Its my daughter's 16th birthday next week. Need gift suggestions....

[riderinthestorm]

She's a wild one and its been a rough couple of years. I don't usually go with very extravagant gifts at our house. That said, she's been clean and sober for 10 months now (finished rehab in December just before Christmas).

She's already getting our old Honda to drive (1999, 250k miles) until it drops. But that's actually more beneficial to me since I won't have to drive her everywhere.

She wants two or three more ear piercings. I was thinking of telling my mom to get her a gift card to Claire's. She's not trustworthy enough yet to receive cash imho

Another thing she loves is music. She listens to her Ipod all the time. I was thinking of one of those Ipod docking stations but again, I'm not the extravagant type so I was thinking of this one which looked pretty cool:
http://www.amazon.com/Coby-CSMP175-Vitruvian-Speaker-System/dp/B003AIL2EM

Her older sister's getting her a charm bracelet with a charm for each theater production she's been in (great idea that she can keep forever, and add onto) so now I'm doubting myself on getting her the docking station.

Should I be thinking of something more "momentous"? I have no idea what my husband's going to get her - we usually come up with our own ideas but I'm open to more expensive gift ideas that could be from both of us. I'm pretty sure I could knock her socks off with concert tix but I'm worried about her in that kind of heavy pressure party scene (I'm ashamed to admit, I just can't read her on how firm she is in her sobriety).

The lounge usually has such terrific suggestions I thought I'd throw this out there and see if anything sounds good. I think the only thing that I would veer away from would be clothes since at 16 years old, girls have their own very DEFINITE tastes.

[MicaelS]

1. Gift Card to iTunes or for Amazon MP3s.

I wouldn't get a Docking Station, unless you're sure, she's not going to buy a new iPod anytime soon. Apple is going to change the dock connectors on the new iPhone, and probably will do so on the new iPods.

[riderinthestorm]

5. I had no idea about that. Thanks for the heads up on info I really needed nt

[AnneD]

15. That was my first thought too....

now she could sell it for cash so don't put too much on it, just enough to get a few tunes.

[cyberswede]

2. Something to allow her to play her iPod on her car radio?

We use one of these - you plug it into your iPod touch, then send the signal to any FM radio. There should be various types available to fit whatever kind of iPod she has.



http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10798441

[riderinthestorm]

6. Now THAT'S genius! I like it!

It would also solve the temptation to drive with earphones on (which she's been warned to NOT do but that probably means she'll do it unless I can come up with such a cool alternative). Thanks!

[Major Nikon]

24. I've tried a few of those and haven't found one that works very well

They do work, but for the ones I've tried the volume is low and if you live in an area with a lot of radio stations, you tend to get interference.

I've been thinking about pulling my radio out and installing a jack wired to the aux input.

[gkhouston]

3. I'd get any additional piercings done at a tattoo parlor, not Claire's, although your daughter could

use a gift card for the earrings. I wouldn't go too extravagant because she might think you're trying to "buy" good behavior. The docking station looks nice.

[riderinthestorm]

8. I told her that when she said she wanted to get her ear cartilage done

That sounds pretty painful! And I absolutely know my mother would freak. out. if she knew she was paying for piercings. But Claire's earrings?? Girlie and innocent (in my mother's mind.... )

[HopeHoops]

4. iTunes gift card. Times have changed.

[riderinthestorm]

9. Oh that's included with ANY gift!! This girl loves to rock along with anything!!

[HopeHoops]

13. My middle daughter (19 now) has known classic rock better than ME for at least five years.

I gave her my "Death Before Disco" T-shirt that I bought in like '78. She wore it when she "shadowed" the DJ from our local classic rock station in 11th grade (standard project for that grade) and he let her on the air, including the sign off for his show at midnight. That was cool to hear. I wish I'd been recording it, but I had no idea it was coming up.

[AnneD]

16. They usually ....

do archive recordings of shows. Call the station and ask. You still might get a recording. My daughter did volunteer work at the local Pacifica. Our friend did a world music show and let her plan and DJ a show at the tender age of 16. She did Cuban music pre Castro. Her Grandmother (Cuban) loved it and she did it no flubs or dead air. She was on cloud nine. Where else would give a 16 yo a chance to do that.

[HopeHoops]

18. She was 16 when she did the show. The DJ was really cool about it. Michael Anthony Smith, WRVV.

Sadly, it's a Clear Channel station, but they do have the best classic rock in the entire area.

