I asked my D23 what his favorite ‘generic’ graduation gift was because we’ll be attending several grad parties over the next couple of weeks, and he suggested Uber gift cards. He said it was nice to have $ in his account for trips to/from the airport during breaks and also use it for Uber Eats delivery. I think Chipotle would also be great for college bound kids.
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Our twins’ prom was last weekend, and as we were going through the before-prom photos we saw a random group of kids all laughing and squeezing into frame, and we were like “who are all of these randos?” and our kids explained that it was everyone from their math class. They’re now printing it out as a card (apparently that’s one of the options at the CVS/RiteAid/etc. photobooths) and are going to get everyone in the class to sign an end-of-year note for their teacher. 
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That’s wonderful! My last AP Chem class did that and put on their lab coats over their prom outfits for the photo, which took some planning 
(No goggles)
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For S22, we did a “post-graduation, come over to our house, we’ll grill some burgers” level of party, to which S22 invited a couple of his friends whose family didn’t have any specific plans. We invited in-town family, and mostly it was “4 hours of hanging around”. I don’t recall any gifts, other than “grandparents to our kid in envelopes that could be stashed somewhere for opening later”.
For C25, we’ll be doing something similar, although they don’t really have as close of a friend group as S22 did, so it’ll probably just be family this time. We’re open to C25 inviting anyone, and we wouldn’t expect gifts if someone did come over.
Definitely a $20 in a card is all I would be bringing or think someone else would bring (grandparents are sometimes more extravagant, but that’s up to them). Something something “fun money” for college. A Chipotle GC sounds about the same level of investement (both thought and $$).
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Well, do you want the good news or the bad news first?
The bad:
*D25 has so much to finish in the next eight days. I don’t recognize this kid. Prior to this semester I would have said she was hyper-responsible, super-organized, an “I’m-not-worried-about-her-she always-gets-it-done.” sort of kid. This girl living in my house? Anxious (which has been an issue since 10th, but has reared its head again recently), dropping deadlines right/left/center, with grades reflecting this. Her parents are trying to not show their concern about whether or not she’s going to get it done, with varying degrees of success.
*D25 is sick; she fell asleep mid-day yesterday and slept for multiple hours. Umm, my dear, you actually just don’t have time to be sick right now. There is no more margin here.
The good:
*According to her college, she is now a California resident, so the bill just dropped ~50k. Phew!
*She did, in fact, finish her AP Gov midterm, so as long as she gets the rest of the class done, she will, in fact, graduate. (I like these facts.)
In addition to D25’s stuff, S27 has two more AP tests this week, we are moving this weekend as our landlord sold the house we’ve been living in, my elderly parents are doing a roadtrip and I have some concerns about this, and I have to find new tenants as of today. There’s just a lot of transition right now. Calgon, take me away!
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I need help from prom moms!!
S25 just asked a girl to prom and my GF says corsages are out and small bouquets are in??
What should he buy?
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Nosegays are the norm for prom here.
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I’d have him ask the girl what she would prefer, and even flower type and color.
Might as well order what she most likes and it makes it easier than guessing?
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I’m not ashamed to say I had to look up ‘nosegays’ 
Yes, that seems to be the trend here…good to get confirmation - thx!
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At D25’s prom I saw both corsages and nosegays, fwiw.
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In our HS, the girls make the small bouquet with their friends the morning of prom. If they have a date, they also exchange corsage/boutonnière
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Way back in 2015, my oldest was ordering a corsage for his date. They had options for roses, carnations, orchids, or lilies. They also had options to add “bling” to any of these, i.e. some kind of fake jewels maybe? DS said, “no, I will not be gilding the lily”
I think these styles really change from year to year and school to school, but I like the idea of asking his date.
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S25 took someone he’d never met to her prom and had no idea what color her dress was. (And refused to ask her!) We got a white nosegay, which worked out fine.
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Is there more to this story?
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He was set up by a friend to go with someone he had never met to her prom. (S25 goes to an all boys school, and his date attends an all girls school.) They had messaged on Snapchat after being introduced, but that was about it. They ended up having a good time, according to my son. He said she was quirky like him, so it was a good fit for the night!
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Sounds great!
My S25’s gf made their flowers. She has a wrist corsage (on the small side) and he had a boutonniere.
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We are down to the wire for getting things turned in for S25. I’m honestly thinking there’s no way he gets enough done and turned in to really recover from the disaster of 3rd quarter grades, but at this point, I’m all out of caring.
He did at least attempt to reach out to a potential roommate last night. The guy hasn’t answered him, but maybe he will tonight or maybe S25 will find someone else to reach out to. Students have to have identified their roommate by tomorrow night at midnight or they go to the back of the selection line for rooms. Like I mentioned above, I actually don’t think that will be too bad for him - he’s happy with what are generally considered the least desirable dorms, and he generally gets along with everyone. So while I’d hope for him that he’ll have a roommate he’s good friends with, I think he can live with just about anyone.
As he’s going through the roommate profiles, I’m struck by a few things:
(1) There are a TON of business students. That in and of itself doesn’t really matter, but the business students tend to want to live in the housing close to the business building… which is the opposite end of campus from where S25’s classes will be, so that’s the housing he LEAST wants.
(2) A ridiculously high percentage of these kids golf. Like I’d guess more than a third of the boys he’s matching with based on the whole “when do you sleep, can you study with noise” questions list golfing as one of the things they do for fun. Nothing wrong with that, just there aren’t that many HS golfers around here, so it’s different.
(3) A lot of the boys want the dorms that have suite style bathrooms… which means you have to clean your own bathroom, provide your own toilet paper etc. In no way does my child want this set up. There’s a beautiful happy medium called “wet core” where there’s a room that has lots of sinks, then individual bathrooms with toilets and showers off of it (at least I think that’s what it means). It’s like the privacy of your own personal bathroom, but down the hall. These get cleaned by the cleaning staff AND have the benefit of never being all “taken” by your roommates when you need it.
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I’m pushing my son toward a pod style bathroom as well vs. having a bathroom in his suite. I just know what it will look like with 4 boys in a suite. Yuck! The not having to clean a bathroom has a ton of benefits.
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I still find it odd that they have to find their own roommates. You may have already said this, but if you can’t find a roommate, will they pair you with someone? Or do you absolutely have to have a roommate identified on your own before schools starts?
A suite style bathroom would be a disaster for S25. I had one my freshman year, and it was such a mess. (Mainly thanks to me.) Plus, one of my suitemates showed up with an unauthorized cat that would pee all of the bathroom. It was a mess. I think a hall bathroom is a good way to go for kids (like S25 and myself) who aren’t great at keeping things clean.
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