I'm going to be traveling with my son this weekend, and will be doing our gift exchange at some point during that time...

It will be just the two of us exchanging gifts, so I'm feeling a little odd that it isn't a bigger family thing as far as the memories I will be making for him. He still gets the big family traditions with his mom's side of the family. We are divorced for those who don't know my situation, and my family does get together for meals... and he sees his cousins, but with no focus on gifts.

I have a little bit of a tradition that I do every year of buying him a few tools to add to his tool box so by the time he is older he will have a nice collection...

We don't do a ton of gifts or anything since I spread stuff out all through the year...

Maybe I'm just missing the old days when I went caroling and there seemed to be a lot more excitement in my family... Could be that I'm just viewing things differently as an adult?

Does anybody have ideas for making this a special memory for him? I really try to make every time I'm with him a special memory... He is growing up so fast!

Where will you be traveling with him? There might be ideas for things to do depending on where you are going. Have you ever bought him any power tools or tools that might be unusual to have?Perhaps there might be a small tool that you could get for him that he might be ready to handle now that would make this time special because it would be the time that he received his first ___________?

Just some thoughts for you. When I was his age, I was busy fixing my own bicycle, sled, etc. I've also always had a passion for making things out of wood.

Good idea. I have picked up a few unique screwdrivers, and a hand impact screwdriver (not air or electric) for those really tight screws. A few other small tools also, to go with it, the big stuff this year is Lego stuff.

He's got a really good assortment of hand tools from the past, but he really doesn't get as much of an opportunity to use them as I would like. Some is better than none of the time I guess.

We'll be going to my parents for the weekend.

Just a thought that I have right now. What about maybe getting him an engraver? You know, the kind that has a pointed end and vibrates so that he could write his name on tools/stuff that he has that is made of metal or wood. I always liked the one that my dad had. I have it now. What he used to use it for mainly was to mark keys. My parents owned a bunch of apartment houses.

I hadn't thought of that. A million things he could use it on!

Take him on a carriage ride, festival of lights or some other activity that can only be done at Christmas time. Use his tools to build a house for a village that you will add to each year or make father and son ornaments to hang on the tree each year, make a bird house together and let him choose who to give it to each year. You can go to Michaels, Hobby lobby or any craft store and purschase these wood cut outs if it is easier because of his age. Painting does not have to be grand it could be dots or circles painted on a base color or even stain.

A million things he could use it on!

Very true! And, it would be a relatively safe tool to use!

My husband has one and my kids engraved everything we owned. Lol, It kept them busy all winter long one year.

Oneguy... When my kids were small we did not have much money for decorations. My children are about 23 months apart 3 of them. I put their binkys on the tree for ornaments, My oldest is 18 and those binkys still go on our 8 ft tree each year. Along with things that they made in school. With the exception of the ginger bread paper cut outs with rasin eyes... we had a dog that ate them. The rasins were a few year old when this happened. Believe me what you make with him he will treasure and will want it on the tree each year or displayed.

My husband has one and my kids engraved everything we owned. lol, It kept them busy all winter long one year.

LOL! Kid telling parents: "Hey look, mom and dad!" "We engraved the car for you!" :D ;)

oneguy...When my kids were small we did not have much money for decorations. My children are about 23 months apart 3 of them. I put their binkys on the tree for ornaments, My oldest is 18 and those binkys still go on our 8 ft tree each year. Along with things that they made in school. with the exception of the ginger bread paper cut outs with rasin eyes...we had a dog that ate them. The rasins were a few year old when this happened. believe me what you make with him he will treasure and will want it on the tree each year or displayed.

Okay. I'm going to show my profound ignorance here. What's a binky?

I can't think of any better suggestions than above... just wanted to say I think your tradition of giving tools to build a collection is a WONDERFUL idea for your son! That will be a joy to him for years to come. :)

Clough it is a pacifier... I have heard people on here call them dummys and I was just as confused. Where I got the term binky, I have no clue.

clough it is a pacifier...I have heard people on here call them dummys and I was just as confused. Where I got the term binky, I have no clue.

Hey, thanks! I learn something new everyday (I hope!) :)

clough it is a pacifier...I have heard people on here call them dummys and I was just as confused. Where I got the term binky, I have no clue.

Hi there!

Thought I would just interject my story about "Binky's"!! When my daughter was just a few months old, although we had more than one, the "Binky"('s) got lost and my husband went out about 3:00 in the morning hunting a "Binky" because our baby girl was just so miserable without it. Binky was the brand name of the pacifier. My husband says it had blue letters on the pacifier saying "Binky". I guess if I had gotten out at that time of the night/morning looking for one I would remember also! LOL :p

Thanks for bringing back a memory that makes me smile. (I doubt I was smiling much that night when our daughter was crying but makes me smile now just remembering the days when my children were babies.)

Oneguy, it is great that you are working so hard to make time spent with your son memorable. The "time" you spend with him, he will remember long after the gifts are gone, however, I do understand wanting to get him something special to remember this particular Christmas with you. The tools are a fantastic idea. I don't know his age, I guess I missed that part so I can't really think on this much but when I find out, having a son myself, I will try to help out if I can. :)

Son is 10, We did our outing, and I was very impressed with my son. I had a small bag of tools, and some Lego sets. I gave him the tools to open first, and didn't say anything about the rest. He was very excited, grateful, and happy with just the tools. They were right up his alley, and he played with them a lot... one was a flexible grabber tool, and one was a little mirror with an extension handle. Hours of fun for him, and me as I watched. He thought I had gotten him quite a bit... I was so happy! I think a lot of kids would have said "Is that all?"

So anyway, I got out the Lego stuff later on and he had a blast building with his cousins. The power tools are on the list for the next gift giving occasion... as he thought he might like to have a power drill or screwdrive... He only mentioned that when I asked him what tools he might like to add to his collection later on.

One was a flexible grabber tool, and one was a little mirror with an extension handle.
No way you could have went wrong with these 2 tools plus the legos, any builder would have been impressed. I'm glad your day went so well, you're a good dad to care so much. I wish all little kids were that lucky.

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas and positive feedback. I very much appreciate it!

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas and positive feedback. I very much appreciate it!

You are very welcome! And, I'm glad that things went so well for you and your son! :)

one was a flexible grabber tool, and one was a little mirror with an extension handle.
No way you could have went wrong with these 2 tools plus the legos, any builder would have been impressed. I'm glad your day went so well, your a good dad to care so much. I wish all little kids were that lucky.

I totally agree bushg and sounds like Oneguy has a special son! So happy to read such a sweet note about time spent together!

Thanks for the update Oneguy!