What should I do with him today?
2007-11-17 05:02:01 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
P.S. He plays to many video games and the weather is to cold to be going to the beach or hiking....I'm also tired of taking him to the movies.
2007-11-17 05:08:01 · update #1
ok, great answers. I've decided to take him for bowling....we'll also rent a video.
2007-11-17 05:15:34 · update #2
ok, he changed his mind he doesnt want to go bowling. He doesnt know what he wants to do....keep the ideas coming.
2007-11-17 05:18:05 · update #3
....maybe I should force him to do something?
2007-11-17 05:18:31 · update #4
Cinema/ arcades... ok well how about bowling? indoor ice-skating? rock concert?Go see a street mime..
Even better ask him what he would like to do
2007-11-17 05:04:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
He's 13 and doesn't want to be seen in public with his parents. Totally normal. So either you just tell him get in the car and go do something or do something together at home. There have been some awesome suggestions already listed. Go hit a comic book store or a vinyl album store!
No idea what money is like but what about starting an aquarium together if you have the money. You could go get a system, set it up and then next weekend go shopping for decorations, then for the next couple weekends you could determine what kind of fish you want, what ones live best together and start adding to the aquarium. A 13 year old boy would probably be fascinated with an Oscar or Piranha, or one of the shark varieties, something that will grow big and eat live fish or hot dogs when it gets bigger. Then every weekend you could clean the fish tank together.
The other thing I have seen work is to give him 2 options, one that you will probably both enjoy and one that you know he will hate and if he refuses to make a decision do the one he hates. Believe me, next weekend he will make a better choice. Also, tell him he has to think of something to do for next weekend so he has time to think about it and clear it with you first. Get him involved in deciding what to do.
Good luck, you are in the moody teenager territory where you need to balance being a friend and being a parent without stepping on his toes or being too distant.
2007-11-17 06:02:49 · answer #2 · answered by babybugs1980 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like everything that everyone else has said, but I will also offer this. I was a single parent and tried to make every minute count with my kids (they are now 22 and 19). The one thing that they wanted more than anything was to spend time with me. They liked to play games (simple games like Monopoly or Scrabble). We had our best conversations in the car for some reason - I guess it's easier because no one is looking at you! So we would sometimes just go on errands together, and then we would really start talking.
So, in any event, I wouldn't worry so much about WHAT you do, but HOW you do it. Be there for him. Be with him mindfully, which means not letting yourself get distracted by anything else and not doing stuff with your mind wandering in a thousand different directions.
Even the simplest thing takes on new meaning when you clear your mind of everything but your son when you are together.
2007-11-17 05:10:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend doing something active. There are many 'active' things that you can do that aren't 'sports'. Is it because he doesn't like the activity or he doesn't like the competition (big difference).
I would not recommend going to the arcade. Video games are not very interactive and that is something that he can (and will) do on his own. You want to spend 'quality time' with him (I assume) and I don't think that video games count (though there are always exceptions).
How about making something together? (either artistic or functional) Write a story, sing a song, paint a picture, make a sculpture, build some furniture, make a soap-box racer or something along those lines. Something physical and or creative seems to me to be the best thing to do together.
2007-11-17 05:09:33 · answer #4 · answered by megalomaniac 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What area are you in? The LA Auto Show just came into town if your around there.. you could take him to a sporting event? You could take him to a local mall, new cloths or video game? Bowling? Videos? Arcade? Take him to a concert? Show? You could go paint balling, air softing, roller skating. Take him out to eat?
Start a project that will take a few weeks, that way every weekend he will look forward to coming over to your house and working on it. That way, he gets a new hobby, you two bond, and you have activities to do.
Whats a few places his mother doesn't take him that he wants to go to?
2007-11-17 05:17:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bowling? I'm not a huge sports person but bowling and mini golf are awsome.
Or play video games. Or go out to eat. I like both of those things a lot. Me and my dad used to go to exotic car lots just to look around. That was always fun... I still have a "passion" for cars. Particularly Lamborghini's. =]
Good luck.
2007-11-17 05:07:23 · answer #6 · answered by Devan! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm a single parent mother I can tell you that by u not finding other ways to communicate with him u are losing him little by little . Or maybe he might just want to see if you will come up with other ideas for you 2 spend more time with each other. Do the best you can and always leave the lines open when ever he might need you.
2007-11-17 05:11:32 · answer #7 · answered by Lala 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take a walk, go get an ice cream, see a movie, grab a bite at his favorite restaurant, play a board game, go hunting/fishing, go to the driving range, prowl the mall, go camping and let him build the fire, build a snowman, volunteer at a local charity...
Anything that gives him YOUR time and attention. Think of your time together like a date without the romance part - jusy family love. Make sure he knows you love him and want to be with him.
2007-11-17 05:13:20 · answer #8 · answered by Chopperman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO ZOOS!
I'll never forget my 7th grade class trip where they took us to a zoo that was so close to the town, that all of the kids had been there atleast 6 times. Zoos are only fun for really young kids and people who really like animals.
Take him fishing.
Take him swimming.
Take him bowling.
Go for a hike together.
Take him to a movie.
2007-11-17 05:07:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Maybe go see a movie at the Theater & then you can discuss what parts you liked the most :)
Or give him options & ask him to choose ... like:
-movie
-mall
-arcade
-bowling
-restaurant
Hope this helps
2007-11-17 05:08:08 · answer #10 · answered by California Girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
take him out to eat or something. take him go-carting or does that fall under sports...... or just simply ask him what he wants to do, take him to the movies. dont buy him a video game, unless u wanna play it with him, because he'll take the game, go upstairs or whatever and never be seen again. or maybe u should just give him space and time. i dont have a good relationship with my dad and hes trying to hard to get me to like him again, and i just wanna scream when he does it.
2007-11-17 05:05:04 · answer #11 · answered by cameragirl80 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