Top 10 Things to Ask Your Son When He Turns 13 (π ππ¦π’π³π΅π§π¦ππ΅ ππ°π―π·π¦π³π΄π’π΅πͺπ°π― + ππ©π’π΅ ππͺπ΄ ππ―π΄πΈπ¦π³π΄ ππππππ ππ¦π’π― (ππ΄πΊπ€π©π°ππ°π¨πΊ ππ―π΄πͺπ¨π©π΅ π§π°π³ ππ’π³π¦π―π΅π΄)
Top 10 Things to Ask Your Son When He Turns 13
A Heartfelt Conversation + What His Answers Reveal About Growing Up, Neurodiversity, and Family Love
By: Mommy Loi
Featuring my son, Louis, now officially a TEEN! π
This is the first year on my kid's birthday, I tried to sit down with my son and asked meaningful, funny, and some deep questions. I want to make this as a tradition from now on, and interestingly this first "Mommy-and-Son Interview" turned out to be truly interesting — my son Louis just turned 13.
Teenager na, mga besh. π₯Ή
As a mom who has walked a long journey with him — from his early diagnoses of ADHD with Communication Disorder at 2.5 years old, to Autism with Speech Articulation Disorder at age 4, all the way to today — I’ve witnessed so much growth, healing, humor, and heart.
So I asked him my Top 10 Birthday Questions, recorded our conversation, and added the psychology behind each question, plus interpretations of his actual answers from the perspective of a child psychologist who works with neurodivergent kids ( I won't name the doctor here though).
This blog is for parents like me — who want to understand their teens better, and who want to appreciate the beauty behind their child’s unique mind.
1. If you could have only one superpower, what would it be?
Louis’ answer: Elastic powers — like Mr. Fantastic.
⭐ What most neurotypical 13-year-old boys would say:
Flying, invisibility, teleportation — abilities that reflect independence and power.
π§ Psychological Insight:
Kids with ADHD/ASD often prefer powers that involve problem-solving rather than brute force. Elasticity is symbolic of:
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adaptability
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stretching to meet a need
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reaching and fixing things
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solving problems with creativity
Louis choosing a “smart” hero like Mr. Fantastic shows logical, structured imagination — very typical of cognitively advanced ASD teens.
2. If you could give every person in the world a gift, what would it be?
Louis’ answer: Food. Specifically, McDo chicken, burger, fries — to end hunger.
⭐ Typical teen answers:
Money, toys, gadgets, games.
π§ Psychological Insight:
Louis didn’t just choose food — he chose it for a humanitarian reason:
“To end hunger.”
This is deep empathy.
Neurodivergent kids often express compassion through practical solutions rather than emotional words.
Also, McDonald’s is:
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predictable in taste
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comforting
sensory-safe
3. If you could set one rule for the family, what would it be?
Louis’ answer: No fighting. No shouting. Speak calmly.
⭐ Typical teen answers:
No chores, more screen time, late sleep.
π§ Psychological Insight:
Kids with ASD/ADHD are highly sensitive to loud voices and emotional spikes. Shouting may feel threatening, not because of the emotion — but because of the sensory overload.
His answer isn’t about “disliking” anyone.
It’s about wanting emotional safety, predictability, and peace.
Very mature. Very self-aware.
4. If you could change 3 things in the world, what would they be?
Louis’ answers:
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No more war
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Remove North Korea (or specifically the oppressive leader)
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Connect America to the Philippines so we can speak English
⭐ Typical 13-year-old answers:
Fix pollution, stop bullying, invent futuristic gadgets, etc.
π§ Psychological Insight:
Louis shows advanced socio-political understanding. He thinks logically:
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war = trauma
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oppressive leadership = suffering
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language processing = communication challenge
The third answer is especially insightful.
He finds English easier to process because it has more consistent structure.
Many ASD kids struggle with Tagalog due to its irregular syntax.
This is a very intelligent self-observation.
5. What makes our family amazing and unique?
Louis’ answer: “I don’t know… maybe nothing.”
πππ
⭐ Typical answers:
“We love each other,” “We eat together,” etc.
π§ Psychological Insight:
This is not a lack of appreciation.
This is classic ASD literal thinking.
He couldn’t identify a concrete, observable, unique behavior — hence “nothing.”
ASD kids struggle with abstract questions. They need examples or prompts.
The honesty here actually reflects:
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cognitive integrity
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literal processing
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preference for factual answers
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no pretending just to please
It’s beautifully authentic.
6. If we lost everything we owned today but could keep 3 things, what would you pick?
Louis’ answers:
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His Nintendo
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His cellphone
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His big sister, Ate Denise
⭐ Typical answers:
Phone, laptop, shoes, family.
π§ Psychological Insight:
Louis’ choices reflect:
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comfort objects
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predictable routines
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strong sibling bond
Choosing Ate is powerful.
He trusts her, feels safe with her, and sees her as his social connection bridge (her friends invite him to play).
This reveals secure attachment and emotional intelligence.
7. What do you feel is the hardest job in the world?
Louis’ answers:
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Cooking
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Being a police officer
⭐ Typical teen answers:
Doctor, soldier, pilot, etc.
π§ Psychological Insight:
Louis focuses on sensory and physical challenges.
Cooking involves:
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heat
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multitasking
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timing
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strong smells
All potentially overwhelming for neurodivergent kids. (This felt a bit disappointing to know because I really want him to be a Chef someday)
The police officer example shows:
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literal observation
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practical logic
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humor
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realistic problem-solving (fat or 'poor physically' or 'not-so-fit' police can’t catch criminals π )
Very typical ASD concrete thinking.
8. Think of the worst thing that’s happened to you… what did you learn from it?
Louis’ answer: Getting hit by a jeep.
π§ Psychological Insight:
ASD kids often retain traumatic memories vividly — like snapshots.
His lesson (“Don’t cross the road without parents”) shows:
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rule-based reasoning
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safety awareness
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strong long-term memory
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clear understanding of cause and effect
His humor about you being “mataba” is actually:
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a sign of affection
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comfort
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safe teasing
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emotional bonding
Humor is a HUGE indicator of developmental progress.
Read More: Teaching Kids with Autism to Tell and Understand Jokes
9. Do you have any bad habits you wish you could break?
Louis’ answer: Having a girlfriend.
π€£π€£π€£
π§ Psychological Insight:
This shows:
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experimentation with identity
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humor
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social curiosity
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awareness of relationship dynamics
Totally normal for 13.
10. Who is the most important person in your life today?
His answers:
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First: You (Mom).
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Then later: Ate.
π§ Psychological Insight:
He defines “importance” based on:
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shared activities
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who plays with him
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who interacts with him daily
ASD kids often base relationships on function + familiarity, not abstract emotional concepts.
Switching answers is not lying — he was processing which one fit the question more literally.
Learn More: Parenting behavior and the development of children with autism spectrum disorder
❤️ Final Reflections as a Mom of a Newly-Turned Teen
As I listened to Louis’ answers, I realized how far we’ve come.
From a toddler who struggled with speech…
to a teenager who jokes, reflects, analyzes, and even talks about geopolitics and trauma healing —
my heart is full.
Louis is:
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witty
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logical
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thoughtful
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empathetic in his own unique way
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emotionally safe
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socially growing
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and beautifully, wonderfully himself
And as parents, the best thing we can do is keep asking questions, keep connecting, and keep seeing the world through our children’s eyes — neurotypical or neurodivergent man yan.
Because every child has a story —
and every parent has the privilege of listening.
Happy 13th birthday, my love.
Here’s to more conversations, more laughter, more McDo chicken feeds to save the world, and more growth ahead. π
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