Dollar Frugal

My friends all say I’m a strict mom because the rules in my house were no video games until DS pulled straight A’s.  At that point, the plan was to go out with the son and purchase some $300 video game (either a Playstation or Wii) to compensate for these straight A’s.  At that point, I would be willing to spend the money for his efforts and he would have to maintain the grades to keep playing the games, otherwise I would keep the power cord.  This is strict to other parents (work = rewards).  They think all kids have this innate right to play video games.

DS has at least 2 hours of homework every night, so I don’t really understand where he would even have time on some regular weeknights to play if he did all his homework (some nights, it’s upwards of 3 hours).  3rd grade has changed since you and I attended.  Anyway, he was always 2 B’s away from the straight A’s.

We went to visit my uncle in Florida a couple weeks ago.  My grandpa took me aside and told me that my uncle was going to give me some “computer games” (haha) and wanted to know if it was okay if DS played computer games.  I just told Grandpa of course.

My uncle came out later with a TV, Playstation (2 only), cables, and controllers.  Not really the computer games I had anticipated, but games nonetheless.  I explained my rules to them, and my uncle rolled his eyes.  “Take it home anyway.”  He had already bought his Playstation 3 and HDTV.  DS was elated.  We trucked it home.

One week later, DS brought home a progress report with straight A’s on it.  This was enough for me.  Yesterday, he finished his spring break book report and got to play the Playstation.  I think it means more to him because he earned it.

Thoughts?  Am I too strict?  Is my son still too easily placated?  Is a free Playstation 2 really that big of a deal?