IaEU(tm)m starting this as a new thread, as my last question seems to be intertwined with another momaEU(tm)s questions.
I have been contacted once again by my sonaEU(tm)s high school guidance counselor. He is being accepting into a Student Assistant Program. I will be meeting with these people next Wednesday morning. They have decided to meet with us first without my son present. They have pulled all his school transcripts since a young age. They have asked the individual in charge of the gifted/honors program to be present for this meeting, as many teachers on this school board are looking at his past (before gaming) and are now asking if he over the years has become in a sense bored, not having been challenged, which has lead to depression and lack of motivation.
Although I know there are many aspects that perhaps led him to where he is today, isnaEU(tm)t the bottom line the same aEU" the gaming is deterring him from moving forward in life!? Sometimes I find that if I share the gaming issue with people, I get the sense that they think IaEU(tm)m reaching for something to blame his lack of motivation on. Any thoughts on whether I should sit at this meeting next week and put it right out there, that I think he is addicted to gaming? I know in my heart that we can go to great lengths to try to help him in every aspect of his life but if he is still taking the attitude that there is nothing wrong with what he is doing then how would any of this help. Then again, maybe, just maybe something will be said to him that could perhaps make him realize what is happening.
I find I have now entered a new phase, that being anger. Yesterday morning I heard a very familiar line, aEUoeI feel like crap, need to stay homeaEU. Later in the day he wanted to give me the money and use my credit card for something on line, to do with this game. I said aEUoeyou are sick remember. You need to go to bedaEU. He told me he wasnaEU(tm)t really sick. Shame on him for just throwing out lies. I told him that most people donaEU(tm)t have the luxury of not going to work just because they donaEU(tm)t want to and that school is no different. I come up against a stone wall every time.
I recommend you tell them everything. Its not like they don't see gaming addicts appear every year. They might be able to help you help him, if they only know how to help.
Leveling in Real Life
When my son's grades crashed and burned the first time, we took away his computer. Mind you, WoW was practically new and the thought of a game being addicting wasn't on any radar screen (except here!). We saw a psychiatrist, therapist and family physician that same week, since we were convinced there was an underlying issue. He was diagnosed as suffering from depression and didn't go to school for more than a week. I met with the school counselor and each of his teachers and was forthright about his gaming. I don't think it was detrimental to him in any way. Since then, many colleges and high schools have likely been exposed to students who play compulsively. For some reason, it seems that the brightest fall the hardest. Your son is in absolute denial and I doubt that anything said him right now is going to change him. It's going to have to involve him wanting/needing to accept it. But, the knowledge of what is contributing to his declining academic standing may give the school pause and perhaps they can advise you.