I let my son down... Help please?

Question

My son turned 13 years old in February of this year. His dad told me that Larry the Cable Guy was coming in May for a show and that he didn't have the money to take him. I told my son that I would take him and that would be his birthday present. I've never seen him so excited. When I got the tickets, I showed them to him, which even got him more anxious for the concert. Well, I received an email from the ticket liquidator asking if we enjoyed the concert. I thought they were idiots because the concert date had not arrived yet. I checked my tickets a second time and realized that it was May 3. For the past 3 months, I had it in my head that it was May 17th. Believe me, I've kicked myself enough and pretty much sobbed about the situation. The ticket liquidator said that I can get a discount on my next purchase but no concerts sched. Your children only turn teenagers once and I wanted this event to be very special. I need ideas on what else I can do to make this up to him....

Answer 1

Be honest with him. A 13 yo has the capacity to understand these things, and ask him how you can make it up to him. Disappointment is part of life and one of the problems our society has today is we haven't let our children experience disappointment.

Answer 2

Tell him the truth, show him what happened, the emails, tickets, etc. I have 4 kids of my own, one is 14 year old boy, and I've always found that know matter what it is, telling the truth to them builds a stronger relationship in the end. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for alot of times. He might be upset at first but he will still care and won't hold it against you. Then after all this do something special with him.

Answer 3

Your bought the tickets. You wanted to give him this special gift. Right now he's probably hurt and angry but he will understand that buying the tickets was an act of love.



First you have to forgive yourself. And learn from it. Write EVERYTHING that is important on a calendar that you both can see. Then he'll remind you about a thousand times a day.



And just go on being a loving Mom who cares a whole bunch about her kid. We all make some BIG mistakes with our kids. Just go on being you. Guilt is destructive so let it go. Laugh together whenever you can. Laughter is a wonderful healer. And you will both heal! You care too much not to.

Answer 4

Tell the kid the whole truth first of all. It's good for him to learn that other people who he looks up to can make mistakes too, and it's good for him to learn to handle disappointments cuz life is like that. Maybe he got a better birthday present than he realises right now.



If he's a decent kid he will be massive disappointed, but he will accept it.



About makin it better. Try and figure somethin he likes a lot and do it. Maybe another concert of someone he likes would fit. Or.....Get him a motorcycle. I don't know no teenage kid who don't like motorcycles.

Answer 5

You would be surprised to find out how understanding your teenagers can be in a situation like this. My advice is just tell him the truth and ask him how you could make it up to him. Does he have a favorite sport? Maybe you could catch a live game!

May the truth set you free...Good Luck!



Mother of 5 (3 teenagers!) and daycare provider.



I agree with using this as a lesson in disappointment as well. Life is defintely full of that!

Answer 6

Honesty's the best policy, I'm sure he'll understand that you're just human and make mistakes like anyone else. Isn't there another show you can catch anywhere close? Ask your son how you can make this up to him, and how badly you wanted to make this happen to make it such a special day.

Answer 7

I really don't understand why you are so hard on your self,You made the the first and only move to get tickets for your son ,His dad didn't ,you did (remeber that!!) He could of given you an exact date of the show,but he didn't... the point is that you bought him the tickets...And if i were you I would sue the ticket agency for sale out dated tickets....

Answer 8

Ask your son what HE would like to do