<p>Our oldest is in college and will be celebrating his actual birthday there. I was just wondering what others did for their kids? A weekend trip somewhere with friends (could be too dangerous…haha), a weekend trip somewhere with us and his girlfriend (but she’s not 21 yet) and that might be too over the top. Maybe just a really nice gift and taking him out to a very nice restaurant. He has finally, for the first time in his life, expressed interest in buying a watch. He’s starting to become more interested in more mature looking clothes and not the new Nike bball shoes and shorts. Anyway, just trying to get suggestions and things you’ve done. Thanks.</p>
<p>If he is truly interested in a watch - that is the classic gift for turning 21. I would vote for the nice dinner out with family and girlfriend and maybe gift cards to nice clothes stores?</p>
<p>Thanks…he really is interested in a watch when he dresses up to go out. I didn’t realize that was the classic 21 year old gift. </p>
<p>We just took our D and her friends out to a nice restaurant and gave her diamond earrings. (small) but still pricey.
The watch sounds perfect</p>
<p>I stole an idea from the “D turning 21 need gift suggestion” thread. I told my son he could take his friends out to dinner on us. I did give him a limit of $300 or so - so he obviously cannot invite everyone he knows. </p>
<p>Saving the watch for graduation gift. </p>
<p>I did give S a watch for grad; sadly the face was larger than his wrist, so he opted to have me return it and has since bought one he likes and is a better scale for his smaller wrist. D doesn’t like watches and asked us for permission to go to Las Vegas with friends who had also just turned 21. They stayed in a suite together with some parents of one of the kids. They all had a great time and it was surprisingly reasonably-priced with so many sharing the one suite.</p>
<p>Can’t remember doing anything in particular for S turning 21, nor can I remember anything my folks did for any of us turning 21.</p>
<p>We’re supposed to DO something?</p>
<p>My son came home unexpectedly on his 21st birthday, which was at the beginning of Christmas break. His friends from school had already gone home, and his friends at home weren’t back from school yet. Both groups were asking what he was doing, and he was sitting home with us. </p>
<p>Why aren’t my emoticons working?</p>
<p>Bar tab. </p>
<p>S wanted a new phone… I thought that was lame, but he insisted that is all he wanted. He also got some new clothes and we went to his college town and took all the roommates out to a nice dinner.</p>
<p>We gave both S’s money for their b-days. We got nice engraved watches for college graduation.</p>
<p>My son was home when hit 21. With my best friend, we took him to local theatre, which is only for those over 21. He ordered a chocolate martini, had great dinner, then watched a movie from the classy theatre. I saved watch for college graduation. He took a year to collect on the watch, by the way.</p>
<p>At other birthdays, I told him to invite his closest friends, and charge dinner on our AMEX card, which means I pay the tab. Nothing was over $215.00. I also sent him cupcakes, which he could share with roommates and others in his lab. </p>
<p>Why does everyone buy their kids watches? </p>
<p>^^ It’s a classic gift. Or at least it used to be, before cellphones made watches somewhat unnecessary. My own children resisted watches until they got older, when they appreciated them for esthetic reasons. Gave a fancy Swiss one to DD when she finished her Master’s; son wears a classic-looking, cheap but trusty TIMEX. </p>
<p>My son has always liked watches but we have never bought him an expensive one. It’s hard to buy guys something they will have for a long time. So many more options for girls. </p>
<p>S1 has always liked watches; S2 not so much. S2 lost or broke any cheap watch we bought him and wasn’t interested in getting a watch for either his 21st birthday or college graduation.</p>
<p>S1 was home for his 21st birthday and went out to dinner with us, and out with friends later. He went to buy beer on his birthday and was very disappointed when he wasn’t asked for ID. I don’t remember what we got him, partly because his birthday was withi weeks of his college graduation.</p>
<p>S2 wasn’t home for his 21st birthday, but S1 visited him and took him out for drinks for his birthday. We paid for the 2 of them to go to a baseball game and go out to a BBQ dinner. I also arranged for a birthday cake to be delivered to him.</p>
<p>How about stock in a company that makes something he likes? Nike, Dunkin Donuts, Chipotle, etc. Maybe Sam Adams stock for someone just turning 21. My teenagers enjoy following stock we have bought in companies like that. It encourages them to invest in their future, and they have fun earning money. </p>
<p>For our oldest, we sent him and his gf on a short cruise. They live near a port in FL and it was cheaper than going out to dinner with a group. They were able to travel as soon as finals were over, well before Christmas. He is now 23 and said it was the best gift ever…He said we treated him like an “adult”. </p>
<p>For our youngest, who turned 21 over 6 months ago, it was not as easy. He did not have a girl or guy friend he wanted to travel with for his birthday so we told him to save it. He has recently met a lovely lady that I think he may want to travel with so we will help with that. </p>
<p>I think they have what they need…we are looking to provide experiences and memories…</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions!</p>