What is a good thing to do on Thanksgiving with my 15 year old son?

Question

My son and I have no relatives. The holiday season is always hard for me to come up with things that are warm and memorable for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Being his mom, it's harder and harder to get him to want to spend time with me. I can use only serious responses please.

Answer 1

Have you considered bowling? Several bowling alleys offer specials to get everyone to come out. My family and I go every year after dinner to avoid falling asleep in front of the TV! Maybe suggest that your son invite a friend or two along or invite another family or neighbors. In bowling, three strikes in a row is called a 'turkey' (kind of like a 'hat trick' in hockey) so it goes with the whole Thanksgiving theme. We give out little prizes for the MVP (most valuable pinbasher), Gutterball Gus, most improved score, and if someone gets a 'turkey' we really celebrate. Have fun, whatever you choose to do, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Answer 2

Since my parents are divorced, (I'm in my 30's) I have continued to spend Thanksgiving day w/my mom we do the lunchtime/desserts all that food stuff, and later in the afternoon I go to my dad's house and it's a tradition every Thanksgiving we find some little restaurant eat something for supper and then find a movie theater and go watch a movie. It's something special. My dad would sometimes rent video games for me to play. It has always been fun!!! My mom's house is fun too, but it's a different kind of memory.
Happy Thanksgiving. I know the age of 15 is hard to entertain.. ( :

Answer 3

For me Thanksgiving has two words that I associate with the holiday....1. Turkey, 2. Football. There will be a large array of games on all weekend long, 3 NFL games on Thursday. I think a lot of people stuff themselves with turkey and then enjoy sitting on the couch for football the rest of the day. If be chance you are not into football there are several good movies at the theatre this week. Might be a little old for Happy Feet, but DejaVue is a good one!

Answer 4

If I were you, I'd treat him to a really grown-up dinner in whatever high-class restaurant is open for business on Thanksgiving. It will probably be one in a better hotel. Both of you get dressed in your best, and make it sort of like a date. At 15, it's time he learned the nice manners that can make such a dinner a good time. He'll want to know how to take a lady out to dinner. His mother is a lady. OK?

I know, everyone talks about "family" until you want to cry at this time of year. My Steve died last December, and I'm having to rediscover the holidays, one by one. And one thing I have discovered is tradition is optional. It's good for those that have large families -- one of the guys who works at the market said his grandmother considers any Thanksgiving dinner with less than 200 of her extended family is a small one -- that get along reasonably well. And it's good for smaller families with enough children to enjoy and enough adults to share the work. And for people who can eat what's in the traditional dinner.

But my diabetic friend has invited me to dinner in his apartment upstairs with his dear young daughter-in-law, her adopted father, and me. I'm not sure there's going to be anyone else. But since he is diabetic, Lexi is used to cooking things I'm allowed to eat. So it's not all that "traditional" as a family, but she's making a turkey.

I bet that nice restaurant will have turkey and all the fixings, not to mention several less conventional items. Then while you are there, ask the manager if they plan to be open on Christmas day as well.

Answer 5

You've gotten some very good ideas from others. I especially like the ideas of cooking a meal together, doing your Xmas decorating , watching the ballgames or taking in a movie.
For the future, have you considered joining Parents Without Partners or a similar organization in your area? That may give you a good resource for finding ways to spend holidays.
I want to wish you and your son the very best day possible.

Answer 6

Make a nice traditional dinner,or his favorite meal, who says it has to be a turkey. I watch football with him if he enjoys this. Play some board games. These are things that I and my four sons do every year, and every weekend. Now two are grown and still come every weekend they can. The dinner and conversation has gotten better over the years. These are the things i treasure most in life. I am a single mom of four wonderful young men (sons). The time I get to enjoy the company of my sons. I don't like sports, however, this is a very good way to spend time with them and find out what is going on in their lives. Good luck and God bless****

Answer 7

Start the Christmas season that day. Spend your day decorating house and tree. Home and quality together time sounds like what you need, and this will give it to you without you having to sit and stare at each other all day long saying "I don't know... what do YOU want to do?" This will occupy you both in a positive way that can build a tradition. After you do your own decorations, go out to a public display or neighborhood of lights and decorations, maybe a concert, to cap off the evening.

Answer 8

Some ideas:

Invite his friends for an evening (even if it's not on the actual day)
Church groups
Movie on Thanksgiving Day
Give him $50 and ask him to take you out to dinner, let him pick out and make reservations at a restraunt - "his treat"
I have been wanting to take my 14 y/o daughter to a homeless shelter or food bank to help give back to the community, she's at that age that she doesn't think of others.... she needs a lesson!
Fishing or crabbing (depending on where you live if you're able)
Have him help you cook the meal.
Ask for his input

Happy Thanksgiving!

Answer 9

Maybe you could spend sometime together serving at a homeless shelter as a way to give unto others and also count your blessings. And then for something fun, go see a movie afterward that you would both enjoy.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving day!

Answer 10

If I were you, I would probably find a local church (maybe one where he can find a friend) or local YMCA organization and start attending. Instead of having turkey at home, go to homeless shelter and serve dinners or get together with other small families and prepare dinners.