WWYD? If your DS16 caused issues all year, how do you still have a great Christmas?

[capslokid]

DS16 has always been someone that thinks the rules don't apply despite the consequences. This last year to 18 months have really brought everything to a head.

We made the decision to remove all his internet access as he was talking online to randoms all over the world online, swearing and being disrespectful to anyone in the house. We're tech savvy and he's well aware of the dangers but thinks he knows best. He now only has internet access for college access.

This has also meant that all his tech devices have also gone as he would find anyway possible to use them to get back online :(

There's so much more he's done and part of me thinks why should I bother for Christmas but it breaks my heart that Birthdays & Christmas can't be special because he's always done something...

Soooo, what do you get a 16yr son for Christmas that isn't tech but will still feel special?

An experience is a good idea, we have booked a weekend away with some fun stuff booked for our teens as part of christmas gift,..... hoping we still get to do that....

Membership of a sport or training?
We're in similar position with our 16DD repeated inappropriate use of phone/tech despite many restrictions since and school also agreed that we should remove phone completely for a short time,she was also referred to camhs earlier in the year. The temptation seems to hard to resist for some teens, extreme impulsivity. Have you considered it could be MH issue/Adhd? Every sympathy

Fresh start with trust? Maybe he’ll rise to it.

Another vote for Lego- there are some really amazing sets, I wish someone would give me one!

Clothes, trainers, does he do any sports? If he likes reading, maybe a kindle (obviously this is tech but of a harmless sort).

I think your instinct to try to give him a lovely Christmas despite a difficult year is absolutely right.

@spotcheck Me too

Agree with the escape room suggestion plus you can get some good board game versions like this

This one isn't an escape room but it's quite good silly fun, my teens enjoy it www.amazon.co.uk/Greater-Than-Games-GTGMEDMCORE-Medium/dp/B07S3BHYGP/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=medium+game&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1639816832&sr=8-5

At that age mine would have been made up if I’d taken him to JD sports with a decent budget

Oh gosh op, no advice but have a sligtl younger teen and the word 'discord' immediately caught my eye, we had to remove dc phone and laptop and bam so much stuff as a safeguarding issue due to discord, other dc wants to have access for gaming, my 2 dcs are so different, one I could trust to use it but the other was just going down wormholes that was no good, also keep an eye on Pinterest as some pins are gateways to more anonymous chat rooms.

It never ends.

It's reassuring to read that we're not the only ones to remove phones from teens, I thought it was unheard of!! Our other teens didnt have restrictions because they had self control and could be trusted!
I like the escape game idea. thanks