I am secretly my son's friend online

My son doesn't know this, and I know he would get mad at me if he found out so I'm not telling anyone irl. Diagnosed high-functioning autistic, his social skills have always been lacking but he handles it amazingly. He is very smart and handles life on his own pretty well.<br><br>He spends most of his free time playing online games. I lurk and listen. I don't think he is being scammed because he doesn't have his payment information saved, and he doesn't really spend much money on gaming anyway. I get concerned about catfishing though, so I lurk on the profiles of some of the people he talks to and listen in on their conversations<br><br>About six months ago, I made an alt account and started talking to him. I know this is weird, and maybe you think it is very inappropriate. I honestly have trouble communicating with my son in ways that he will listen and take my advice. It started with me just giving him game advice. Telling him the best strategies and how to get better. He'd then go and win and get really proud of himself and all that.<br><br>But we started talking more and more. I've been giving him life advice, and he actually listens to it. I told him I was a mom, and that I just wanted to help him out. I suggested he ask someone older in his life for help, but he said he would rather talk to me because he felt like we connected.<br><br>I have helped him get a better job, suggested some really good looking outfits, and have even gone up to bat for him when some people online were being mean. I don't know how he would feel if he found out. I don't know how I feel about it. It is embarrassing to think about, but it is nice to be able to talk to him the way I am.