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Original poster

What did your teen do to celebrate their 16th? What did you do all those years ago?

30 replies

Flamingoose · 09/04/2022 07:34

My parents quite often had parties, so we had a big party at home for mine. It wasn't all my friends though - more family friends and their kids, some of whom were my friends too. It was fun. I had a beer or two and danced to dad-rock in our living room until the early hours. I think I went out in the town with my friends the night before.

PFB is turning 16 in a couple of months time. She says she doesn't want to do anything, but she does seem slightly interested when I suggest things, like maybe a meal out with her group of friends. What did your teen do?

OP posts:
GeneLovesJezebel · 09/04/2022 07:35

Nothing because it was in lockdown, but she definitely wouldn’t have wanted a party or a fuss. And it’s what they want that matters.

Chasingsquirrels · 09/04/2022 07:36

I don't recall ds1 doing much.
Ds2 certainly didn't (couple of months ago).
I didn't either, although my work got me a cake and my mum made one.

WhereHasSpringSprungTo · 09/04/2022 07:37

I did nothing except a meal which was standard for any birthday, I don't like a fuss.

Ds had a meal and family party then a weekend in Spain. (hol was with his dad and family)

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 09/04/2022 07:37

I celebrated my16th with cake between my maths and French gcses.

(18th similar! My friends threw me a party a couple of months early for my 21st so it didn't clash with university exams...)

shazzer1978 · 09/04/2022 07:37

Mine did nothing except a family meal out which is what he wanted. I suspect his younger siblings may want to do more though.

Notdoingthis · 09/04/2022 07:38

I went to a nightclub with schoolfriends.

saggyhairyass · 09/04/2022 07:38

Mine is 16 soon. She had the idea to go to a concert but no-one she likes is playing at around that time. She might take her mates out to dinner. She's not a party person, really.

shazzer1978 · 09/04/2022 07:42

Oh I forgot to say what I did. I think I went to a theme park for the day with my bestie!

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 09/04/2022 07:50

She had a party at home. She invited 20 or so friends, and they built a fire in the fire pit and sat around outside chatting, drinking and toasting pizza bread on sticks and marshmallows. Later they ordered pizza and came inside and put some music on. They all went to bed quite drunk in the early hours but were up again by 8am to clear up. I was amazed!! (And the only damage was a blocked loo!)

I also had a party for my 16th. I can't remember much about it though, except that my boyfriend spiked the punch and my mum wasn't happy about lots of drunk teenagers Grin.

DoubleChinWoes2 · 09/04/2022 07:57

I went to see the new lords of the rings film with three friends and then to pizza express 🤣

Mine are 2 and 3 so will start planning in the next year or too probably.

TippledPink · 09/04/2022 08:02

Don't remember what I did so couldn't have been much! My son was 16 in January, I had Covid so we did nothing, probably would only have been a meal out anyway.

popandchoc · 09/04/2022 08:03

I had a meal out with my family and best friends. We wanted to dance at the end as it was a place that had a dance floor but they wouldn't let us because we weren't 18.

Imsittinginthekitchensink · 09/04/2022 08:05

Mine was many years ago - I got drunk with friends.
For dd's we went to an escape room and then for dinner.
A friend's DD had hers last night and had a houseful of kids with girls in teeny dresses and a lot of vodka being drunk.

Timeforausernamechange22 · 09/04/2022 08:10

For dds 16th she had a party at home. About 20friends - lots of booze and loud music. Very drunk teenagers but they did an excellent job of cleaning the next morning. She is so glad she did it especially as just 6 weeks later we were going into lockdown one.
My 16th was similar except me and 2 friends hired a private hall and a dj.

QueenofLouisiana · 09/04/2022 08:11

DS wanted to go for a meal and a pint of cider. He specifically asked that his grandparents were invited. We were blessed with decent weather so we could eat outside. It was the first meal out my parents had been to in over a year- they’d had covid jabs and felt better about it all.

Me, I don’t remember but it was just before my GCSEs, so probably not much.

overitall1 · 09/04/2022 08:13

I spent it sitting sunbathing in the garden eyeing up the builder who was doing our extension. In the days when I had a bikini body. Just finished my exams. ''twas 1976, the hottest summer on record (until recently). Oh and we went to the local Chinese restaurant, which in those days was a big occasion. sigh those were the days...

Svara · 09/04/2022 08:14

I didn't do anything I remember so couldn't have been different to other birthdays, maybe met up with a few friends. DS just wants to visit family and have cake.

I don't think 16 means all that much anymore.

IstayedForTheFeminism · 09/04/2022 08:15

He ummm... dunno actually. It was between the lockdowns and not everything was fully open. Probably crazy golf and Cream tea.

I think I had a sleepover for mine, we weren't allowed drink even though my brother had a load of mates over and got drunk for his 2 years earlier!

16 wasn't a particularly 'big' birthday in our house (unless you were the golden child Wink)
18 on the other hand was a bit party with everyone we knew in a hired venue and a DJ.

Eatglass · 09/04/2022 08:17

My DD had a party last week - we went out (against our better judgement) although we were near enough to get back quickly if needed. It was actually fine. Loud music, drunkenness but nothing broken, no one sick, no complaints from the neighbours and they cleared up afterwards.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 09/04/2022 08:17

Mine went out for a meal with a group of friends, we paid. They had a few glasses of fizz at ours beforehand.

I can’t remember what I did! I was with my first boyfriend so prob something with him.

mdh2020 · 09/04/2022 08:19

I don’t think I did anything special and neither did my DC. Fortunately they were both at uni for their 21sts. We did have plans for a big party the year of our Silver Wedding when DS was 21 and DS was 18 but never got round to it.

Blanketpolicy · 09/04/2022 08:26

We did nothing unusual/special at 16 as it isnt seen as a big birthday here either, only 18 and 21. I always thought celebrating 16 as a big birthday was more American where they celebrate 16 and 21, and not 18 as much.

He had a house party for his 18th as he was the first of his friends to turn 18.

Flatandhappy · 09/04/2022 08:26

DD had a pool party for around 20 girl friends (her last single sex party). We have a pizza oven and I remember being surprised how many pizzas they ate as I was rolling the dough! Roasted marshmallows over the fire pit later, we had fairy lights strung around the garden and it was a lovely warm evening. We are not in the UK and none of her friends or their parents would expect alcohol to be provided or tolerated for a 16th party at someone’s home.

TurningUpMyStereotype · 09/04/2022 08:29

Our son had a meal out with us on the day, lots of presents and nice cake and then had a couple of days away with friends the following weekend. Lots of drinking involved. Our daughter is a couple of years off that age but not sure what she’ll do.
I don’t remember my own 16th. I know my parents wouldn’t have done anything for it so I probably did something with friends.

EasterDecorations · 09/04/2022 08:29

Can't remember what I did for mine.

DC1 didn't do anything with friends, we probably went out for a family meal but there are no photos in my phone to remind me. DC2 went to the cinema with a friend, then MacDs and home to watch TV together. Family meal out another night (just the four of us). Neither are partying types.