When to give the graduation gift

Parent Cafe
1

<p>This seems like a silly question, but here goes. My daughter is graduating college next weekend. Graduation takes place over several days, with events starting on Friday night and going through Sunday afternoon. Monday we’ll be packing up her apartment. Then, she’s coming home. </p>

<p>When is the “best” time to give the gift? When we first arrive on campus? After she gets her diploma? Packing up her apartment? When she gets home?</p>

<p>There’s no one right answer, but thought I’d get some thoughts, and anecdotes on what did and didn’t work for other parents.</p>

<p>Oh – and we’re not giving anything big, like a car or even a computer. It’s a small sentimental gift with a check inside.</p>

2

<p>We gave our daughter her present when we were alone with her the first night we arrived for the graduation weekend. Ours was the money for a train ticket cross country and a note about being able to design a piece of jewelry using her grandmothers gems. It was nice to do this alone.</p>

<p>After the ceremony itself, our family had a little appetizer/cocktail hour…family only. The other relatives gave their gifts then.</p>

3

<p>Thanks, thumper, we’re thinking about that option. </p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>gift? What gift? (jk ;)) We just told DS that we would frame his diploma. Grandparents handed him cards with checks at dinner the first evening of graduation weekend.</p>

5

<p>Good question! I think in some circumstances, the gift would dictate the timing (DS#2 will get his hs graduation gift the morning before graduation–it’s something for him to wear that day). I like the idea of doing it when your family is all together, if that will happen during the weekend. Will you all go out to dinner? Maybe better to get it out of the way before madness of the ceremony/packing up/moving out? (I’ll be keeping all the advice in mind for next year when DS#1 is graduating from college!)</p>

6

<p>Well, there is that other thread discussing buying diamond earrings as a graduation gift. Maybe I should ask my question in that one. </p>

<p>The only gift my daughter is getting is from us – no other family.</p>

7

<p>Whenever you think the time is right. I had purchased a vehicle during my senior year and my parents surprised me by giving me $500 at that time telling me that it was my graduation present given early (like October and I didn’t graduate till May)… so I could use it to help with the payments or whatever during school. Then when I graduated my mom had my diploma framed in a really nice frame and that was the rest of my gift. I did have a joint graduation party with my cousin (he was graduating high school that year) and I got a few gifts from family at that point.</p>

8

<p>D graduated yesterday - it was a very long day starting with us leaving the house before 6:30am and not arriving home till 8;30 and then, had to unload 3 cars worth of stuff. We decided to wait till tonight when we are all not exhausted and will then give her the small gifts we have. Agree, do what feels right. Yesterday was just too busy - and too many people around and interuptions.</p>