<p>Just looking for ideas from those of you who are far more creative than I am! How did you make your kid's 18th birthday special and did you come up with a "significant" present (i.e., something they appreciate and has lasting value)? Cars and trips are out -- we'll have college to pay for next year! Thanks for any suggestions!</p>
<p>i didn't get anything special. some money. for my 22nd birthday (2 weeks after xmas) I got a car payment, which was great. i was paying off christmas and that little bit of money really helped me out :)</p>
<p>How about tickets to a special show or concert?</p>
<p>My kids each got a nice watch. </p>
<p>I got my oldest son a Lionel train for his 21st birthday. I always set up trains at Christmas and I guess I wanted to sort of pass that on. If you have little traditions like that, now might be the time to start your child stockpiling their own stuff. Since my dad died when I was 20, I feel sort of like I want to make sure my kids have things that remind them of their family (read me haha) and their childhoods when they go out on their own. That's morbid I guess. </p>
<p>Another gift I got was for my daughter - a wood writing box, I think from Pier 1. Sort of a mini version of a hope chest that is meant for writing materials but she uses it for other stuff too. </p>
<p>Hey, if you're child is a girl, a hope chest is nice too.</p>
<p>If they have a favorite book, a nice leatherbound book - and you can write a personal message in it.</p>
<p>:) I'm getting a nice portable laptop for college. </p>
<p>One really memorable gift I had for my 17th birthday was a huge photo album my parents made me. They searched for pictures from when I was a baby to now, and placed them in a thick, pretty album with funny and encouraging comments. It's something I keep on my shelf, and flip through during down days, I'm going to take it to college.</p>
<p>Oh, and the album was a reallly nice leather one with a clasp.</p>
<p>not a "hope" chest.
My grandmother "insisted" on getting me a cherrywood cedar chest when I got married.
I didn't want one but I was still very young and didn't want to insult her. I don't have room for it, it doesn't go with anything I like, but I can't get rid of it cause my "grandma" gave it to me, and she has been gone for 12 years.
make sure they really, really want any big item you want to buy for them.
I don't wear a lot of jewelry but I had a heavy silver bracelet that my mother had given me for my 19th birthday. THat is what I gave my daughter for her 18th birthday ( which also coincided with graduation and her sisters 10th birthday!)</p>
<p>I think it depends on S's interests. I absolutely love the Lionel train, starting a tradition. My S loves fountain pens. Got him Levenger leather holder and pen. He doesn't like jewelry, but I think a watch, a gold or silver necklace, ID bracelet, are appreciated by others. New bike for college. Another thought is his own suitcase (see other thread). Robyn got her kids bright LLBean bags with monograms.</p>
<p>How about a class you take together? Anything you've all wanted to do? I know you're talking about things, but I'm wondering about experiences. My son wanted us to go skydiving with him (since you can't do it until you're 18) but DH and I declined. It would have been memorable and exciting, though ;-)</p>
<p>We mostly don't give the kids things--they've had computers for years, for example--but we do travel a lot together. A few years back we went to Australia for Christmas instead of any presents, for example. As a family, we've also been to Africa (Tanzania) and multiple trips to Hawaii. I've been to NYC and Europe with my D, and SCUBA diving in Palau with my S. In all honesty, I don't remember any presents from <em>my</em> parents, but I do remember the trips we took!</p>
<p>My son is quite the gourmet. So, we let him pick ANY restaurant (locally) to go to. He (of course) picked a wonderful French restaurant and we went with his grandparents. He was happy!</p>
<p>A surprise party is always fun- your son's friends may enjoy this. Of course, it can be an expensive way to go too.</p>
<p>Take him to a brothel.</p>
<p>.... I kid, I kid.</p>
<p>Though, I guarantee it would be "special."</p>
<p>My D has requested we cook dinner at our house for 22 kids! Then they go out afterwards together sans us.</p>
<p>Should be fun!</p>
<p>My mom and dad transfered all of the 8mm film they had of me when I was little to dvd's. Also-they let me take 10 friends to this restauarant (not an expensive one)-without them. We also had a family dinner (tradition every birthday).</p>
<p>I wish I had seen this sooner - today is my daughter's 18th birthday, and I don't feel I've done anything special at all! She'll have dinner out with 12 friends tonight, and got a few presents, but nothing memorable. Still, I'll give her a voter registration form tonight - that's something I know she'll appreciate!</p>
<p>If you have anything "family" suitable to be passed on, I think 18th bday (or hs graduation or 21st bday or college graduation) is a wonderful day to do it: eg, grandfather's watch, your own or grandmother's jewelry piece.</p>
<p>Also: special book (whether old or new),inscribed.</p>
<p>My oldest S turns 18 in March, on the day we fly for a week-long family vacation in Hawaii (our first time!) -- my brother and his wife will be there already and meet us at the airport. They tell me they will have 'a suitable surprise' for S: I am hoping it is not what Schwaby suggests! (!!)</p>
<p>From us, he's likely to get a flat-screen monitor for his computers, and a special book. In addition, his school has a tradition of parents making up a photo collage in identical frames, one for each graduating senior, which are hung around the walls of the gym for the last couple months of school. I plan to give him the collage we make for him.</p>
<p>Wow, how timely! My b-day is today (>18) and S's 18th is Wednesday. Typical, he said he doesn't want anything. We'll probably get him a gift certificate at Best Buy for CDs and DVDs. We try not to overspend for b-days ($100 max) but will spend more for a graduation gift. We've already decided on that but I won't post what it is because he might read this. He said some of his friends went to an Indian casino when they turned 18.</p>
<p>Well S just turned 18 last Sunday- his preference? To spend the day/evening with his friends at a Superbowl party. Even though he's not a football fan and could care less about who was in it. His sister and I celebrated without him, by going out to dinner and a movie!</p>
<p>However, we will celebrate it with a dinner at Mexican restaurant (his fave) next week while we are away during Winter break vaco. And we gave him one of those Ipod speaker converter things so that you can listen to the music out loud (good for dorm rooms?) which he loved. </p>
<p>My sense about what kids want for birthday? Not a huge deal with their families- would rather be with their friends enjoying senior year!</p>
<p>When I turn 18, I will be approximately a bazillion miles away from home and any source of a party. I guess I'll eat an extra piece of cake from the dining hall. My HS graduation will probably be a more festive occasion.</p>
<p>Open a bottle of champagne (S/D doesn't necessarily have to drink it), buy a special pen that writes on bottles, and have everyone (family, friends) write a short message on the bottle. Your S/D can keep this bottle forever.</p>