My husband and I have been raising our grandchildren for three years. They moved in with us after both parents were killed in separate car crashes. The twins graduate from college this year and we have been searching for the "perfect" gifts. We want our gifts to be thoughtful -- things they will use often. What will our gifts be?
Staff writer Elaine Morris Roberts lists some ideas in a "Springfield News-Sun" article, "Some Inexpensive Suggestions for Grad Gifts." She thinks you can find gifts "that will appeal to grads of all ages -- whether they are moving into high school, heading off to college or leaving the world of academia for the world of work."
Dorm Bedding
Her gift ideas include a car safety kit, laundry supplies, backpack, dorm food, and desk supplies. All of these ideas are good ones, but they are not quite right, so I read another newspaper article, "Guide to the Best Graduation Gifts from to 0," published in the "Dayton Daily News." Journalist Jill Kelly groups her gift ideas by price: less than , less than , less than 0, and more than 0.
The under category includes obvious ideas like books, a photo album, address book, and coffee maker. The less than category includes a tasteful frame for the graduate's diploma and a alarm clock. In the under 0 category I found a microwave, watch, and luggage. As for the more than 0 category, it includes a digital camera, small television, and dorm room fridge. Hmmm. What would our choices be?
Onward to "Friday Five: 5 Inexpensive Gifts for Grads," published by the "Orlando Sentinel." It suggests books, gift baskets, and gift cards for local restaurants, clothing stores, and electronic stores. Though most college-bound kids want cash, we want to give our grandchildren something they can use often. So I read an article, "High School Graduation Gift Ideas for Grandparents," published on the Slouchback website.
The article says the gift ideas are ideal, "relatively affordable and many of the gifts will have long-lasting meanings for the graduate." One idea, comfort for the dorm room, caught my eye. This gift could include small furniture, such as a folding chair, bedding, a scatter rug, desk stuff, including a lamp, and a trash basket. Grandparents who are able to afford it could give the graduate a trip, the article continues, but we already took our grandchildren to Alaska.
Back to the dorm idea and I think this is the best one so far. The college my granddaughter is attending has extra long beds. We could buy sheets for her, a spread, pillow sham, and coordinating accessories. Though we do not know what kind of beds my grandson's university has, the gift idea is still appropriate for him. To give the twins some ownership of the idea we will probably ask them to purchase their own dorm stuff and reimburse them later.
As we send them off to college, I remember Dr. Seuss's poetic words: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose." What an exciting time of life!
Copyright 2010 by Harriet Hodgson