, my kid still has problems putting on their shoes in less than five minutes, and sometimes I blow up about it, but it is okay – we just need to start five minutes earlier.
And that’s what I think the comic is about: acceptance.
Without knowing any context, I strongly believe this is an ADHD comic.
The boy clearly has a sharp mind, but has a problem channeling it towards what the outside world demands of him. Instead of helping him do that, the outside world reprimands him and drives him towards escapism. Then, the game gives him a singular purpose: to win, and validates him for doing that.
I see this not as a story that celebrates video games, but as one that mourns how the only validation minds like that boy’s often get is from an electronic toy.
I used to suffer from much the same problems, as does my kid. I used to escape to video games the same way he does, but I decided I would treat my kid differently. When they took a hammer to a delicate thing, instead of being angry at them, I showed them how to do it properly and how to put it back. Instead of reprimanding them for acting up while shopping, I let them find the aisle and pick the products. They could replace batteries in their toys before the age of four, and could finish a round of shopping on their own a year later. The face of pride when they did that can not be bought with money.
On the other hand, my kid still has problems putting on their shoes in less than five minutes, and sometimes I blow up about it, but it is okay – we just need to start five minutes earlier.
And that’s what I think the comic is about: acceptance.
thanks for sharing your parent story. it feels nice to see other parents here.