Thanks for your ideas

Jo - did you post about this last year? When I was starting this thread I remembered someone posting about something like that and Lenora (I think) said she might do it for her DD this year.... Lenora? You out there? I think it is a lovely idea but I am not sure if our friends and family would throw themselves into something like this. All a bit too English and restrained I think!

Mindy, your friend's idea sounds fun. By the way, DS = Dear or Darling Son, DD = Dear or Darling Daughter,etc. DH is husband, DW is wife etc. Hope that helps

Fern, I like the keyring/knife idea. I got him his first keyring, along with a set of keys to our home, when he started at Secondary School (age 11) as that was when he started having to go back and forth to school by himself. He was thrilled with them and felt very grown up. I know he'd love a decent knife, he has one but it isn't good quality and it has attachments that don't work properly.

Every year we do *something* for his birthday. I am trying to think of something different instead of, or in addition to, what we usually do......