Presents

Today is my son's birthday. He is getting to that age where buying presents is more difficult. I remember the "Lego years." From around ages 7 to 11, you can give any boy Legos and be pretty confident that the gift will be appreciated. But after those ages, Legos are passe (although they may still be enjoyed, they just aren't appropriate for gifts.) Then there are the video game years. But once you have acquired the most popular games, there are few options. Also, video games are on the expensive side, you aren't going to get those as gifts from friends. Around age 12, the most common gift from friends becomes money. Easy for everyone, no returns, no decisions.

But what about parents? As my son noted the other day, "Buying birthday presents is a real test of how well parents know their kids." Boy, way to lay on the pressure....if you buy the wrong gift, you don't understand your kid. Making just the right decision seems now to carry so much weight. Unfortunately, most of the things my son wants are expensive. Too expensive for birthdays? Hard to tell. What is the price limit for a birthday gift? How does that compare to a Christmas gift? Parents can't just give money, that certainly shows a lack of understanding of your child. So, we are left to make our best guess, listen for hints, and observe the subtle clues that teens drop. Only time will tell if we have made the right decision.