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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Aggh!!! Ds 15 has changed his mind!!!

44 replies

Feckinlego · 22/11/2022 14:32

He had asked for a gaming pc, now he tells me he only asked for it to keep me happy and doesn't really think he'll use it much. He is the most unmaterialistic child I've ever met. He has all the usual tablet, phone, xbox etc. He had all the equipment needed for his sports. No interest in clothes. I've got him tickets to comic con and a comedy gig and some books. But that's it! I'm all out of ideas. Please help. Just throw any ideas at me please.

OP posts:

Dinoteeth · 22/11/2022 15:46

Bean bag, gaming chair, telly, technic lego?

I'm guessing you are looking for something for him to open rather than vouchers.

Original poster

Feckinlego · 22/11/2022 16:02

Some great ideas here so thank you. I think cinema vouchers etc will go down well, plus artwork for his room is a great idea. I think some of u have given me the telling off I needed, I have been pestering him, have been for a long time! Few foodie bits and those other presents will be more than enough so thank you all.

OP posts:

wizzler · 22/11/2022 16:06

Agree with vouchers for cinema, also Costa vouchers went down very well last year.

CountryCatLady · 22/11/2022 16:32

What about some vouchers for justeat or his favourite restaurant? Maybe put it in a small box so you can wrap it?

Or what about a hotel stay for ComiCon? That might be a nice grown up gift for him.

If you want something for him to open, then wrap up some chocolates/food/toiletries etc

Tiredalwaystired · 22/11/2022 16:39

My teens have only asked for Starbucks vouchers this year as it’s where they go to have fun with their friends and they were haemorrhaging pocket money there!
Something like that?

MrsCarson · 22/11/2022 16:53

I wouldn't waste any more money on things he really isn't interested in.
At 15 I took Dd and three of friends out for dinner, they all sat together I got peace and quiet for a couple of hours with my phone at the other end of the restaurant and paid the bill.
My Dd will be 18 in Jan, she doesn't really want anything. I offered a package of driving lessons (no thanks) Meal out with friends? She's up in the air, not sure still about that.
Christmas is tough too, so far I have a book, a bubble tea kit, Slippers and a new chain for her locket since the old one broke.
Next year will cost as she'll be off to uni, so maybe gift cards to buy all her stuff she'll need would work.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 22/11/2022 16:57

Any interest in music? Mines the same and I brought him a surprise record player a few years ago and it turned out to be the best present. He has loads now

Dinoteeth · 22/11/2022 17:03

Any interest in music?
Guitar and a subscription to Yusisian or some lessons?

Glittertwins · 22/11/2022 17:38

We're going to give them the money and they can then spend it on things they want later - stuff that ordinarily we wouldn't buy. There's no point in buying something for the sake of it as that's an even bigger waste.

Sweetpea1532 · 22/11/2022 17:56

I know you mean well@Feckinlego but I am like your DS...I didn't want a pile of presents, but my mum wanting me to have 'things' to open, used to wrap up tins of tuna, packets of dried pasta, etc.🙄
What she didn't understand was that I meant that I did not want anything... being made to open these non-gifts was very irritating and actually made me feel like my feelings weren't being validated! How was her desire for me to have wrapped gifts more important than my desire not to?
Sometimes I felt as if I had to make up something when she asked like your DS did.....It is very disconcerting and confusing as I felt unappreciative of her efforts because Id been taught to be thankful when you're given a gift..how can you be appreciative for something when you've told the giver that you don't want anything?

This year, please give your DS the gift of validating his feelings...it will go so much further to deepen your relationship with him if he feels you are actually listening to his wishes instead of any of the material items or experiences you feel you have to dream up. It will also free you of the stress of feeling you have to do it. You could even tell him this. I'm sure he'll be relieved.
You will also likely be getting a head start on this as he's unlikely to change over the years..(It's a personality thing.) at least I haven't changed and I'm past 60 now. Mum's still trying to come up with 'gifts' for me to open, bless her.
You sound like a very caring, loving, generous mum, and I'm sure your DS feels this already. Put the money you'd spent on gifts into a fund for him that he can use in the future when he gets out on his own👩‍👦>🚶‍♂️Then he can appreciate that you listened to his feelings and set this money aside for him when he actually needed it.

Dinoteeth · 22/11/2022 18:31

Op a daft one for you a box of crisps from the cash n carry.

I get the desire not to have him getting up on Christmas morning to nothing.

SchrodingersKettle · 22/11/2022 18:36

At this age db and i always got books, a few bits of clothing, some chocolates and some shower gel, then one novelty gift - maybe a family boardgame or something very random (db got a grow-your-own mushrooms kit once, and anther year a set of juggling balls and i remember getting a beautiful calligraphy set one year).

Original poster

Feckinlego · 22/11/2022 18:59

Sweetpea what a lovely post! Gave me a lump in my throat. I'll definitely take your advice on board, thank you for saying that in such a kind and caring way.

OP posts:

Sweetpea1532 · 25/11/2022 03:41

@Feckinlego Awww, I'm glad you understand that it came from a good place.
It is so hard to know how to parent our DC!
I hope your DS does actually feel like I do..if not, you can blame it on me😂
Merry Christmas 🎄

SecondaryPreparation · 25/11/2022 07:26

You sound like a very caring, loving, generous mum, and I'm sure your DS feels this already. Put the money you'd spent on gifts into a fund for him that he can use in the future when he gets out on his own👩‍👦>🚶‍♂️Then he can appreciate that you listened to his feelings and set this money aside for him when he actually needed it.

I was going to say something similar but pp put it so much more eloquently! Put it aside in case he decides he needs/wants something during the year.

Tempyname · 20/12/2022 10:20

At 15, money or vouchers.

Tempyname · 20/12/2022 10:21

Oh and maybe an off road driving lesson or something? You can learn before 17, look up young driver lessons.

Ursuladevine · 20/12/2022 10:22

He is the most unmaterialistic child I've ever met. He has all the usual tablet, phone, xbox etc. He had all the equipment needed for his sports

something of a contradiction OP.

Autumntimeagain · 20/12/2022 15:27

At that age my son only asked for money, so he could buy things himself whenever he saw something he fancied.

So that he wasn't 'finished' with gift opening as soon as he opened his card, I bought a puzzle box to put the cash into. It kept him bust trying to open his gift for hours !

Turned into a bit of a tradition, so if you asked for money it was always given in a new puzzle box.

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