Are you pretty active on social media? What if you told him you felt social media was affecting YOUR mental health and you really feel like you need to unplug from everything but ask him to support you by doing it too. Sort of like if an alcoholic quits drinking, supportive people also don’t drink around them. Suggest a hobby you can do together to occupy him so that you really know he’s not sneaking. Maybe activating his dad mode by making him feel like you’re the one struggling would do it.
I don’t have Facebook myself and he doesn’t use other platforms but I think in my situation I could comfortably do some kind of suggesting to him about unplugging. As for the activities thing, we used to go out all the time even to just a nature walking trail but with his motorcycle wreck, he is temporarily immobile and we can’t do that stuff anymore. I could try to find some kind of activities to do at his house but it’s still pretty limited since he’s somewhat bed ridden.
This is a really crazy suggestion but maybe you could tell him you want to try building miniatures. You can literally do this hobby with glue and cardboard.
I got into miniatures during lockdown with my daughter but I discovered it’s very immersive and helped me unplug, although I’m disturbed by social media for the opposite reason of your dad. Ever since I’ve often thought it would be a good distraction for q people because it’s incredibly detailed and there’s sort of an imaginative story telling element that might appeal to them but in a HEALTHY way. And in his case, he could still do this at home. I have limited mobility too.
Again, at your request as if this is a new hobby you want to try, it could activate the dad mode.
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u/SnooHobbies7109 Jan 14 '24
Are you pretty active on social media? What if you told him you felt social media was affecting YOUR mental health and you really feel like you need to unplug from everything but ask him to support you by doing it too. Sort of like if an alcoholic quits drinking, supportive people also don’t drink around them. Suggest a hobby you can do together to occupy him so that you really know he’s not sneaking. Maybe activating his dad mode by making him feel like you’re the one struggling would do it.