Does anyone of you creative moms have an idea for my son's 16th birthday? This would be difficult enough but he has broken his leg and is wearing a cast. He is very athletic so I don't know what to do for him for excitement and I don't really want to wait til mid-May to celebrate!
Any advice is appreciated!!
Bummer for him! Have you asked him if he wants you to organize something for his birthday. I have teens, and while we're really close, they'd rather chew their right arms off than have me do something like that.
Agree with the previous poster!! Especially since he's in the cast, ask him what he would feel comfortable doing...you might be surprised.
I would agree with the other posts ask your son. My daughter now 17 always wanted "big" parties my son 15 could care less he would ask for the family to go to dinner or something very simple. I would suggest he bring a friend/girlfriend or two to his favorite restaurnt and a movie but again ask him I'm sure he has an idea of what he would like to do
Agree with other posts. Ask your son if he wants a party. If he does, one suggestion would be amusement park. He can invite few close friends. He can get a "handicap pass" and rent a wheelchair at Knotts Berry Farm. They'll usually let him and his party (up to 4 people including him) to the front of the line. I did this for 1 of my son's birthday party. One of his friends was in a foot cast and we got the pass and wheelchair. We didn't have to wait long in line.
Good luck!
Either ask, or do something that fits his interests. One year, we skipped the party altogether and took our daughter to see a play. Several times, we've skipped parties to take my son to amusement parks and MLB games. Even with a cast, he could attend a game, a play, a movie, whatever. Either with just the family or invite a few close friends.
He is 16, why dont you ask him what he wants to do. At 16 I would have hated it if my mother planned a party for me.
No matter how close you are with your son believe me your idea of a party will be very different from his.
I would have wanted to do it myself or at least with my input.
It may have to be just a quick birthday and then a really fun one when the cast comes off. If it's too big of a hinderance then he probably doesn't mind waiting!!
You could maybe give him 3-4 gift certificates to the movie theaters, that way he can go watch a movie with 2-3 friends of his choice...
But as the others said - just ask him first ;)
The other suggestions on asking him is great advice. If he can not decide here is one idea, my son loves competitoin and to go along these lines with a broken leg, I would have a few friends over, his closest and have a competition with what ever game system you have. Have prizes for the winner or who ever wins is treated to a movie and dinner out with your son for his birthday. My husband and I when we were in our late twenties use to have a blast doing this. We would have a competition with our friends on who could get the higer score or reach a certain level first. There was always so much laughter and excitement. This may be fun for you son and friends, only a suggestion
Hello M.:
This request is right up my alley! My two grandsons have brittle bone disease and fracture their legs frquently. My 16 year old grandson in particular usually fractures each year on his birthday. Yes, he hates it..not fun. We have found with celebrating his birthday..can take place at a pizza parlor that has electronic games to play or a Farrels Ice cream parlor that give a variety of amusement games too. If they are on crutches they can at least brace themselves to play these or even do miniture golf. The batting cages are out of bounds, as it the rock climbing walls.
If you are planning a gathering at your home, then use Fizbes as plates for the guests as their souveniers too. Can make up bean bag throwing into a large box, things on that order. If the doctor has allowed any weight baring at this point, be crutch aware and the patient can still have some fun. Bubble wrap is also fun to pop for each guest to race to the final bubble.
Hope some of these may work for you to consider..it can be a memorable birthday for him, even under the worst conditons.
Is he into music? Does he play video games? What about Rock Band or Guitar Hero? We went to a friend's son's Guitar Hero party and it was a lot of fun for the kids, teens, and adults (my husband was hogging the guitar!). Depends on your son's personality though. I would definitely ask him his opinion, maybe he might have a good idea. Or ask his friends what they think he'd want. Let us know what you end up doing!
How about the Pirate's Dinner Adventure in Buena Park? I just saw a coupon for it in the Pennysaver. It looks like a lot of fun and he can just sit there and be entertained. Maybe he can bring a few friends along to enjoy the show?
When my kids hit their teens they were happiest having simple parties at which parents were unobtrusive. We would rent several movies and video games, bring in pizza, chips, popcorn, soda and junk food, and do our best to keep the music volume down to the point where the house wasn't shaking and the neighbors weren't threatening open hostilities. Since we have a pool, that also tended to be a major focal point, but this probably wouldn't work for your son in a cast (although you can get "water-proof" cast covers).
We also followed the advice of the headmaster of our son's high school: There should be 6 parents at the party for every 5 teens and they should maintain an active presence to keep the kids out of trouble -- and out of the liquor cabinet! (Well, we didn't insist on 6 parents, but we kept up patrol between my husband and me.)
Happy Birthday to your son!
