Anonymous wrote:There's a company that sets up a "birthday card" on your lawn, with the greeting in large waterproof letters. I don't know the name of the company, but I've seen the lawn cards and they're a fun, socially distanced, way of letting everyone know that someone is celebrating a milestone in that house.

You can even “flamingo” someone, with dozens of pink flamingos in their yard!

We got a large sign/banner for our 18 y/o in September, that went across the fence in front of our home. It said something like "honk to wish Larlo happy 18th birthday." We warned our neighbors ahead of time, but all day long people DID honk when they drove by! We took down the banner when Larlo decoded he had had enough.

Mine turned 18 early in the pandemic. He’s a music kid, and was graduating, so I reached out to his private teacher and director and friends and they all recorded themselves playing Happy Birthday on their instrument and sending him good wishes and emailed it to me. I spliced together a movie and gave it to him. He teared up. There was never a proper end to school for him. It just stopped on day. So it meant a lot.

If he lives in a metro area I’ve started seeing companies that stage ballon displays in the front yard for milestones. That would be fun.

There's a company that sets up a "birthday card" on your lawn, with the greeting in large waterproof letters. I don't know the name of the company, but I've seen the lawn cards and they're a fun, socially distanced, way of letting everyone know that someone is celebrating a milestone in that house.

I love all these ideas - thank you!!

Anonymous wrote:Do 18 year old boys like balloons?

I did it for my DS 16 bday. He pretended not to care and then put one batch that said Happy Birthday in his room (I got him two large bouquets of balloons to try and make it more festive. That’s where his webcam is for school and gaming. I’m pretty sure he secretly liked it b/c his friends ended up singing happy birthday to him and he kept it in there for a few days.

How about one of those exploding confetti or boom cards?

Do 18 year old boys like balloons?

Trust me on this..get two to stack, one white, one black. Stocking stuffer for my son last year. He wore them all summer. Every month or so they switch the sayings and design. Love this little startup. Be aware their shipping is sometimes delayed.

These 2 together
https://mentality.co/collections/bracelets/products/veni-vidi-vici-3-0-mentality-bracelet

https://mentality.co/collections/bracelets/products/gold-dreamchaser-mentality-bracelet

OR

These 2 together

https://mentality.co/collections/bracelets/products/grindszn-black-mentality-bracelet

https://mentality.co/collections/bracelets/products/white-dreamchaser-mentality-bracelet

A scratch off lottery gift basket. Something like this

https://www.pinterest.com/amp/pin/169448004702704982/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dylan's Candy Bar candy cake

https://www.dylanscandybar.com/products/dylans-candy-bar-filled-candy-cake?variant=20815921283126¤cy=USD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9tPouPG17QIVkv7jBx3fEgE6EAQYBCABEgKPZvD_BwE

I like that but this kid can't eat half that candy because of allergies. Food items are generally out.

DP - thanks for posting the link! That is an awesome idea for my DS who will be 18 in the spring! Watching this thread with interest!

I get my teen boys balloons for their birthdays. Go with your first instinct. They last for a couple of weeks - longer than flowers. Very cheerful.

Anonymous wrote:Dylan's Candy Bar candy cake

https://www.dylanscandybar.com/products/dylans-candy-bar-filled-candy-cake?variant=20815921283126¤cy=USD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9tPouPG17QIVkv7jBx3fEgE6EAQYBCABEgKPZvD_BwE

I like that but this kid can't eat half that candy because of allergies. Food items are generally out.

Dylan's Candy Bar candy cake

https://www.dylanscandybar.com/products/dylans-candy-bar-filled-candy-cake?variant=20815921283126¤cy=USD&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9tPouPG17QIVkv7jBx3fEgE6EAQYBCABEgKPZvD_BwE

My stepson is turning 18 soon (high school student, in his mother's primary custody). He lives a flight away, and we won't see him for the occasion because of covid concerns. He wants money, so DH will send him a substantial amount in recognition of the milestone. But I was thinking about doing something additional that is just silly/celebratory/fun, like sending a giant balloon arrangement. Any ideas along those lines? I want a tangible way to let him know we are thinking about him, beyond the bank deposit.