Gift help for my 13 year old son...

[JEFF_H]

Excellent idea.
However, unless you live in the woods, a BB/pellet gun is a better idea. Less noise, and you can shoot it in your backyard.

[r_ciao]

i remember model rockets at that age

golf clubs?

[Popeye the Sailor]

i remember model rockets at that age

golf clubs?

Jesus you must be old.

No-no golf clubs-old man sport of indescribable lameness. You can claim there be groupies all you want-Tiger Woods is a statistical outlier. It's something you might do with the boy when you're older-at 13? He'll just whack his friends with a sand wedge (henceforth known amongst said adolescents as a "sandwedgie!") or stand out in a lighting storm with a 2 iron to see if it's really true. No no and more no.

If he's big into games, just see what his favorite games involve, and go do those things in real life-AKA cart racing, shootin' stuff, or what have you.

If he has a golf game-ignore it-it's probably just a coaster.

[ItsaDuc]

Sounds like he has his face-time with the TV screen pretty well covered....something that gets him outside

We are at that same crossroad. +1 on anything that will include you in it. Im finding that "time spent" is the one thing he is remembering the most, not the gift, but the bond. Monday Im taking mine to his first Hockey game with just me. (Detroit/Pittsburg) Should be great game since its rematch and he likes "crybaby" (I dont always claim hes mine). Just my two cents. Heres another we plan on in the future, but with a car....Get him a used POS bike or car, dirt cheap...get the auto manual, and tell him that you two are going to fix it up together. That way its time spent and he will get a good lesson on how things work and a better apprieciation of things since he had to work for it himself to get it working. Just a thought.

[djrashonal]

...something that gets him outside

Outside is the way to go. I like the MT Bike and rifle ideas

something that gives him bragging rights when it comes to impressing the girls (not making them envious that would be a whole different dilemma)

Books, Start him young, not on that stupid crap they have to read for school, but some interesting, and fun stuff. Every year since I was young my mom would get me a book for my birthday in addition to whatever else I got. Even if he doesnt like the idea at first, in the end, well read men get the girl

[krolik]

Excellent idea.
However, unless you live in the woods, a BB/pellet gun is a better idea. Less noise, and you can shoot it in your backyard.

I've seen where he lives, no backyard. Get hit a dirtbike or the 10/22.

[RAT900]

When I was cleaning out my garage I had boxes and boxes of my kids toys I was sorting through. There was also a 10 yard dumpster waiting to be filled.

I sorted through all the different toys looking at them...recalling when and where I got them and which ones I thought were cool. doll houses, castles with hand-painted knights...I actually sat in the driveway almost contemplating setting up the castle and having a Monty Pythonesque Holy Grail siege re-eanactment.

Anyway I called the kids and told them to come home for a visit that coming weekend and sort through their childhoods.  It was a real eye-opener for me when they did

The toys from their childhood that they chose to keep were nothing like the ones I had pre-sorted for them....they only wanted the ones that involved some memory of my direct involvement in their play...I was amazed as they explained with laser clarity their recollections... the whens and whys of what they wished to keep...... and what could be dumped or sold

It was a real education and reminder that the time you spend doing something fun with your children builds the memories and esteem that will get them through the darkest days of their future lives.

Gifts are gifts, toys are toys and there is always new shit to buy....crap comes and goes....sounds cheesy but it is true...

the greatest gift and the one they hold dearest is that time and attention that only a loving parent can give them

[Slide Panda]

Well put RAT, well put.

[ryandalling]

You mean I have to spend time with him? Argh.... lol

I kid. I kid. he he he.

I am going to be fighting him in the laser tag arena... should be fun. Thanks for the ideas guys & gals. I got to do something tonight before his party at noon tomorrow... 

[RAT900]

LAUGHING!!!

yeah some problems don't go away if you just throw money at them

You guys will have a blast...let him kill you a few times...

that way when he is 17 and you won't let him have the car

he won't be standing over you with a butcher knife while you sleep

[NoisyDante]

I started playing guitar was I was 10, and just recently helped one of my coworkers pick one out for his 11 year son.  If he has any musical interest that'd be my vote.

[r_ciao]

Jesus you must be old.

No-no golf clubs-old man sport of indescribable lameness. You can claim there be groupies all you want-Tiger Woods is a statistical outlier. It's something you might do with the boy when you're older-at 13? He'll just whack his friends with a sand wedge (henceforth known amongst said adolescents as a "sandwedgie!") or stand out in a lighting storm with a 2 iron to see if it's really true. No no and more no.

If he's big into games, just see what his favorite games involve, and go do those things in real life-AKA cart racing, shootin' stuff, or what have you.

If he has a golf game-ignore it-it's probably just a coaster.

I'm not THAT old, i think.
Golf is fun, but can get expensive.

Point is, get out of the house and do something together.
Any interest in wood work?  You can always build a bird house that won't get used then you could blow it up for the fun of it.
Cycling accomplishes: togetherness, exercise, and mechanical knowledge to fix things.

[RAT900]

I'm not THAT old, i think.
Golf is fun, but can get expensive.

Point is, get out of the house and do something together.
Any interest in wood work?  You can always build a bird house that won't get used then you could blow it up for the fun of it.
Cycling accomplishes: togetherness, exercise, and mechanical knowledge to fix things.

I think golf will have finally arrived in America when it evolves into a Full Body Contact Team Sport with armored carts and defensive gear

In the meantime Tannerite is a legally purchased fun media that can provide for life-long memories of Father-Son Bonding

Witness:

4 Pounds of Tannerite VS 1 Old Fridge

[zooom]

.... or stand out in a lighting storm with a 2 iron to see if it's really true.... 

DOGFART!!

<:: insert picture of preist getting struck by lightning in rainstorm::>

[SacDuc]

DOGFART!!