Last year my 11 year old was addicted to the online game Runescape.  God, I hate this game!  Nothing in his world mattered more. 

I didn’t realize the magnitude of his addiction until his grades started to fall from A’s to D’s and F’s!  At first I thought it was everything else, including, his teachers, his age, my failing marriage, the weather, ADHD,  etc…

When I finally figured out and realized that it was because of that damn Runescape game, it was too late.  He ended last school by barely passing.

I do blame myself for allowing him to get addicted, so don’t get me wrong.

So, once the school year was out, I put my son on 30- day notice that I was cancelling his Runescape membership and that he would no longer be able to play this game-from-hell.

I gave him 30 days in order to help him get use to the idea – he was truly addicted!  Then, during these 30 days I weened him off slowly by limiting the amount of time I allowed him to play it.

By the end of the 30 days, he was very sad and upset – but he knew it was coming.  He managed to get over it – with minimal psychological damage .

He and I ended up moving from Florida to Wisconsin this summer so he had to start a new school this year.  His grades started out so-so, definately better than last year – but not as good as they should be.

So, to make an even longer story shorter, I agreed and made a deal with him that if he gets all A’s on his report card – that I will again allow him to play that Runescape again (but under limited time!).  Seems, this is still the one thing he wants to be able to do more than anything.

Now, I think I’m about to have to make good on my deal and word.  Last week he brought home all A’s and a B+ on his Progress Report.  Report cards come out next month!

He’s told me that the reason he’s trying to get good grades is so he can play Runescape.  He says that it’s only because of this incentive.

So, I will make good on my word if he gets all A’s, but I’m hoping that once he sees and feels what he’s accomplished that he’ll want to continue to do well in school – just because.

He does know that if he gets to play that game again that the second his grades drop, he’ll be cut-off again.

Judge me, call me what you will – but I figure… when all else fails – bribery can work!

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