'Life lessons' for 13 year old birthday?

[Anonymous]

My son turns 13 in a few weeks and I thought it would be cool to mark the occasion with some sort of 'special' gift of adulthood. I love the Jewish tradition of recognizing 13 as the transition to adulthood (we're not Jewish) but am struggling with something that might vaguely equate. He is incredibly responsible for his age and I'd like to recognize that - maybe through some sort of "Here is more responsibility AND more freedom' gesture. I thought about writing him a letter - something along the lines of "Here are the hopes I have for you in life with life lessons and gifts that match (you have really learned to save - here's $200)" but it's just not forming in my head. Anyone do or hear about something cool you think would fit? A few notes you might ask about:

- He has a smart phone. I glance through it occasionally to check on things and have some parental controls but it's pretty much his domain already
- He has started a 'business' doing neighborhood jobs, making really decent money for a 12 year old. His earnings all go into his account (minus fun stuff he sometimes gets for himself)
- He has no bedtime but we do 'encourage' lights out by 10
- We did prepaid tuition so college is mainly paid for

Thank you for reading my vague and scattered post - all thoughts and ideas appreciated!

[Anonymous]

A nice "adult" watch? A family heirloom? Some mad money in a day-trading account (no lie, my baby sister had a friend in HS who did well enough in his eTrader account to buy himself a nice used car).

[Anonymous]

Does he have an equally responsible friend? Maybe he and the friend could go to a sportsball game together, without adults?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does he have an equally responsible friend? Maybe he and the friend could go to a sportsball game together, without adults?

I wouldn't do that with all the drinking that goes on at sporting events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does he have an equally responsible friend? Maybe he and the friend could go to a sportsball game together, without adults?

I wouldn't do that with all the drinking that goes on at sporting events.

OP can make that call as a parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does he have an equally responsible friend? Maybe he and the friend could go to a sportsball game together, without adults?

I wouldn't do that with all the drinking that goes on at sporting events.

OP can make that call as a parent.

We got to the Nats games a lot. Yeah, there's a lot of people drinking but I seriously doubt anyone is going to buy for a 13 yo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does he have an equally responsible friend? Maybe he and the friend could go to a sportsball game together, without adults?

I wouldn't do that with all the drinking that goes on at sporting events.

OP can make that call as a parent.

We got to the Nats games a lot. Yeah, there's a lot of people drinking but I seriously doubt anyone is going to buy for a 13 yo.

And, if he's as good a kid as OP believes, he'd never ask.

[Anonymous]

Definitely get him an account and let him get into sticks!! I plan on doing this with my DS. He can learn a lot and start investing early. And take some risks because of his age. If he gets into it, get him a simple book and let him have fun!

[Anonymous]

Stocks not sticks. Sorry