What did you do for your child's 13th birthday?

[gingertodgers]

Ds turns 13 at the end of April. He's quite a shy, reserved kid but has a solid friendship group and plays sport so has lots of teammates too. I've asked him if he wanted a party, a sleepover, a day out somewhere with friends. He just doesn't seem bothered.

He said he'd like a meal out at his favourite restaurant with family but it doesn't seem enough for his 13th and I can't even compensate with gifts as he has pretty much everything he wants and can't decide on anything for that either!

Just looking for some inspiration of nice ideas to mark the occasion.

I set up a tent and dd had 6 friends overnight. Burgers and pizza for dinner and bbq bacon and eggs for breakfast.

I took my dd shopping and her friend slept over. I don't think 13 is a massive deal personally.

I'd happily let him have friends over or take them all out somewhere but he doesn't seem to want that particularly. He's at an age where he's in between friendships if that makes sense. He's drifted apart from some of his older friends since starting high school but a lot of the kids he is pally with now aren't from our area and I've never met them so he's probably a bit wary of asking them over.

I'm perfectly happy to do what he wants and just have a quiet family meal, just doesn't feel like a lot. Some of his friends had parties for their 13th but he's shy and doesn't like being the centre of attention for things like that.

Football party at the local ground

Give him what he wants.

(Mine were desperate for a paintball party and so that's what I did).

Alton Towers with a friend.

We have a very small Airport nearby who do local scenic flights in a small 4 seater plane.
We booked that as my son had never flown before.
Think it was about £100 for 40 mins

Chocolate making party - making truffles and chocolate slabs - everyone likes chocolate (well most)

He's said he wants a family meal at his favourite restaurant.
So do what he wants. He's happy with that.

DD just wanted tea out when she turned 13 as well. I think at this age it's really important to respect what they are asking for as they are probably figuring out a fairly delicate social dynamic at high school. She did the same for her 14th. She's not short of friends and goes to birthday sleepovers etc. that others have, and is pretty non-angsty and settled socially, she just doesn't want that for her own birthday.

This sounds spot on. I will absolutely follow his lead. And he can have a homemade birthday cake as always.

At that age they don't want their parents hanging round. Family meal sounds lovely, then maybe you could casually suggest something else - would he like to go to the cinema and McDonald's or something with a couple of friends, so it's low key, not a 'party' as such, and people are focused on the movie rather than him?

DD1 - box at the Proms to hear Sheku with 3 of her friends and pizza in the box.
DD2 - film and pizza with 4 friends.

Both followed by sleepovers.

Dd is 12 this month and she’s going go karting and then take away and sleepover.

I think mine had some friends and went to an activity centre and did snowboarding with pizza delivered... It was his last birthday party as such.

Meal and cinema with friends, as well as wandering around a shopping centre. Dp and I paid but sat separately.

Just do the family meal out and then maybe give him a bumper allowance that month so he has plenty of cash to socialise more casually with friends?

Mine gave gone through stages with friends coinciding with birthdays where they didn't want anything major. Maybe part of me felt sad for them but wasn't a big deal and we just did a family thing.