Chistmas Ideas?

101110101101

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I think up until 16 he is covered under your PAL if you are there to supervise. Have you tried taking him snowmobiling?

Good info about that PAL... I will ask my instructor (just to be sure) and go from there.

He comes sledding every time. He literally cannot turn the sled. (I was sledding alone without adults at 14 with my buddy Mark). He can drive, with an adult on with him that does most of the steering. I am not exaggerating when I say he cannot do one proper push-up. Not one. So he could never even turn the sled, or pull-start it should it crap out on him. What this all means is, most times he is a passenger and therefore loses interest quick. Can't blame him there. Since he is just a "passive" passenger... he also tends to get cold. He is tough to buy for, when eliminating the only thing he likes.

Appreciate all the tips.... I even had my gym buddies root him on when he came to the gym with me. To boost his confidence... I really thought he was going to enjoy it.
 

Bogger

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My son is 13 and the gaming is somewhat of an issue. He still likes to ride his bike and play basketball and would LOVE to spend more time on a sled which I will work on this year but the lack of self control on the gaming drives me insane. I swear he will get up at 8:30 on a Saturday and at 11 I have to tell him to get upstairs to eat breakfast and if he has his way he's right back on the x-box. he literally would spend 16 hours a day on it if I didn't kick his azz off it. He is getting better with helping out around the yard and so long as I keep him busy he'll plug away on stuff all day but the first time he finds himself without anything to do it's right back to the x-box.....Frustrates the hell out of me.
 

101110101101

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My son is 13 and the gaming is somewhat of an issue. He still likes to ride his bike and play basketball and would LOVE to spend more time on a sled which I will work on this year but the lack of self control on the gaming drives me insane. I swear he will get up at 8:30 on a Saturday and at 11 I have to tell him to get upstairs to eat breakfast and if he has his way he's right back on the x-box. he literally would spend 16 hours a day on it if I didn't kick his azz off it. He is getting better with helping out around the yard and so long as I keep him busy he'll plug away on stuff all day but the first time he finds himself without anything to do it's right back to the x-box.....Frustrates the hell out of me.

100% agreement. Some video games in a balanced life is fine with me...... but that 16 hours of it while his room stinks and he hasn't showered, drives me nuts. I used to write logon scripts to boot him off automatically after an hour, then there was no arguing, telling him to get off, and I didn't even have to be there lol

The funny part is, if and when you get him to help with something... he will bitch and complain and whine and have sudden "ailments" out of nowhere..... yet if you get him to do it, he always seems to enjoy it and get a sense of satisfaction out of it... so you'd think he'd want to do it more!

He does like playing with any power tools hmmm
 

Bnorth

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Good info about that PAL... I will ask my instructor (just to be sure) and go from there.

He comes sledding every time. He literally cannot turn the sled. (I was sledding alone without adults at 14 with my buddy Mark). He can drive, with an adult on with him that does most of the steering. I am not exaggerating when I say he cannot do one proper push-up. Not one. So he could never even turn the sled, or pull-start it should it crap out on him. What this all means is, most times he is a passenger and therefore loses interest quick. Can't blame him there. Since he is just a "passive" passenger... he also tends to get cold. He is tough to buy for, when eliminating the only thing he likes.

Appreciate all the tips.... I even had my gym buddies root him on when he came to the gym with me. To boost his confidence... I really thought he was going to enjoy it.
Sounds like you're doing all you can, don't give up on the kid.
 

101110101101

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Sounds like you're doing all you can, don't give up on the kid.

Somehow, oddly that made my day, thank you. I've been raising him since he was 2, when I met his mom. I amdoing the best I can, just sometimes I want to knock him out and send him packing lol I had similar issues when the daughter was a teen as well.... now she is 21, and now we get along awesome. She is the son I've always wanted lol Always willing to help / learn / try / participate.... Effort is rewarded in my family, not necessarily success, so I'm hoping I can get her a cheap/used sled of her own next season.
 

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To be honest I am thinking that is most kids at his age. I struggle with my 14 year old at times. Just keep on doing the right thing and keep presenting other things to do besides the boob tub and gaming.
 

