Video-gaming mom forgets to pick up 9-year-old from school because she's busy playing Roblox, husband calls out her neglect: 'I immediately blew up at her'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 22, 2025 6:00 PM EST

If you've ever played the Roblox game Dress to Impress, you know how time-sucking it can be. If you've never played before, you basically run around assembling outfits for a specific theme while the time counts down. You then judge the outfits of others and they judge yours, resulting in a podium ranking of the best outfits. If this doesn't sound riveting to you, I get it. But something about the way that game is designed makes you lose hours and hours in a way you could have never anticipated. It has happened to me-- you look up from your screen and suddenly it's 2 AM and you don't know how you're still running around trying to assemble a koi fish-inspired virtual outfit. 

I, however, am not a parent. I don't have many responsibilities outside of myself and my job, so I've never let anyone down because of my relentless DTI playing. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10457697536
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's not what happened in this story, though, where a mother ended up neglecting her young child because she was too caught up in a gaming session. But when her husband called out her behavior, she didn't take it so well. Read on for the story and see what you think about it. Can gaming really go too far? 

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    AITA for telling my wife to stop playing Roblox and do her duties as a parent?

    My (37F) wife and I (36M) have always tried to keep the housework pretty evenly split between us. I, for example, mow the lawn, and do laundry and dishes, and she meal plans, cooks, and picks up/drops off the kids. Lately, this has all changed
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    because she has become addicted to a game called Dress to Impress on Roblox. If you aren't familiar, it's a game where you have to dress your character in a themed outfit before the time runs out, and the other players rate it from 1 to 5 stars.
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    It started off harmless, just a fun thing she would do during downtime before bed, but recently she has missed crucial appointments and chores because of this game. I tried to be understanding and gently remind her to do her tasks but she would always say she "forgot" or "got distracted".
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    The big argument happened last night when she forgot to pick up our 9 year old son from basketball practice, which ended at 6:00. I hadn't gotten home yet as I had to work late, and our son doesn't have a phone, so I had no way of knowing the situation. I eventually got home around 7:00 and realized
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    he was not in his room. I looked around further and saw that he was nowhere to be found. I walked into our bedroom, confused, to ask my wife where he was and found her on her iPad playing the game as always. When I asked her where our son was her eyes grew wide and I knew what happened without her having to say. I immediately
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    got back into my car and went to pick him up, luckily, his coach had stayed after to make sure he was picked up safe and I apologized profusely. Apparently, he had been calling and texting my wife, who was the emergency contact, and she didn't even notice.
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    When we got home I immediately blew up at her. How could she be so addicted to a kids game that she completely forgot our son? Now, she's telling me it was a one time thing and that I'm an a h le for getting angry. I don't know what to think, I do kind of understand her side of the story as it has only happened one time, but she has to be a responsible parent. She can't just completely forget about our child who has no way to get home on his own! So, AITA?
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    Commenters wondered how this could happen, and if there must be something else going on.

    ParsimoniousSalad . 1d ago NTA. This isn't a "chore" she's blowing off, this is forgetting your own child. How could she not even notice the calls and texts from the coach? That's what I'm wondering about? Is something else going on with her?
    via u/ParsimoniousSalad
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    Middle_Leading8469 OP. 1d ago I'm not entirely sure how she missed all off the messages and phone calls from the coach, we haven't spoken much since the argument. I haven't noticed anything different with her, but I could be missing things?
    via u/Middle_Leading8469
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    hyundai-gt 1d ago • Is this real? She needs therapy if she is so addicted to a silly kids game with avatars that she is forgetting her own real child. This is a scary and serious event for your kid!!
    via u/hyundai-gt
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    And okay, maybe losing track of time but missing the calls and texts too? That's insane! NTA Hope your kid is okay. He probably felt so scared and abandoned.
    via u/hyundai-gt
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    Cheezburger Image 10457697792
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    ReviewOk929 1d ago . NTA- We all make mistakes, even with our children but her pattern of behaviour means you were 100% correct to call it out. Hopefully she sees this incident as a wake up call. Helping and supporting her are really important, she made a mistake, don't make another one by holding it over her head.
    via u/ReviewOk929
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    Solarsea 1d ago • Omg. Forgetting your child I am a mom and I am a gamer. And I think I fit the category of gaming a bit much at times. But never have l forgotten my child. I am.way too anxious for that. To be sure I have alarm set but several times I forget to set it and I never forgot. Somehow an hour before end school my nerves already start kicking in for that.
    via u/S0larsea
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    And to be fair, if that ever would happen it will be the day I stop gaming. So no, NTA.
    via u/S0larsea
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    ultimacunt · 1d ago You need to set up parenting preferences on that ipad. Limit her screen time. Read her a story before bed and make sure she brushes her teeth.
    via u/ultimacunt
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    Yi_June 1d ago • You're not the a h le, your wife should be putting the children before a video game. Clearly what is important to her is misaligned, but I have a feeling there is more to this
    via u/Yi_June
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    Sea_Register 1095 • 1d ago . I feel sorry for your kid and for the coach. Coaches volunteer their time, and no doubt he would have liked to get home to his family and dinner, but because your wife was gaming he was stuck waiting for her for over an hour! And thank goodness he
    via u/Sea_Register1095
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    did, since she forgot her child! Your son could have been left there alone in the dark had the coach not noticed and stayed with him. She owes him a huge apology and maybe a gift certificate for dinner somewhere. And of course, she owes your son a giant apology.
    via u/Sea_Register1095
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    Ariask 1d ago • NTA she needs to grow the h I up. An adult forgetting her child because of a game?! What the actual f And I • say this as a gamer.
    via u/AriasK
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    Wise_Date_5357 • 1d ago NTA. This sounds like when I hyperfocus with my adhd. She should get checked out for anything else going on with her psychologically if this game has become a need instead of a want.
    via u/Wise_Date_5357
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    PinkFlamingo429 · 1d ago . NTA. For what it's worth, I also spend unusual time playing that dang game, it is addictive and my husband has his jokes about it, I am also a mom (I play with my kids but also play alone to
    via u/PinkFlamingo429
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    help them level up). I still do my share of housework and could never forget my child is that even? Is though she okay in general, does she have a life outside of her role of wife and mom?
    via u/PinkFlamingo429
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    Klutzy_Object_3622 • 1d ago NTA. Once a "hobby" starts interfering with your responsibilities, that's a full blown addiction. Forgetting your child over a video game is not acceptable and her dismissal of the infraction is even more cause for concern.
    via u/Klutzy_Object_3622
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    sootfire • 1d ago NTA -- it might be the first time she's forgotten something this big, but it's not the first time she's ignored the kids because of the game. However if this is new behavior I would be worried that she's going. through something more serious than a video game.
    via u/sootfire

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