I'm only 14. My dad was a u.s marine so he's always pushing me into sports so I've never really played video games or had toys. I'm currently doing basketball and baseball. But I've been really getting into transformers prime. And to be honest I want some figures. But if I even mention wanting to get some transformers toys. I know my dad would get upset that his 14 yr old son Is playing with toys. I honestly don't know what to do. Can I get some help? Has anyone else been in this situation?

 

Keep doing sports, collect some figures. As long as you aren't running through the house with the vehicles going *vroooom vrooooooom pew pew*, why should he be angry? They're just another kind of collectible. You obviously know him better than us, is he a reasonable man?

 

All I can say, is to just go for it, if he doesn't like it, then he doesn't have to get you any. Save up your money and buy them yourself. Once he sees that your collecting them and putting your own money into it, maybe he'll understand but, then again there is no telling. Just don't live in fear of what he will say or do. You'll never know until you try.

Just don't blow off the sports just for collecting toys. If you do, then you know he's not gonna take the news well. If you do want to get away from the sports then do it slowly or just straight out tell him. It's better to get it out then have him guessing and trying to figure out what's "wrong".

 

Sorry dude, you're pretty much screwed til you're out on your own. You don't want to invest the money into something you love just to have him throw it away because he doesn't like it. Unless you can actually hide things from him, which you won't, you have to play by his rules.

Or...just tell him it's something you would enjoy, and if he's a good father he'll accept it since it makes you happy.

 

Of course I'm not going to blow off sports. I just thought it would be fun to collect them, like I have the entire 94 Yankees team in baseball cards hanging up on my wall. He can be very reasonable at times. I just remember when I wanted to buy halo and my dad took one look at the cover and said "what are you, five" I shrunk into a shell the next couple days when I heard that

 

Transformers Collection Showcase - TFW2005 - The 2005 Boards



... just gonna leave this here  

 

I don't understand why a parent would not support a HOBBY, it's just like a sport, something you do in your spare time. I can understand not being enthusiastic, but don't let him keep you down. I'm 13 and my parents totally support my hobby

 

Parents run the gamut of personalities and what they like or don't like. It may be a hobby, but chances are it's the case where his dad, being a former Marine, would prefer his son doing productive things. I would imagine that he thinks things like video games and toys, even if he collected them with money he earns, isn't a productive life choice and therefore wants his son to stay away from that.

That's my own idea on what's going on.

 

Unfortunately at your age your father is trying to prepare you for manhood, and collecting toys is usually not associated with maturity. Being your father is a Marine, and is pushing you into sports, tells me he has certain values, and has expectations of you, and will try to influance your perspective of what growing up entails. So he might come off harshly towards collecting, but its because he has ideals set for your upbringing and wants a strong, mature man he can be proud of. Im not saying those aren't goals achievable if you collect toys, but as Im sure you already know, its not his idea of what you should be focusing on.

 

Jarheads are a bit...blunt.

 

I'm 29 and just started couple months ago....  

Don't let age stop you from what you like

 

Oh I guess this is a rather tricky situation and I have very little experience with anything similar. There are a couple of things you might be able to use to your advantage:

- Transformers are a mental and coordination challenge. Like a puzzle!
- Transformers are collectibles and highly collectible by many all over the world.
- Someone posted the link to the collectible showcase section, show some of the awesomely crazy collection pictures there.
- Watch the Transformers movies, he might enjoy them.
- Try going with some GI Joe Transformers, if he accepts GI Joe's you might later start just adding regular Transformers and phase Joe out.  

Also, it's really cool of you to come on here asking for advice. I hope we can help you figure out something and let us know how it goes!

 

I feel your pain. I will tell you this: it gets better once you get your driver's license. Then you can go where you want and buy what you want.

Until then, you might look into getting a part-time job or doing some chores around the house to earn extra money. It's always easier when it's your own money that you're spending.

Also, try talking to other family members about it, if you think they would be more supportive.

 

I'd stand up to him. You can't live in fear. ESP for something you enjoy doing. He has his life , let you live your own. Regardless of what he thinks of you , you will become your own man. Whether he accepts you or not will be his issue.

 

This. Gold star. Well said!

 

This is how I feel, too. Talk to your dad first, and if he gets upset, don't buy any toys, just so that you won't waste your money on the toys that might get thrown out or make you feel bad about owing them.

Even if you can't buy any toys you can still enjoy the show, and if you still like it in a few years time, I am sure the toys are still available and (possibly) cheaper   You can hang aroung these forums and talk to us, too.

I have an almost 14 year-old son who thinks I'm childish to buy Transformers! (he's totally grown up and moved onto Iron Man and Gundam  )

 

OP, my dad was ex military as well.

He's doing what he thinks is right to raise you into a upstanding, tough, self sufficient man. He'll likely succeed in that and, for you, that's a good thing. You won't really realize that until you're out in the world, on your own, making a living and supporting yourself (and possibly a family). Dealing with the unbelievable bull sh*t that adults have to contend with every day.

You may be pissed off at him now but someday you'll realize, like I once did, that even though his tactics may seem rough, that he's doing right by you.

On your end...you're just gonna have to put up with it.

As far as the video games, come on. Seven Navy Seals risked their careers to consult on the latest "Medal of Honor: Warfighter" game. If these bad ass soldiers are willing to go to that length for a 'game'....

 

have you tried talking to him about it?

I mean if you say "dad, I need to talk to you about something..." there's gonna be a lot worse shit fluxing through his head about what his 14 y/o son got into. Parents expect drug talks, parent expect alcohol talks, hell parents even expect pregnancy talks these days at that age.

You might be surprised when you start a conversation like that and get him a bit tense for the worst....then tell him you want to start collecting something harmless  

 

Do you have another parent or guardian you could discuss this with?

 

I've been reading some great advice in this thread already. Mine might not be as good, but here's my 2 cents anyhow.

Focusing on sports at your age is almost definitely going to pay out dividents when you are slightly older. Taking care of your physical health, and doing well in sports is most probably going to get you lots of positive attention, from both girls, your friends and even older people.

Also, I'll tell it like I was at your age: when I was 14, my attention really shifted from toys to other activities like girls, dating, and going out with my friends. I chose to sell off lots of my toys due to losing interest. In hindsight, I probably should have just kept them, BTW, but at least you won't have to 'worry' about keeping stuff if you never had (m)any toys to start with. You're at an age when you yourself will probably lose interest in toys pretty soon: not by choice, but it's just the way teenage hormones will push you on to adulthood!

It's true, even though I am 30+, I still recognize the thrill of opening a TF package to mess with it. However, I also know how quickly I can lose interest in stuff, even in Transformers, once I have had it in hand and once I've finished checking it out. Perhaps you should not exactly start 'collecting' them (or use that term), but perhaps just buy one or two to see how you actually like them. Also, don't use the word 'playing': just use the words 'messing around with them'  

Using the word 'collecting' is making this seem like such a life-altering choice, when it really isn't.