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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, October 12, 2010 - 10:22 pm
Anyone want to bounce ideas around with me? November 13th Darren will be graduating college. He'll still have one or two classes left, but he can graduate with 9 credits remaining or wait until May. When the school started sending him stuff about graduation early this year, he said he didn't really want to go through the ceremony, just send him his diploma. The rest of us thought that was a pretty crappy idea. Me and sis told him if he didn't go we were going to dress him up in a sheet and make him march across the park shaking hands with everyone. Seriously though, I told him it wasn't fair to his mom (she couldn't afford to send him to college after high school and when he started talking about going back and his company paying for most of it, she asked him to let her pay the rest for him,) she deserves to see him graduate. And when he started talking about going back, one of the things we agreed on was what a great example it'd be for him to go back and finish, they deserve to see him graduate. And the family time all of us have given up the past three years for him to go to school, we all deserve a ceremony. And mostly, how hard he has worked, he certainly deserves a graduation ceremony! In the end, he decided to attend the graduation ceremony and we're all very excited. But, he can only get 5 tickets (me, the kids, mil and step fil.) And I'm trying to figure out what we should do to celebrate. I know his mom is planning a brunch with us, his sis and bil, and most of the grandkids (a few, and his oldest sis, live out of state.) Couple things to keep in mind, our anniversary is Nov. 1 so we will be doing something to celebrate that and middle nieces birthday is Nov. 7 and there will be a big party for that. The graduation ceremony is the 13th, so we're looking at least at the 20th before we can do anything and that's pushing into Thanksgiving. Also, if given his way, he'd pretty much rather ignore it altogether, so I'm thinking big party is out. So....smallish dinner party with family and a few friends? Invite everyone out to dinner to celebrate? Or just me, him and the kids out for a fancy celebratory dinner? That wouldn't be nice though, sis and aunt are just as excited and proud of him as can be and I know they want to be part of the celebration (which also means whatever I do we'll have to do it at aunts cuz she doesn't get around well enough to go out.) And what about a gift from me and the kids? Sis & bil and aunt are talking about buying him the new set of golf clubs he wants. I don't know what the heck to do. Was sorta thinking that once he finishes college, he'll have time to get back into some of the hobbies he enjoys and along the same line as the golf clubs, maybe a new train set or video game but is that appropriate for college graduation? Ack, what would ya'll do???
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 4:54 am
I didn't go to my own graduation. Instead I threw a beach party, and invited family and friends. We had a great time, everyone brought some dish, and had a lovely celebration. IIRC, I did get gifts, even though I specified on the invite that their presence was all I wanted. As for a gift, I'm not sure I'd get him a toy. He's just graduated from college. Is he going to get a job? Why not buy him something to welcome him to adulthood? If he got a degree in business, how about a nice briefcase or expensive laptop bag? Something along those lines.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 6:07 am
I'd spend some bucks on having his diploma professionally framed so he can hang it on the wall at home or at the office. I agree with no toys. Those are birthday and holiday presents, IMO. I think graduation from college after years and years of hard work and dedication merits something substantial and permanent to celebrate his accomplishment.
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Landileigh
Member
07-28-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 6:42 am
when I graduated from college, my mother bought me a Seiko watch and engraved the back with my name and graduation date. I have always treasured it, even when it stopped working (I just have never paid to have it fixed) it is one gift I have always kept and when I look at it in my jewelry box, I am reminded of the pride that was in my parent's eyes.
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Merrysea
Moderator
08-13-2004
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 7:50 am
I'd definitely have a family gathering, even if it's just cold cuts and chips. The food is not important, it's the point of everyone getting together to celebrate his accomplishment. It's also important for the kids to see that this is a big deal. I agree with Costa, if it's something he will be able to use, a nice briefcase makes a good graduation gift. That's one of those things that can be hard to justify spending a lot of money on for yourself.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 9:42 am
No new job, their college program comes with the agreement that the employee agrees to give the company 3 years after they graduate. No problem for him, his reason for going back to school was to get further in the company into management and he has no intention of leaving, especially having been there 15 years. He's very difficult to buy gifts for at the best of times. He doesn't wear jewelry except for a watch and his wedding ring (he doesn't wear his ring at work and only wears the cheapie $20 watches cuz they get beat up.) He can't use a briefcase or laptop case yet either. Hukd, thank you for the reminder to frame! Hehe and funny. I just called sis to see if we could set up some kind of party at their house (so aunt will be there) and she laughed and said funny you mention that. Little "adopted" sis had called the other day and asked her about throwing a party for his graduation, so now I have instructions to call her and she'll help plan and set up. Bil's offered to smoke some meat and between sis, little "adopted" sis, and me (they are much better cooks than I am) we can do all the cooking ourselves. With little "adopted" sis involved it will turn into a bigger thing than I'd thought about, but heck, he deserves it!
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 9:53 am
Then maybe go with Escapee's suggestion. Hey wait a minute. Where did that go?? And my post too? Hey, is TVCH broken??? (I'm pretty sure there was nothing offensive in those posts!)
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 9:57 am
Weird, Julie, I didn't see yours and Escapee's posts?
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:03 am
She suggested a sweatshirt from whatever college he went to. And I forgot what I said, something about how I agreed with the previous posts in getting something degree related as opposed to toy related... But anyways, I think a sweatshirt from his alma mater would be a very useable idea!!
