High end engraved watch. |
These watches are a nice blend of traditional and tech.
https://www.withings.com/us/en/watches |
Paid college education. |
We didn't do grad party as all money was going to support college with no aid. |
College tuition/room/board (in state/nothing fancy but it is still $20k/year even after our savings), a laptop (they will pick it out what they want summer), everything they need for dorm rooms, and a graduation party. |
*Leather duffel bags come in handy. We bought DD one on a grad trip to Florence and she uses it all the time. |
Got my DS a beautiful Tissot watch. He loves it and wears it daily. He is not an Apple Watch kind of kid. Check out jomashop online - they have good deals on genuine products. |
Lesson from two recent grads.
Give them a reality check and a Responsibility Kit: Fentanyl test strips. Narcan. Condoms. Plan B (red states). Gunshot first aid kit or video. Then have an open conversation about the facts of the risks these tools can address. Not just for your child, but especially for friends, roommates, classmates and people in the local community. Don't assume these are just big city issues. The point is not to scare your child. It's to show your confidence in their abilities to be responsible for themselves and others. My now second year DC kid was SHOCKED at how many peers were very ignorant of basic things like common STIs, the scope of fentanyl contamination of all kinds of substances, overdose rates, and gun awareness. He once used his kit as a lighthearted, but serious, show and tell before a frat party with some very sheltered friends. It opened up talk about how to keep each other safe. Our rising first-year is also getting a kit--updated with input from their sibling. Or alternatively, UberEats/GrubHub gift certificates. Everyone needs a break from campus food once in awhile |
+100 Sigh. If he chose UVA and he would have gotten something big. lol |