18th Birthday present ideas

[Janey96]

I have twin sons coming up for 18 soon. Only one of them has told me that theres 2 books he wants. Hes doing A levels so has to have them. The other one rarely speaks and always says dunno leaving me to scour the internet for hours and coming up with nothing. They dont care for clothes, games etc. They have mobiles. One has learnt to drive recently, test soon. Money is a bit boring and for one, theres nothing he wants. Its nice to open a present.

One is going out with friends on the day, but the shy one would rather stay at home and go on the net! I feel bad that he wont engage or go out, it will be just another day to him.

Any ideas would be gratefully received

Do they like the cinema? I know some cinemas do a yearly pass type thing and they can go as many times as they like.

Could you cook the quieter one his favourote dinner, if you know he is going to be in?

Would they use ipads/kindles?

Do they like any sort of sports? Skiing lessons at a dry slope place or Golf lessons?

Take the family out to watch a show they'd enjoy? Stomp is awesome for all ages. Or a play, or film, or sports match, whatever they'd like.

Thanks all for your messages.

Maybe one might go to the pictures, will mention to his college friend, then hopefully he might give my lad a nudge and they go together. The other one is fixed, he wanted a party at home, but not ideal really as the quieter one will only disappear upstairs. No fun for him. So hes going out with friends bowling. they have ipads and a pc each.

He does like football, but never joined a team, maybe he would go to watch a real match, but I wouldnt know where to begin. Not sure he has a favourite team but they all watch any matches on TV!

Last year I took the one that goes out with his mates to see a comedian, they loved it. I sat in the car the whole time! But his brother stayed home. Only young once I keep telling him, but still cant shift him. (Years of bullying at school has done this)

Just thought, he might like a weight lifting bar, he is quite big built, not chubby. (He can lift that while playing his internet games!)

Thanks again

Years of bullying - that's really sad
Has he had any counselling? Or is that a crazy idea given that he won't talk?!

Hi AnotherEmma, Yep, 4yrs of constant mickey taking. I see the head of year, and she says he has to learn to deal with it. Oh really I thought, no, he dont go to school to put up with that, kids are supposed to be happy and feel safe at school, just couldnt get a word in edgeways with her. So i then ring some teachers up, the ones I think will listen and ask them to look out for it in class, they all said they dont see it happening! He still went in regardless. If that were me and if I couldnt handle it, I wouldnt have gone back ever! You should have seen the state he came home in, shaking like a leaf, the fear of god in his eyes, balling his eyes out sometimes, wanting me to keep ringing school to sort it. Then I ask for counselling for him, which SEN agreed. It was a long time coming, so I rung up again, the SEN had then left, no one for a while was appointed. They then use a teacher they already had there to become SEN! Once that was in place I ring up and ask once again about this ccounselling. Not to my surprise they couldnt find his file!! How convenient I thought and this new SEN wouldnt agree to it. He then had just 6 months left at school so I guess they didnt want to spare him the expense. Once kids reach a certain age, they dont want to go for help, they like to be left alone.

Hes doing carpentry right now. I have a cousin in the building industry, we talked about it, and then he says, its a mans world after telling him how quiet my son is. He has no get up and go, seems just happy to sit at the internet whenever hes not at college. Just hope things sort themselves out and he gets employed once college is over.