Dirty Santa ideas for teenage boys

[AppleDumpling]

WOW!!!! "infantilizing their make offspring"...…….."their mom's pretty much doing everything for them"

Asking for ideas for a gift swap item for a 16 year old is a far stretch from "infantilizing" and "doing everything for them"!!

I agree. Some of you are reading way too much into this. And I don’t think gender has anything to do with it. OP could just have easily asked about a teenage daughter. SMH.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Oh I wasn't basing my response in the OP's questions. I gave her that answer. Mine was more of a general life experience that parents, especially Moms, do much more for their sons then their daughters. Ever been around any ethnic group? I have most of my life. And I have had a lifetime of being automatically judged as a "stupid woman" by men. I could tell you about my last car buying experience if you like.

I can honestly say that I've never once thought that I was being judged as a "stupid woman". My mom bought every car my parents had. She was good at negotiating. My dad had his own strengths. My family has many strong men & strong women. The ability to choose a gift has nothing to do with it. I'm sorry you've experienced these situations, but they really have no correlation to the OPs question.

 

[kimblebee]

You could have just told me you didn't want it, and given it back. Harumph! Two hour painting class down the tubes!
What about at least input ,from him? Okay, it's less inconvenient for you to just buy the gift, but what does he suggest? What would be want to get? And are you really sure time is so tight, you can't spend an hour with him, shopping and maybe a fast food dinner?

Respectfully, he's an adult. Let him be an adult. If Christmas shopping doesn't work for him, next year he could remove himself from the gift exchange, maybe? Not buying gifts this year will likely have people rethinking gifting him in coming years.

Helped, sure.

Buy two https://www.amazon.com/Pyle-Megapho...ild=1&keywords=Bullhorn&qid=1576279158&sr=8-4

If he shows up empty-handed, he simply doesn't participte. If people judge you because he doesn't wear a coat, "He's 16, old enough to make his own decisions. If you have an issue, please discuss it with my son, not me."

Help, sure. Done for them, not so much. At 16, or 25, or 48...

ALL OF THIS

There’s a big difference between helping and doing. And, maybe these kids/adults don’t want to shop because they’ve never had to or been taught how to.

*not directed at any one in particular**

 

[disneychrista]

Question @jaybirdsmommy - Have you talked to you son and asked if he has any ideas for this?

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Question @jaybirdsmommy - Have you talked to you son and asked if he has any ideas for this?

Yes, he suggested rope and duct tape.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

$10 gift? How about a dime bag or a bottle of cheap vodka?

(I have no idea how much a dime bag is these days.)

 

[disneychrista]

Yes, he suggested rope and duct tape.

Sounds like you have your gift.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

$10 gift? How about a dime bag or a bottle of cheap vodka?

(I have no idea how much a dime bag is these days.)

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

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Sounds like you have your gift.

Except I suspect he really wants it to restrain his brother with.

 

[ronandannette]

ALL OF THIS

There’s a big difference between helping and doing. And, maybe these kids/adults don’t want to shop because they’ve never had to or been taught how to.

*not directed at any one in particular**

This could very well be. At 23, I'm constantly surprised at the amount of things my DS has not absorbed by osmosis. We assume by a certain age they just should have "gleaned" things but did we ever purpose to teach them?

Yes, he suggested rope and duct tape.

Honestly, why not get that and let him explain it at the gift-exchange if anybody's curious? It actually sounds like something any average 16 y.o. Boy Scout would love!

 

[disneychrista]

Except I suspect he really wants it to restrain his brother with.

Well someone has to.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You keep making a bunch of excuses but the fact is that NONE of the reasons you are presenting stop him from selecting a gift which you can go and purchase

at least have him go on Amazon or Target or Wal-Mart website and come up with some ideas. Even some things in that price range that he'd like to get. You can order from Target online and just run into the service desk with IT to pick it up. Probably the same with walmart, but I have experience with Target .

WOW!!!! "infantilizing their make offspring"...…….."their mom's pretty much doing everything for them"

The only gift my dad ever purchased from when I was five (and have memories of such things) until his death when I was 32 was a diamond for my mom for my parents' 25th anniversary. My brothers weren't raised that way. Not a criticism of how anybody raises their kids, just my experience.

I dont think a week has gone by in the last few months where there hasnt been a thread asking for ideas for gift giving!!!

I, frankly, think all those threads are a bit much. The person asking generally knows the recipient better than any of us ever will. It's probably even possible to Google something like "gift finder" or "gift suggestions. A lot of store websites probably even break down gift ideas by age and gender (but not relationship).

O

 

[kaytieeldr]

$10 gift? How about a dime bag or a bottle of cheap vodka?

(I have no idea how much a dime bag is these days.)

Still $10. You probably just get a lot less

 

[tarheelmjfan]

ALL OF THIS

There’s a big difference between helping and doing. And, maybe these kids/adults don’t want to shop because they’ve never had to or been taught how to.

*not directed at any one in particular**

I know you weren't directing your post to anyone in particular, but I'm proof that this isn't the case. My mom loved to shop. She was one of those open to closing, Black Friday shoppers. She could easily spend all day at the mall. There were times when we were in Kmart or Walmart for 3 hours. Four of my five sisters could make her sound like an amateur shopper. My oldest sister & I absolutely hate to shop. I order everything possible & don't enjoy that. It's definitely not because our mom didn't teach us how to shop. I think it's as simple as some people enjoy shopping & some don't.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not broken down by gender, but https://www.amazon.com/gcx/Gifts-fo...zZWN0aW9uVHlwZUVuZEluZGV4Ijp7ImFtYWJvdCI6MH19

 

[Lilsia]

I can honestly say that I've never once thought that I was being judged as a "stupid woman". My mom bought every car my parents had. She was good at negotiating. My dad has his own strengths. My family has many strong men & strong women. The ability to choose a gift has nothing to do with it. I'm sorry you've experienced these situations, but they really have no correlation to the OPs question.

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.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

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.

Maybe, it is the area. Obviously, I can't speak for all areas, but I've honestly never had an experience where someone treated me lesser than my DH. I'm sorry you have.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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

See what the liquor store has that you can give a teenager. One stop shopping!

 

[pxidst119]

The Bamboozled JellyBelly jelly beans are usually a hit. They have some gross flavors like grass or ear wax mixed in with good ones. Always fun for kids. My kids made my dad try some and his reactions were so funny.
Love the sock of pennies and duct tape ideas the boys have come up with lol.
I have gotten so many amazing gift ideas from the DIS over the years. If someone has a great recommendation for something that they’ve had a good experience with, why not share it?
In our family we always ask each other for gift ideas for whoever we are buying for. Some of us pick up on different wants and needs of others and have good ideas.

 

[mjkacmom]

Oh I wasn't basing my response in the OP's questions. I gave her that answer. Mine was more of a general life experience that parents, especially Moms, do much more for their sons then their daughters. Ever been around any ethnic group? I have most of my life. And I have had a lifetime of being automatically judged as a "stupid woman" by men. I could tell you about my last car buying experience if you like.

Well, where I live, half of all residents are Italian, and women are respected, especially by their sons. And feared.