Gee, I gave my kids each a college education!
They both got new computers, which was their ‘gift’, but they didn’t get them until August.
We just paid for their HS and later college, as well as getting each a laptop.
I also did give each a desk tote, full of the things they always seem to “borrow” from me and our desk at our home. It was useful from move in day!
I got a wonderful, heartfelt card from my parents and a dinner. I loved both 
We bought D a Tiffany ring - her 18th fell a week away from graduation so it was a joint gift - because, to paraphrase, it’s the place where it seems like nothing bad could ever happen. I’m thinking about $$$$ for S '15. He wants to go on a road trip with his 2 besties but needs funds.
My favorite graduation or big event gift to our kids is a letter. It represents a moment in time and my appreciation for who they are. Did it for high school, college and grad school for one. Not generic, specific to them. Also did a large, this is your life photo album for one of them (pre-dating the prevalence making a book on line). It was very much appreciated and concluded with prom and graduation, as well as campus visit to the selected school. We also did a watch for each of them (as they wear them). Kids had zero expectations of grad gifts from us. (“Just” college…)
I recently got an iPhone. What gps app is it that you use that talks to you?
I previously mentioned that I bought luggage for my D for high school graduation. It is purple with wheels. Got me to thinking about my own high school graduation. I also got luggage. Yellow, hard case, American Tourister, with the garment bag included! Still have it in the back of the closet. Yikes!
I think Google Maps talks to you - but I just tell Siri where I want to go and she talks to me - with map.
We bought both D and S laptops for high school graduation gifts. For college graduation, D received luggage and $$. S received $$$$.
I don’t think my kids expect a grad gift. We don’t live in one of those places were people have big “sweet 16” parties and major grad parties. People are pretty low key. However, I think it should be commemorated in some way with something that is symbolic of the transition in life. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but meaningful rather than purely practical. S needs a new laptop and we will get one as a tool for school, but it doesn’t seem sentimental enough to me to be the grad gift.
Money.
D’s phone is an iphone and last summer Siri just told us where to go. H and I have Andriods and yes, it’s Google Maps, which does talk to us. It also shows a map but that isn’t needed if you listen to what it’s saying. Saintfan, I agree. They’re low key, but family gatherings to celebrate are pretty common with those family and close friends we have who’ve had graduating kiddos.
“Gee, I gave my kids each a college education!”
Yep, I’m with you there. The kids didn’t get anything special for high school graduation, college graduation, or 21st birthday. We told them that the 250K we spent for college was the gift.
However, we did furnish our oldest son’s apartment bedroom, in his new place, mostly because we realized that if we didn’t get him some discount stuff from IKEA, he’d probably just be sleeping on an air mattress for years! He’s not exactly a shopper. He and his roommates had almost nothing for their kitchen, so I went to the thrift store and basically got them everything they would ever need for less than $100.
This is the best GPS app.
http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/09/traffic-app-waze-goes-beautifully-hands-free/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waze&hl=en
Both of our sons had been driving trucks that that we purchased. Upon graduation, DH signed the trucks over to the boys.
Put our family in the “they got college” crowd. That’s what D1 got for HS graduation, birthday, etc. D2’s HS graduation gift will also be college.
Over the course of the summer, our daughter will be getting a new laptop and many other things for moving away and setting up her dorm. On graduation day we will do something, but probably not much, and yes she is having a party.
We learned very quickly as our son went through school that gift-giving occasions didn’t always match up with his needs. That, in addition to him living in a dorm and small apartments without much space for “stuff” altered the way we handled holidays. We’d give a few token things at Christmas, but when he needed a new wardrobe for his internship, and later work, we took care of it. Same with Birthdays and whatnot - not much, but when he moved out, I made up for lost time with things that he needed and wanted to set up housekeeping. And of course the occasional new phone or some other technology purchase that fell off-holiday.
It was a learning experience for me when he moved back for the summer after his freshmen year. So many unopened, unused things. Sad. For the college years, I tried to let need drive the purchases. Of course, I’d try to surprise him with a few things along the way, some hits and misses. But I gave up trying to think of things to buy for occasions knowing the next month something would happen and he would really need some things.
For college graduation, business suits. (all sons)
For college graduation, we tried gifting S with a nice watch but it was too wide for his wrist and he requested we return it, which we did. He was just grateful to graduate debt-free. We took him, D and ourselves on a roadtrip, which we all enjoyed. We offered to buy S a suit, but he said he’d get one on his own, in his own time. He says he’s acquired one (in addition to the one H gave him that that H got in college and fits S PERFECTLY), but we haven’t seen it, so aren’t sure whether it really exists. S mostly wears dress shirts and khakis and dress slacks, plus jeans on weekends and hoodies.
D we are continuing to pay all her expenses until we can get her health sorted out and healthy enough that she can hold a job! We didn’t really gift her with anything physical so far, but do buy her plane tickets so she can join us in HI and once to go to Chicago and DC.
College. Framed diploma. Will get S2 a suit for interviewing.