18th in lockdown

[flamingo40]

As lockdown had now been extended we will be celebrating my sons 18th just the four of us.
He's had a really rough few years with his mental health and was looking forward for celebrating his birthday for the first time in years with family and friends.
While we are grateful we are healthy I'm a little sad for him.
Lockdown for us has made us realise how close we are and how much we've enjoyed all being together. (Most the time)

I'm after ideas to help make his day extra special.
Decorations are ordered, he's requested certain food for the day and asked us to bake a cake.
I've also asked family and friends to record birthday wishes to send for him.
Can anyone suggest any ideas to add?

True, but any birthday in lock down is shit

Yes but 18th is worse for obvious reasons!!!!

Hate this shit, when people can’t just acknowledge it’s worse.

Like when you say you lost your mum as a young teenager and how hard it was and how much you’ve missed out on. Then you get “well losing your mum is hard at any age”. Fuck. Off.

Sorry OP.

Oh ffs, I was sympathising with the op on how shit it is not saying I had it worst!! I was sympathising saying lock down birthdays are shit, God lock down is really getting to people isn’t it, so many argumentative people around recently.

Oh and it was actually a pp who said it was worse when it’s an 18th so that is saying you have it worse, it was me who started the who has it worst comment my first comment was merely expressing my sympathy at going through the same thing but I won’t bother in future

WASNT me*

Oh and it was actually a pp who said it was worse when it’s an 18th so that is saying you have it worse

I’m aware, and I agree with that PP that an 18th would be amongst the worst birthday you can have during this.

Then you said but any birthday would be bad. So annoying.

We were talking about this the other day as it’s likely DS 13th birthday will be in lockdown (I know he’s younger and 13 is not as big a deal as 18 but maybe some of these ideas will help you...
We have ordered a projector and screen, will watch a DVD outside with pillows and blankets etc,
Ask family members to record birthday messages for the day.
Popcorn kernels to make popcorn
We are going to make some happy birthday notices and cabletie them lampposts the night before to spot on our daily family walk.

If it was his 18th I’d be tempted to make a (simple) lockdown birthday cocktail with him and turn that into a birthday tradition

Yeah so then it was actually pp who started with the “who had it worst” and you’ve literally just told me you hate when people complain they have it worse ok.....

Yes because 18th would be among the worst......

I don’t have an issue with saying it’s the worst when it actually IS

We did an 18th in lockdown. Surprise Zoom party - I’m pretty sure she wasn’t expecting it. Loosely themed fancy dress. Family and friends. Family only stayed on for a short time and then left the friends to get on with it.

You can do the cake, sing Happy Birthday and show a few baby / funny photos.

Got the newspaper too. It worked really well and will be memorable in a different way.

Neighbours would probably help with banners, messages etc if you can get a teen out for a walk.

Take photos, screenshots of the zoom as well so they have the memories.