Dirty Santa ideas for teenage boys

[ronandannette]

I do the negotiating also. We needed a new car so I was shopping around this past summer, and it took about 15 minutes before anyone even greeted me. They all assume that I am with some man and that "he" is off talking to the sales person. This has happened to me at the store when I went shopping for a dishwasher also. Anyway, the car dealer that finally helps me only asked me what my favorite color was and then told me that I could not afford the more expensive car. He had no clue what my financial situation was. Even with my husband around, I will ask a question and the sales person will turn to my husband and answer. I am a totally normal looking person. I speak perfect English with no accent, and ask intelligent questions. Maybe it is the area that I live in that has an abundance of sexist men. Obviously not all men are like that, but even my husband is shocked by how so many men treat woman in our area.

Honestly, you read about things like this but I have never in my entire life experienced anything like it when trying to do business. And what kind of an idiot salesperson would assume your DH knew more about dishwashers than you? If (s)he were actually a sexist it would be the exact opposite, no?

 

[Kitty 34]

Honestly, after this thread I think I need the bottle of cheap vodka for myself.

OP, you're good a sport. Now grab your son, take him to a store (quality time) and let him pick out a gift with possible suggestions that Mom got with the help of all these gracious DISers!

Merry Christmas and hope your son has a lot of fun at his party.

 

[monsterkitty]

He’s 16. Why isn’t he choosing his own gift?

But this makes me sad - even boy scouts can't do this independently?

Has anyone stopped to think that there may be a reason why her son is picking out his own gift? Sorry, this is really hitting a sore spot with me as we just had this conversation this week at lunch. A colleague was asking us if we had any ideas what her 16 year old son should give for his white elephant gift for his scout group. One of the teachers even knowing a her story asked and said the same things you are. When the colleague went back to her room, we let the other teacher have it.

Her ex-husband died this past summer. Her son is still very upset about the death. The son is also a type-1 diabetic who was in ICU for all of Thanksgiving break because his insulin pump broke as did the monitor which resulted in severe ketoacidosis. He still has no energy and is struggling to make it through the school day. She has two other children, is working two jobs right now, and she's tired as well.

I know the OP didn't give a back story on why she's picking the present and it's really none of our business if there is a story. She asked for ideas, not judging. She's asking for help for one gift exchange, not for every gift exchange for the rest of his life.

 

[disneychrista]

I know the OP didn't give a back story on why she's picking the present

But she did

Seriously, he is a teenage boy, he has no money and doesn't drive. We don't live close enough to the store for him to walk there. So, I can either pick something up on my lunch break while I'm running errands or I can make an extra trip in the evening. Time isn't something I have a lot of right now.

 

[monsterkitty]

But she did

He has no money.
He doesn't drive.
Time isn't something she has right now.

Yep. That's an entire back story right there.

Why is time something she doesn't have? We don't know. Maybe she's working two jobs or one with very long hours.

The OP asked for ideas. Not for people to tell her she's setting her son up for a life of gift-giving failure because she asked for ideas for ONE gift exchange. I'm a teacher. I see parents enabling their children all the time. This isn't one of those times.

 

[kimblebee]

He has no money.
He doesn't drive.
Time isn't something she has right now.

Yep. That's an entire back story right there.

Why is time something she doesn't have? We don't know. Maybe she's working two jobs or one with very long hours.

The OP asked for ideas. Not for people to tell her she's setting her son up for a life of gift-giving failure because she asked for ideas for ONE gift exchange. I'm a teacher. I see parents enabling their children all the time. This isn't one of those times.

But how do YOU know that? It’s not like she gave the total back story, which I agree she doesn’t have to.

If someone has a huge medical or emotional thing they’re going through, most of the time they’ll mention it if it adds to the story. A lot of strangers know my husband is in the hospital after having amputation surgery because it’s part of our life right now. Just this past week I told people at the bank, at three different apartment rental agencies, the grocery store, and the dr who treated me at the ER on Thursday.

 

[monsterkitty]

But how do YOU know that? It’s not like she gave the total back story, which I agree she doesn’t have to.

If someone has a huge medical or emotional thing they’re going through, most of the time they’ll mention it if it adds to the story. A lot of strangers know my husband is in the hospital after having amputation surgery because it’s part of our life right now. Just this past week I told people at the bank, at three different apartment rental agencies, the grocery store, and the dr who treated me at the ER on Thursday.

My friend is a private person. She doesn't wear what her life is like on her sleeves right now. Not everyone tells the world what is going on in their lives because they are private people, don't have the energy to always explain, don't want the pity, or for whatever reason.

I'm going to repeat myself. And you of all people should understand as you are going through a lot. She doesn't have to fully explain why he can't do this on his own. Most importantly, she asked for ideas. She didn't ask to be judged.

 

[dish rag]

My friend is a private person. She doesn't wear what her life is like on her sleeves right now. Not everyone tells the world what is going on in their lives because they are private people, don't have the energy to always explain, don't want the pity, or for whatever reason.

I'm going to repeat myself. And you of all people should understand as you are going through a lot. She doesn't have to fully explain why he can't do this on his own. Most importantly, she asked for ideas. She didn't ask to be judged.

Actually, she’s not that private.

 

[disneychrista]

I'm going to repeat myself. And you of all people should understand as you are going through a lot. She doesn't have to fully explain why he can't do this on his own. Most importantly, she asked for ideas. She didn't ask to be judged.

I agree that we don't know the whole story. But neither do you. You are projecting your experience in to it. In the end we can only know what she has shared, it is simply easier for her to buy something.

The unfortunate thing is on the DIS that you ask for help with one thing and you are going to get advice on any number of things the least bit connected to it.

 

[monsterkitty]

Actually, she’s not that private.

I don't know the OP so I went and looked at some of her old posts. I found the backstory and probably the number 1 reason her son is not at this time able to purchase the gift himself.

I agree that we don't know the whole story. But neither do you. You are projecting your experience in to it. In the end we can only know what she has shared, it is simply easier for her to buy something.

The unfortunate thing is on the DIS that you ask for help with one thing and you are going to get advice on any number of things the least bit connected to it.

In reading her posts in previous threads and seeing what she has shared, and while we still don't know the entire story nor should we, there are extenuating circumstances that are probably preventing her son from getting the gift himself.

Yes this is the DIS. I am fully aware that people give advice. I'm also aware that many people project their experiences in threads as well.