<p>I'll be graduating this year and my parents have done A LOT for me in the past 20 years - paying for college, car, raising me, etc. I don't take these things for granted and want to do something for them. Any ideas for gifts? I'm willing to spend a decent amount of money from my job.</p>
<p>That’s really sweet. I bet a heartfelt note would be really meaningful for them, much more than any physical object.</p>
<p>A nice note and if you want to give something, take them out to dinner.</p>
<p>luke8ball: you are very thoughtful. I bet they already know how grateful you are. But if you want to show them, a nice note would be great before you go…and then checking in and telling them how much you appreciate their help getting you to college once you get there.</p>
<p>College grad?</p>
<p>^^Ooh, sorry! I was so overcome by the sweetness that I missed the age thing. :)</p>
<p>When I graduated from college, I made my parents a scrapbook-WAY before they had all that frou-frou scrapbooking stuff at the craft shops. I just went into the photos and picked out ones from special times or events in my life with them, added poems, songs, logos and newspaper headlines that added to the memories. My parents kept it in their bookshelf until they passed. I’m sure you could modernize that somewhat. Trust me, as a parent, I don’t want an expensive trinket. I would love it if they let me know that the memories I created with them mean as much to them as they do to me-that my young adults look back with fondness on their childhoods. Congrats to you, you seem like a great kid.</p>
<p>Sseamom, may I send you MY daughter’s number so you can put a bug in her ear? Nice idea.</p>
<p>MDmom, I made one for D when she graduated HS. She has taken it everywhere with her (dad’s, her experiement in apartment living, college). Maybe you could make one for yours. I used one of those small 8X8 size books so it would fit in any luggage and just cut the backing paper to fit.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice! I’ll have all year to put something together.</p>
<p>But I want her to make one for me.</p>
<p>The best gift from my perspective is if you land a job starting when you graduate as that’s something that parents worry about. It also allows them to comfortably answer the question when their peers ask.</p>