[cbayer]

7. A orphaned baby elephant.

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

[riderinthestorm]

10. Seriously! That's GOT to be my husband's gift to her. I LOVE this!

She's in that fragile, empathetic stage where she's struck by all the crazy stuff in the world. Adopting an orphaned elephant would completely touch her heart.

And would work for my husband who insists on getting "useful gifts" like sturdy socks (and now you know why we usually get separate gifts!)

[cbayer]

12. I visited this place last year and it was one of the most inspiring places I have ever been.

The men (and it is currently only men) that live there have dedicated their entire lives to these babies. They sleep in their pens and feed them with bottles (very, very big bottles).

There is also an IMAX movie about this project, so, if you have an IMAX near by, a ticket to the show would be great.

She will be assigned her own orphan and will get regular updates.

It's a very, very cool project and she sounds like a young woman who might value it.

[AnneD]

17. Or ...

www.heifer.org. A small donation buys a goat, cow, etc. The village can raise the animals for food and milk. It changes people's lives.

[Smickey]

11. Father of 2 daughters says

Give her an experience. Stuff is cool and young people love it but if you can come up with some fun experience. Like a skiing trip (which I did for one of mine) with 3 friends. She will remember it forever. A gadget is only memorable until the next new gadget comes out. Believe me I am not knocking any other ideas. My girls have many, many gadgets but what they talk about is the fun they had when they went...well you get my point.

My kids are in college now and bit older so they are seeking different "gifts" like cash for food and other living expenses. Trust me when I say times will change for you and her and good memories will see you both through.

Good luck.

[grntuscarora]

22. Outward Bound offers amazing trips.

We gave our oldest girl an Outward Bound trip when she turned fifteen. She went with her dad to a part of the country she'd never seen, and had an experience that they both still talk about. (She's in her twenties now.) My only regret is that I didn't experience it with them.

http://www.outwardbound.org/

[mrmpa]

14. Time, with you. My Mom always...........

Last edited Wed Sep 12, 2012, 06:10 PM - Edit history (1)

took me to a play and dinner for my birthday. One of the colleges in town always had plays going on. We then would find a new restaurant to go to. We took 2 buses to the theater and usually found a restaurant near the theater.

One year we went to a Hungarian restaurant. The first time I ever had chicken paprikash. For the past 3 years I've made that for Christmas dinner, with my own home made spaetzle.

It reminds me of the times I spent with Mom. Mom is still alive at 82. She's actually at her Cardiologist's office now.

[Kali]

19. the piercings - and go with her and get one/some for yourself

series! as others above said - gadgets are temporary, a shared experience and a more or less permanent body modification is a great memory - have fun, do something unique together. tell her you are proud of her.

[madmom]

20. You said she's been in theater productions, why not a ticket to a

production by professionals? Like at a city auditorium or something? I give my daughter tickets to Cats, Nut Cracker, Les Mis, what ever is around at the appropriate time. Some I've gone with and made it a girls night out, others bought 2 tickets so she could ask a friend. She loves it and talks about them a lot!

[Wait Wut]

21. I agree with the posters...

...that said whatever it is, go with her. It's obvious you love her and even though she's been through some tough times, she loves you back...and needs you.

Take her somewhere where she won't run into friends. Somewhere that the two of you can just be girlfriends for a day (or weekend). Silly, sweet or serious...it's a lifetime memory.

[lastlib]

23. Take a page from my parents--I got a steel slide rule for my 16th!

(One of the best birthday gifts I ever got! I still have it--40 years later!--and still use it occasionally!)

I'm sure your daughter would be **thrilled** to get one of those!

On a more serious note, I think whatever you get her should be tied to the level of responsibility she exhibits. I wouldn't be giving teenagers a car unless they demonstrate a commensurate degree of responsibility in their lives. Or at the very least, make them understand that if they abuse the privilege, they PARK it! No ifs, ands, or buts!

[riderinthestorm]

25. I always meant to get back to this thread, it kept getting away from me. Here's what I got for her

We both went to Claires and together we got our "2nds" - which in piercing-speak, means we both got a second set of earrings done. She was absolutely tickled that I volunteered to do it with her (Thanks Kali!). I even let her hold my hand

The reason this sparked my remembrance of this thread was because she just finished getting her thirds and her ear cartilage done (I held her hand!).

My husband got her a gift from Heifer International. We also got some miscellaneous items like an iTunes card and we ALL as a family went to see the Les Mis production in Chicago. I've got tickets already booked for Book of Mormon for all of us in February.

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful suggestions. We're muddling along here in Riderland but I couldn't do it without all of you!