Mountain biking is REALLY fun to take up together, and we have some great beginner trails around here.

Kayaking is also a really fun sport to learn together.

Both lend themselves to lots of good times just being in each other's presence without the pressure for small talk, but also opportunities for talking if both are amenable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do projects with mine (that he chooses). We're working on researching dinosaurs right now, and are waiting on the 3D dino skeleton to get here to we can build it. We're reading a lot of books about dinosaurs and have watched some great age appropriate documentaries. My garden out back is, with his help, planted in a small easy maze for his dino figure to romp around in.

I think he wants to do something with mummies or ninjas this summer.

How old is your son?

He's 12. He picked dinosaurs to get ready for the new Jurassic Park movie.

My kid is younger, but we go to the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring and indoor rock climbing together. He also likes to build stuff, so we often have some building project going on - cardboard boat, book shelf, fish pond in backyard...whatever grabs him at the time. I wish he would cook with me, but he won't, so I take what he likes to do (tinker with legos) and make it something I want to do, too (build stuff with power tools). Then we really both enjoy it, which is key.

My 13 old really likes fencing. it started out as a father/son thing, but my 13 year bypassed my hubby. It's a good sport for the non-ball kids. You cans start out together and see what happens.

My 13 year old and I read together. Or read the same books and discuss. sometimes we just cuddle and read different books together. He's also my movie buddy. I tried to have him join me on a mother/son yoga class, but it didn't work. I kept trying to fix his posture and his breathing is loud!!

Middle school sucks, sorry your DS lost a friend (you don't mean to death, just normal shifting, right? Because I'd get the therapist if it was lost to death.)

Anonymous wrote:I do projects with mine (that he chooses). We're working on researching dinosaurs right now, and are waiting on the 3D dino skeleton to get here to we can build it. We're reading a lot of books about dinosaurs and have watched some great age appropriate documentaries. My garden out back is, with his help, planted in a small easy maze for his dino figure to romp around in.

I think he wants to do something with mummies or ninjas this summer.

How old is your son?

I do projects with mine (that he chooses). We're working on researching dinosaurs right now, and are waiting on the 3D dino skeleton to get here to we can build it. We're reading a lot of books about dinosaurs and have watched some great age appropriate documentaries. My garden out back is, with his help, planted in a small easy maze for his dino figure to romp around in.

I think he wants to do something with mummies or ninjas this summer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ask him? He is 13...

He's been depressed because he's a lost his best friend and he doesn't have any other friends so all he wants to do is sit around and mope. I want to get him out and out of this funk.

Kickboxing mom here...this is why we started going! We moved to a new school cluster and he lost contact with his friends. He was very mopey and moody for six months.

OP here, so I'm assuming that helped with his confidence and brightened his mood?

I think kickboxing was the turning point. It gave him something to do, that really let out any frustrations he might of had that day. Now that the weather has improved, he is less mopey as well. October-April was pretty rough for him.

Great! This gives me hope for my son!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not ask him? He is 13...

He's been depressed because he's a lost his best friend and he doesn't have any other friends so all he wants to do is sit around and mope. I want to get him out and out of this funk.

Kickboxing mom here...this is why we started going! We moved to a new school cluster and he lost contact with his friends. He was very mopey and moody for six months.

OP here, so I'm assuming that helped with his confidence and brightened his mood?

I think kickboxing was the turning point. It gave him something to do, that really let out any frustrations he might of had that day. Now that the weather has improved, he is less mopey as well. October-April was pretty rough for him.

My DS loves to check out new restaurants.

To add to these, my oldest and I have a favorite restaurant that's quiet that is "ours."

And my youngest loves to go for coffee and play chess or uno.

Bowling, ping pong and mini-golf are perennial favorites. Also, we took our DS to the Washington Auto show and I was surprised how much he liked it. That only helps you once a year, I realize. Check out kidfriendlydc.com for lots of good ideas.

What about an evening out at the theatre or for live music? One of the great thing about DC is that there is always something going on.

He'd probably still enjoy go-karts and laser tag. How about an Improv class at Ballston Mall?

Earthtreks has Rock climbing classes. You get a two for one deal on the introductory course that will get you both belay certified.

bowling/bocce
swimming and mini golf at NOVA parks and East Potomac Park
ski ball/shuffleboard at Penn Social
Comet Ping Pong/pizza

all are places to get out of the house and have some fun