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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teenage son about to be 18!

25 replies

Animallover2325 · 20/10/2023 08:39

I can’t believe my boy is a man!

i know the one thing he would love is a car but without any license that’s not happening and we can’t really afford one right now anyway but he says himself he’s saving up. We will help our with it nearer the time. Right now though I honestly don’t know what to get him for his 18th! He’s not into all his Xboxes etc, hasn’t been for years. Doesn’t go out too much other than with couple of friends one of whom just passed her test. I really need to get him something special. He’s our adopted son too and I want to something special for him. What could I get him? Jewellery? He wears men’s fashion jewellery a bit but wonder if he’d like a bit of gold or something else. Can anyone offer words of wisdom?

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 20/10/2023 10:31

We didn't go with Jewellery, mainly because he never wears it and I never wore the jewellery I got for my 18th & 21st.

Has he asked for anything?

BoohooWoohoo · 20/10/2023 10:33

Would he like a nice watch ? (I'm not an 18yo boy so don't know what constitutes nice)

Original poster
Animallover2325 · 20/10/2023 11:44

I’m not sure because he has a smart watch he never wears and my husband gave him his old one a couple of years ago which he never showed any interest in

OP posts:
SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 20/10/2023 18:02

How about an experience instead of something to keep? Maybe get him tickets to an event or take him away for a night?

Flossypantsmummy · 22/10/2023 08:11

If he wants a car but doesn’t have a license then get him driving lessons.

DairyQueenforever · 22/10/2023 08:13

I’m taking my soon to 18 son to Berlin for two nights it’s a suprise and there is nothing right now he needs x

cuckyplunt · 22/10/2023 08:15

Ask him what he wants.. almost certainly some piece of computer equipment. My DD had a gaming laptop.

Tilllly · 22/10/2023 08:39

The experience is a good idea, flying a plane, hot air balloon, racing car

Themerrygoround · 22/10/2023 08:58

Can you pay for a block of lessons and get a “private reg “ I know a lot of people think these are cringe but young lads tend to like them and it’s a way of a keep sake for his 18th.

GreenLaurel · 22/10/2023 09:37

you can buy track days (driving high performance cars) where you don’t need a licence.

Luckyduc · 22/10/2023 10:18

Driving lessons.
weekend break to a city
a week away
money

I'd go for something like that.

JSusie · 22/10/2023 10:39

Young drivers experience (Red letter days, Virgin experience etc)
Dont need a licence. My daughter did it for her birthday (age 11!) and there were so many older teenagers having a go and loving it. Worth every penny but not ridiculously expensive.

Mariposista · 22/10/2023 11:08

Flossypantsmummy · 22/10/2023 08:11

If he wants a car but doesn’t have a license then get him driving lessons.

definitely this! You are buying him a life skill.

CrapBucket · 22/10/2023 11:12

My son would rather have cash than some expensive thing that is ‘officially sentimental’ so I tend to get something cheap and cheesy from a card shop saying what a great person he is (key ring/ bookmark etc), leaving most of the budget for a money gift. He keeps the sentimental stuff in his drawer though.

Libertass · 22/10/2023 11:12

A festival ticket?

Lotus3 · 22/10/2023 11:18

I believe a beautiful watch is a traditional coming-of-age present? That's what my son is going to get on his 18th from his father, anyway.

Original poster
Animallover2325 · 22/10/2023 14:16

he did the young drivers too lol x

OP posts:
Original poster
Animallover2325 · 22/10/2023 14:18

Lotus3 · 22/10/2023 11:18

I believe a beautiful watch is a traditional coming-of-age present? That's what my son is going to get on his 18th from his father, anyway.

This would be a lovely thing but as I said hubby gave him his a few years back. He wasn’t particularly interested. I would still consider it though and engrave it. Even thinking now of maybe a bracelet or ring or something I could get engraved

OP posts:
Original poster
Animallover2325 · 22/10/2023 14:19

CrapBucket · 22/10/2023 11:12

My son would rather have cash than some expensive thing that is ‘officially sentimental’ so I tend to get something cheap and cheesy from a card shop saying what a great person he is (key ring/ bookmark etc), leaving most of the budget for a money gift. He keeps the sentimental stuff in his drawer though.

Mine too 😆

OP posts:
AngelsWithSilverWings · 22/10/2023 14:48

My DS ( also adopted) was 18 last weekend. He already has a car which he bought from money that my parents saved for him.

We bought him a secondhand Tudor watch from eBay. It was £1k but we wanted to get him something he would keep forever. He was very happy.

We also let him have the house to himself overnight so that he could have a party with his friends. I barely slept that night with the worry of it but all was fine.

Blanketpolicy · 22/10/2023 17:19

If he is saving for a car and doesn't want anything else I would give him a chunk towards his savings and then a smaller sentimental gift.

We got ds an engraved pewter hipflask and a bottle of vodka. He loved his flask and has used it at his prom and a couple of weddings (in his sporran) so far.

Jackrussellmansion · 22/10/2023 18:51

We got our son a number plate for his 18th with his initials on and a dress watch for his 21st which he chose.

mamaduckbone · 23/10/2023 21:57

My ds is also about to turn 18 and has no interest in anything sentimental (we've suggested a watch but he's not keen) so I've bought him concert tickets for a favourite band, and we'll give him a chunk of cash to go towards his car fund, as will the rest of the family I think, except my mum who is adamant she wants to get him a nice chess set. He will appreciate that as he does play.

I am making a 0-18 photo book for him, which he probably won't appreciate at the time, but I'm hoping he'll stick it in a drawer somewhere and be glad of it one day. He doesn't want a party either so we're going out for a special meal on the actual day, just us and his gf (I expect he'll go out at the weekend with his mates)

mamaduckbone · 23/10/2023 21:58

I would definitely suggest driving lessons if he hasn't had them yet. We did this for ds's 17th - most expensive present ever but it's a life skill.

Julimia · 24/10/2023 20:06

Oh sorry but please he is your son the adopted bit is or should be totally irrelevant. Happy 18th

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