What do parents do for their kids graduating high school? When I was growing up, our family didn’t do anything, as it was just expected that we’d graduate, and my parents were divorcing around that time and probably never even noticed. I never asked my friends if they got anything. But looking around now, I see all my daughter’s classmates getting lavished with gifts, money, cars, etc. What’s a reasonable thing to do? (Now is not a particularly good time money-wise as college expenses are being allotted for and spouse had emergency medical issues.)
What about graduation announcements? Is there any reason to send them? None of my friends or relatives has ever sent me graduation announcements for their high school graduates, and I’d feel like I was fishing for gifts if I sent them.
I have a brother who is graduating from high school this year. My family is throwing a combined party for him and one of my cousins who is also graduating. There will be a BBQ potluck thing, and probably some people (not all) will give them cards with money or small gifts. Nothing lavish.
In Michigan, it’s basically expected that a graduate will have an “Open House.” I’m sure there were some folks who didn’t do it, but I can’t think of any. Even my dirt poor relations had one. They almost invariably, regardless of class or means:
[ul]
[li]Are 3-4 hours long[/li][li]Are on a Saturday or Sunday in the month after graduation[/li][li]Have a “shrine” to the graduate, with pictures from throughout the years, along with awards, varsity jackets, etc.[/li][li]Involve cake and punch[/li][li]Have an outdoor tent with tables and chairs set up for people to gather and eat[/li][/ul]
There’s always a buffet, which can range from a catered affair to Swedish meatballs and other snacks. Most people have their extended family there for the entirety, but in the “open house,” spirit, most student-guests travel to numerous open houses throughout the day. Parents invite friends of the family. Teachers sometimes make appearances. Some share the party with a friend or cousin who is also graduating.
Most adults will bring a card, often with a few (25 to more) dollars for the graduate. More serious gifts tend to come from family members. Often the students use the money to buy a computer for college.
I’m sure other Michiganders (or mid-westerners… I don’t know how far this phenomenon stretches) can share their tales.
Here, it runs the gamut. You have some people who basically do nothing special other than go to the graduation ceremony itself. On the other end of the spectrum, you have people who throw huge parties, bring roses to give to the graduate at the graduation ceremony, etc.
I reckon average folks take the kid out to eat on graduation night. Some extended family usually comes to town for the occasion as well.
Most people do send graduation announcements. I wouldn’t feel bad about that being “fishing” for gifts; it’s just an announcement of a milestone in the kid’s life.
So not everybody gives their kid a new car? A European vacation? Note to self: confirm with daughter’s friends’ parents before believing everything she tells me.
When my daughter graduated, we took her, her boyfriend and the family (my son, mother, MiL, dad and stepmom) out to a nice waterfront restaurant on the night of graduation.
We also bought her a laptop that she could use for college.
We’ll probably take my son to dinner on graduation night (assuming he doesn’t make other plans), but sadly there is no way we can swing paying for everyone’s meal at such a nice place this time. We’ll also get him a laptop (it’s what he asked for), but it won’t be right away. Probably in time for him to start school in August, though.
Many of my kids’ schoolmates received trips to Mexico or Hawaii or new cars. We can’t swing anything like that.
mom and dad got up, dressed at their Sunday best, watch their kids graduate with a smile on their face, take pictures and tell them they love them and how proud they are, and thats it.
although I did not go to my graduation (I did not cared at all for it) but I did go to all my siblings
Based on last night, around here the adults dress up in their “Wednesday night at the Bowl-a-rama” best, show off their really lousy tats and cuss out the security staff when they aren’t allowed to climb a fence to get across the field. I have never seen so many white-trash losers in my life as I did last night. They are all living proof that you don’t need any talent to be a tattoo “artist,” and that their kids were the intellectual giants of the family, having at least graduated high school.
This reminds me… remember S&H Green Stamps? You’d get them at the grocery store when you bought groceries. You pasted them into little books and then traded the books for merchandise.
My graduation gift from my parents was a little clock radio that my mom got with Green Stamps. I still have it.
[Edit: With the exception that here, I’ve never even heard of a shared party, except in the case of twins or siblings that are in the same graduating class.]
Nothing much; my parents bought me a new stereo, but my graduation ceremony was near my birthday so it was a double gift. They might have tossed me $20 to pay for gas when I went out and partied with my friends. Among my friends and family, high school graduation is kind of the default and not that big a deal. Heck, even for my (first) university graduation, my parents came up and we went to a restaurant and they bought me a watch, but that’s it. We are an over-educated bunch, though (I have 2 bachelors, as do both my parents, my sister has 2 and a professional degree, hubby has a master’s, etc), so a more appropriate milestone might be actually starting to work! If we could be paid to constantly learn, we’d probably all choose that option!
It’s only common among those who have a lot of money; however, in this area, if you have kids and a lot of money, your kid gets a new car as soon as they get their driver’s license.
A small party that’s “open house” style is much more the norm in my experience- have cake, some appetizers, and maybe some drinks for the parents, and that’s about it. Some folks give monetary gifts to celebrate, but it’s more about having a nice couple of hours for the graduate to see that others are proud of the fact that they finished high school and are moving on to bigger and better things.
Upper and middle class kids here usually go to a fancy restaurant on graduation day with their families between the morning ceremony and the evening celebration at the school. Anyone going on to university often got a laptop or luggage or some other expensive thing they might need.
My father gave me nothing. He was going to come to the ceremony but decided not to at the last minute. So I went by myself. My aunt and uncle gave me a clock radio and my best friend gave me a pen. I got nothing at all for college graduation, and again, I went by myself. No party either time.
Around here there’s horseshoe toss. A campfire is a must, allows intoxicated minors to leap over it later in the evening and after dark, while others snap and video cell phone pics to send to all the redneck hillibilies who are in jail or for some other reason could not be at the party. There should be premium budweiser in cans, lots of chewing tobacco, cigarettes, and noisy full throttle rides on an atv, up and down the drive. Up and down, up and down, copious donuts will be produced, much gravel will fly.
There will likely be felatio performed in the garage and/or tool shed sometime after midnight (I am serious - imagine all the graduates friends crowding, huddling at the garage window, snickering and snapping cell phone pics of the not so unsuspecting perverts). :o
Also, if they can’t afford high-end illegal skyward bound fireworks, they will somehow manage to obtain plenty of bottle rockets and firecrackers. :rolleyes:
I have just been invited to yet another graduation party that will take place down the street on July 23 - plenty of time to make plans to be the hell out of town for the weekend. But then again, if I leave, who will guard my house and property?
(Did I mention I am selling my house? If anyone’s interested, I will give you a really good deal on it, it’s practically free it’s such a good deal.)