My husband and my step-son are both addicted to World of Warcraft (WOW). I actually think it's worse in my 9-year-old step-son, Jay, who is homeschooled, and who takes every non-school opportunity to play the game. He talks about the game obsessively. His life revolves around it. We've tried to interest him in other activities, but my husband, who is also addicted to WOW, acts like it's no big deal that Jay spends so much time on the game. I think my husband is kind of proud that he and his son can enjoy something together like that.

On one hand, it is a nice bonding experience for them. On the other hand, Jay has asked to skip Cub Scouts to play the game; one night, he was so into the game, he said, "Maybe I'll just quit Scouts." He usually loves Scouts. He just wanted to stay home so he could play. The other night we were watching a family movie -- a really funny movie, that he seemed to be enjoying -- but less than halfway through, he was begging his dad to go upstairs and play the game. He was afraid he was going to miss out on the game, even though he'd already spent three or four hours playing in the afternoon. We cannot get through a meal without him bringing up the game. He'll stop eating and just talk about WOW. We have to remind him to take a bite.

My step-daughter and I, who both used to play the game, have pretty much quit, because we got tired of the addictive behavior around us. I like WOW, but I get tired of it, and I certainly don't like to spend hours and hours and hours on it. I have too many other things going on.

I don't know if it is unhealthy or not for my step-son, but when a child avoids every other activity, spending three, four, or five hours at a time on the game, skipping meals, acting uninterested in anything else, I think it is time to set some limits.

His dad disagrees. So....I find myself in a tough spot. My husband doesn't really believe in the 'addiction' problem.

Any thoughts? Do I just need to put my foot down and make some rules?

I am thinking that I need to get a little stricter about school, so that he has too many other activities keeping him busy and away from the game -- but at the moment, I can find NOTHING else that engages him so deeply.

Thanks.

WOWwife