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:03 am
I don't see it either. Just said maybe a sweatshirt and an alumni license plate cover from the school he attended. I know I graduate with my assoc. in June and I want one from UofP.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:07 am
Ah the answer to my dumb question lies in here. Julie & Escapee, your posts are in the Dumb Question thread. lol I agree no toys, but those who aren't involved in the hobby of trains do not realize that to an enthuisiast trains are NOT toys. So a new train said in my opinion isn't automatically out. I really like the framing the diploma idea. OT but if his mom is really proud you can get a duplicate diploma and frame it for her too & give it to her for Christmas. My cousin got my aunt and uncle one, but it's more of a decopauge [sp?] than a frame, and has a little brass plate with "Thanks Mom & Dad" engraved on it.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:17 am
So I'm not crazy?? Thank you Serate!! I really felt like I was insane or that TVCH was getting very communistic!!
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:31 am
LOL Serate, you are very, very right about trains not being toys. The golf clubs are what he really wants. I try to encourage his hobbies, he works 10-12 hours a day, has been attending school, and puts in a lot of dad time, he needs to play some. I love the idea of a duplicate diploma for mil and step fil. Hehe, thank you for finding those posts, Serate! Let's see, he's graduating from UoP with a bachelors in business management. No suits required for his job, the only ones to wear street clothes are the big, big bosses and accounting/hr department (and they are pretty casual.) The rest spend more time on the floor than in their offices so they wear the company uniform. He won't be changing jobs in the company yet, he got a promotion about six months ago to the lab and he's happy there for now. The dept just started, he's the lead (of 2 other guys,) and right now they report to a supervisor on site only to have someone slightly higher up to report to cuz in reality the management team for this new division is located at another plant across the country. Eventually the new dept will expand here and they'll need their own management and that's what he's hoping for, but it's a couple years off. That's not to say if a management position opened up in a different dept he wouldn't take it (he would cuz he wants to put his education to work,) but the goal right now is to get into management for the dept he's with. License plate holder and sweatshirt might be good ideas for the kids, they've been pondering the gift thing just as much as I have, lol.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:34 am
Hehe, thank you for finding those posts, Serate! Actually I found the posts first, and was confused. Then I found this thread, and put it together. lol But you're welcome!
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:36 am
I still think a briefcase or laptop bag would be appropriate. You said he can't use one "yet." But he will be able to in the future, yes? If he's working in business, there is nothing like carrying a lovely (and expensive) bag to make you feel like a grown up. And my point about no toys was exactly that... he's now a grown up. He didn't go to university for his hobbies, he went to university for an education and for his future. Unless his future is in trains, I would absolutely disagree that that is a viable gift solution. I think the sweatshirt/license frame ideas are nice, but... aren't they cheap enuf that he could buy 'em himself?
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:46 am
I think the sweatshirt & license frame ideas are good for the kids as War pointed out. It's not always about price and what one can or can't buy for themselves. It's about thinking of what the person wants and will use.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 10:53 am
For an avid train enthusiast, trains are not toys. If you've never been around an enthusiast, it's hard to understand. It's not just throwing a train set together and watching it go round and round. An enthusiast can spend hours just trying to fit one piece into an already established set up. Just like a stamp collector can spend hours deciding where to put that newest stamp, which order to put the collections in. It's a very calming and relaxing activity. If you're into that kind of thing. When one has worked long and hard for something, there is nothing wrong with wanting to give that person something that they like to do, instead of making it all about business. For me, I wouldn't want something to do with my work especially if I wasn't going to able to use it for a few years, if ever. That being said, I still like Huk's idea best.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 11:06 am
You have a train enthusiast, Serate? Darren's been into them for years and has that focus. He took his last set down a few years ago when he started back to college, just didn't have the time for it anymore. He still gets the magazines and takes the occassional trip to the hobby store to check out what they have and every Christmas he spends hours setting up my little cheapie Christmas train set, lol. If he had reliable vacation time (everytime he puts in for some, big boss comes and asks him to change it cuz they have something big coming up) I'd plan a vacation for his graduation. Actually, I may look into setting something up for a weekend at least for the two of us.
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Rissa
Member
03-19-2006
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 11:06 am
In this case I think going with a hobby related gift would be great. When I posted before I was thinking that he would be changing companies and careers but if he is going to remain at an established job (at least for a couple/few years) then there won't be anything new he will need for that. Rewarding all that hard work in a different direction seems more than appropriate. If you are considering the framing idea I would suggest you check out the University bookstore first. When my daughter graduated we bought her two frames for her two diplomas there. In addition to being of great quality they came with an engraved plaque with the name of the school and year and the matting had an embossed school emblem.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 12:08 pm
Checking out the bookstore is a good idea. They often time have cool things on clearance too!!
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Landileigh
Member
07-28-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 2:15 pm
i'm wondering if an "UofP Alumni" license plate frame might not be a cool idea - at least from the kids.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 2:25 pm
Actually, I may look into setting something up for a weekend at least for the two of us. That sounds great!
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Landileigh
Member
07-28-2002
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 3:35 pm
i'm sorry for my butchering of the english language in my last post. it took me 3 times 3 hours later to figure out what it was I was truly saying. basically: a license plate frame with "UofP Alumni" sounds like a COOL IDEA! <shaking head at one self and wondering if I should return my Master's degree>
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 5:46 pm
Let the kids make the cake and decorate it for him - hat and diploma scroll - have a small celebration with just the family and take him away for a couple of days just the two of you - all his work deserves a couple days off.
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Wednesday, October 13, 2010 - 6:28 pm
You have a train enthusiast, Serate? No, but lived around them most of my childhood. Tell a train enthusiast to go play with his/her toys, you might get punched or ignored the rest of the day. lol
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