Daughter turning 13 during lockdown

[dontlikebeards]

Not quite an AIBU but I need some help!

My dd will turn 13 in a couple of weeks. How can I make it special? She completely accepts that we won't be able to go anywhere but it will be awful if nothing special happens.

So wise MNetters give me some fab ideas! Thanks

Mine turns 13 on Friday. We have a group chat arranged with her friends at a set time, and WhatsApp sessions with various family members. I’ll bake a cake and we will play board games. Favourite dinner planned (ingredients permitting!) and a determinedly positive approach!

If she is a girls girl, have a make-over session together- perhaps with New makeup or nail polish- face masks etc

My niece turns 18, feel so sorry for her not getting to celebrate properly.

What's she like? As a family we have done some great stay at home parties with just family. Now we are a particular geeky family so if she is very cool this might not suit but I had it for my 22st and loved it. We hide presents and you have to complete challenges to win them, it spaces out the day. We've also done an escape room challenge to get out of the living room

A day with you will be all she needs. See it as a blessing. Let her facetime friends etc but she will always look back on the birthday where she was spoiled by your presence and time and love.

I have 2 boys turning 18 in the next 3 weeks, they'll have to make do with a celebratory vodka at home!

What does she love? Could you do a WhatsApp/Skype get together with her friends and maybe do karaoke/quiz/justdance/ a game she likes. Then do.a.film.and.popcorn as a family on another day.

The website Chili are doing screenings of current films that were at the cinema before it closed so you could pick one of them and stock up on popcorn/chocolate/fizzy pop.

At 13 I’d explain to her the seriousness of the situation we’re facing.

Then make extra fuss of her when this dies down

Mine is turning 11 next week. We were supposed to go to NYC. I’m hoping the weather will be nice and we can picnic in the garden? Thinking to make an afternoon tea; scones, cake etc

Banners and home made posters wishing her happy birthday and home made cake

My DS is 16 next week and we have postponed his breakout with his friends, might set one up at home for him if I am clever enough. Have aleady asked what his favourite meal is so I am cooking that. Its rubbish for them all.

For my DD’s birthday I’m printing out loads of photos of her from which will be stuck all around the house for her to find. I’m writing a relevant memory on the back of each one. She’ll then have to find them all and try and put them in chronological order.

She’ll be 10 though, so not sure if a 13 year old would find it as fun?

Mind you, with us all stuck at home together, I’m struggling to get them all printed and ready in secret!

I have a DS turning 14 next week and am wondering the same thing. I have a few ideas in mind but nothing really super special so I’ll be following for more!

We’re going to bake a red velvet cake together which we’ll have as his birthday cake as it’s his favourite.
We have a tradition of ‘birthday breakfast’ where you can pick ANYTHING you want for breakfast one day a year on your birthday so we will do that.
He has some gifts to open but I’ve not been as organised as usual due to money and thought I’d order his main today but now I’m going to just give him the money in a card as I’m worried it wouldn’t arrive. I know what he wants and how much it costs and I’ve ordered fifa 20 as a download so he’ll have that. I’ll then just pick up some smaller bits from the supermarket as token gifts to open when I go tomorrow and I love the challenges to win idea @Theuselessone and I will be using that so thank you!
I’m not sure what else though. We’ll order pizza in for tea and have a movie night if deliveries are still running and I suppose during the day he’ll spend time on FaceTime to friends and family so he can “see” them.
Other than that all I can really think of is just to spend time together and have fun playing games (we love board games) and a days break from home learning.

My son also turning 13. We are doing a virtual party with games link up. I have ordered a delivery birthday cake - hope it comes. I had planned to send a dominoes type pizza to each of his 4 friends to arrive during the party hours but not clear if this will be possible now, will find out.

He has been promised a "proper" party when all this is over.

Amazing @Frozenfan2019, thanks for sharing!

It was my sons 18th birthday today.

In the history of 18th birthdays he couldn’t have had it on a worse day, pubs and restaurants shut and then the lockdown announcement.

I had already got steak in and made him a great cake and his brother and sister came over.

It was cool and he is a kind boy who understands what’s going on.

My DD turns 13 in 2.5 weeks and I've been thinking the same. We need DJ find ways to make it extra special and make a fuss.

I think we're going to let her request her favourite foods, play some party games and download a new movie she has wanted to watch.

I also let him order whatever he wanted from the takeaway last night (not helpful now),

And let him have whatever he wanted for breakfast (offered him a vodka he declined )

Give her pack of quality facemasks.

Thank you for all your fab responses. I love the treasure hunt / escape room type ideas, she will love these. I have promised her a fab day out when this is all over!

I just need to learn how to bake a cake.....

OP, my son is also turning 13 during the lockdown so this has made me feel loads better. Thank you for starting this thread!

Mine turned 13 today. We made the most of us all being home and turned her presents into a treasure hunt. Cooked up the nicest meal we could with what food we have for dinner and did cake at the end of the day. She’s face timed friends and we rented movie of her choice. She says it’s been the best birthday ever.

Callimanco as far as I'm aware it will be, I work there and we have still been told to come in to work

Great ideas! My dd turns 13 next Monday. I would love to organise an escape room for her - where do you even start??!!!