101110101101

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To be honest I am thinking that is most kids at his age. I struggle with my 14 year old at times. Just keep on doing the right thing and keep presenting other things to do besides the boob tub and gaming.

Maybe you're right. At 14 I still liked video games (and arcades)... but had a million other interests too.
 

101110101101

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But a couple of shotguns and a clay launcher.

That should keep him interested?

This is not totally out of the question..... for next Christmas or his birthday in June.... but I won't have my PAL in time to buy anything for this Christmas. He has actually done that with his real dad, so I'm told. I seem to think he liked it.
 

J-Roc

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This is not totally out of the question..... for next Christmas or his birthday in June.... but I won't have my PAL in time to buy anything for this Christmas. He has actually done that with his real dad, so I'm told. I seem to think he liked it.
I think anyone enjoys shooting clays.

What about a bow? I've been thinking of buying a bow myself. You can get into some starter packages for 300-500 bucks. I know nothing about bows though

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J-Roc

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This may not be feasible or possible but what about a project you guys can work on together for him? He likes electronics? You're an IT guy. Build a computer?

Myself I still have my first truck I'm saving to rebuild for my boys' first vehicle.

Something like that should hold his interest and Gove you guys some quality time together?

Or a rc model airplane/truck/ boat or helicopter? Or a drone or something? etc.

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j335

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You said he likes powertools? Maybe try to get him a carpentry type class. I know I took one around his age, learnt a ton. He might like it.
 

101110101101

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This may not be feasible or possible but what about a project you guys can work on together for him? He likes electronics? You're an IT guy. Build a computer?

Myself I still have my first truck I'm saving to rebuild for my boys' first vehicle.

Something like that should hold his interest and Gove you guys some quality time together?

Or a rc model airplane/truck/ boat or helicopter? Or a drone or something? etc.

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This is oddly familiar. One day he comes to me and asks for a screw driver. When I ask why he tells me he is taking apart old PC's in the basement. I thought "Excellent... ". Then when he was all done I suggested we go re-build one or two (I probably had 20 old pcs in the basement then). NOT INTERESTED! Not at all. Doesn't care how they work, what part is what... nada. Frankly computers are pretty simple... no more complicated than a kids puzzle where **** only fits one place. He wasn't in to it. He does however "brag" that he can take a computer apart.... like that's a talent or skill? *sigh*

Great idea though..... and a model rocket like I did with my dad, might be just the ticket. Good call....
 

101110101101

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Or a welding class you can do together? Both are skills that are very handy in llife

hmmm is that possible? I'd love to learn a little welding.... do they even offer casual courses in such things? Carpentry? Welding? I saw another thread here where some dude made some wall-hangers for his super-clamps. They were not magical or anything, but they sure did the job and he fabricated them himself. I was totally jealous of that.
 

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I feel your pain. When my son was 14 he I heard him playing x box live. So I went down asked who he was talking to and he said his friend. I asked who and he said Mike. Well I never knew no Mike so I asked where he was from and he told me Fort Worth. Well I said it was bed time and went to bed. At 4 am he was still talking to Mike so I went down and shut it off. I woke up at 8 and you guessed it he was talking to Mike again. I grabbed his x box and smashed it on my driveway. He is 18 now and doesn't game. But has lots of real friends and hobbies. Sometimes you just have to take it away lol

He now hunts, quads, snowmobiles. Pretends he is a mechanic and is apprenticing as a plumber.



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Trashy

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I always wanted a crossbow, and he has expressed some interest in archery, but I had already mentioned that to his mom recent;y and she vetoed me. In this case I didn't argue too much.
I picked up a "Bear" compound bow a couple of years ago and finally took proper lessons, on how to fire it. I went to "Jim Bows" archery, just off of McKnight and Edm Trail NE.
I highly recommend him and I was surprised, with how many kids....... 14 and younger, were there shooting Long Bows.
There is another place, just off of 52 St and 50 Ave SE and I like their lanes and set up. (they are also closer to where I live)

Maybe talk to mama, and go visit either and talk. She might agree with you on this one.......

Good luck :beer:
 
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