Our 13-year-old son, Noah, was glued to his computer, gaming non-stop. Concerned about his health and social life, my husband and I decided to ban his favorite game. He was furious—slamming doors and giving us the silent treatment—but slowly, he began spending more time outside his room. Then, one night, I peeked into his room and found a scarecrow—a hoodie stuffed with pillows, sitting at his desk. Noah had been sneaking out, leaving this decoy behind.Curious, we followed him one night and were shocked (in the best way) to find him at a park, sketching under a lamppost with a girl. They were laughing, drawing together—clearly connecting over something more than screens. We decided not to confront him right away.

But one evening, police knocked on our door. A neighbor had seen Noah’s “motionless” figure for hours and feared the worst. We showed them the scarecrow, and everyone had a good laugh—except Noah, who walked in mid-investigation. We confessed we had known all along and followed him. Embarrassed but smiling, he admitted he liked drawing and being outside. We lifted the game ban but kept clear rules.Now, he balances gaming with art, joined his school’s art club, and yes—Emily, the girl from the park, is his first girlfriend. No more scarecrows—just a teenager finally living in balance.