<p>I got a three months cruise/trip to Europe with the parents. DD got a video ipod.</p>
<p>My S’s school had enough graduation related parties, activities,etc. many, many of which included the parents and even the grandparents and the student’s siblings. Literally dozens of students had parties given “for them.” These parties (to a one) were organized and orchestrated by the student’s parents and all had adult guests and family members.</p>
<p>So, I decided to repeat something my parents did for me for HS graduation in 1968. I gave him a generous budget to have his own party with his girlfriend and their friends. I wasn’t going to be there, just as my parents didn’t attend my party back in 1968.</p>
<p>He picked the restaurant and guests. He came in UNDER the budget I had given him. I got calls from his friends saying “thank you”!!! He (and his girlfriend) told me that was the neatest gift they had heard of since all the other parties weren’t really the **student’s **party. </p>
<p>My S told me several months later when I was driving him to school that he was going to remember this gift and continue that tradition if he has kids. </p>
<p>S also got a laptop of his choice within the budget I set. FYI–I increased the budget amount for the laptop by the amount that he had come in under budget for the party. Someday maybe I’ll mention that to him.</p>
<p>What a great idea, 07DAD! I’ll have to remember that for our younger one!</p>