Your Own Child's Graduation Gift....

If you can no longer get the tickets what about luggage (if he'll be going away to college or doing any traveling), supplies he'll need if he goes away to college, a gift card to a store or online site he likes, a family heirloom, or a party. It could be a simple BBQ at home, with foods he likes, friends who'll be going their own ways in life soon, too, and proud family.

Congrats to you both, as a single mom I can relate!

When my brother graduated from Electrician school they got him a watch, it was monogramed with the date of his completion.

I've seen it all....(sigh)...the car, the laptop (a very popular gift!), an apartment, big $$.

(sigh) we gave our son a new tattoo for his graduation gift. OMG, I can't believe I just admitted it in a public forum!

(sigh) His 1st request for a tattoo came at age 9 when he asked his orthopedic surgeon to "put one on while he was knocked out during surgery". His dr's response was even funnier: "that's a skill I don't have. When I learn how to do tattoos, you will be my very 1st customer!". That type of camaraderie between dr & patient evolves beautifully when together for years!

Our son's 1st tattoo was at age 17. Yes, we signed for it. He was the only kid in our small town with a tattoo while still in H.S. After graduation, he decided to wait a year before starting college....& after thinking long/hard on what he really wanted, he asked for his next tattoo. Oh, well. :)

Did he get a class ring? Our older son chose a very nice mens ring instead of class ring. A very nice gold band with a diamond & sapphire accent. Would a ring or nice watch work for him? Congrats on your son's bright future!

I would think that it would depend on the situation. I was given a car, that I had to work really hard for. I had to meet certain expectations upon graduating and the car was used.

I am guessing your budget is between 1-200 dollars based on the tickets. I think a solid gift would be a tablet for school or a weekend trip just the two of you. You could also give a "hope chest" full of things you think he will need as he moves forward with this life. I have always thought of a Grad gift as something to help you move forward and into adulthood - so think along those lines and I think you will figure out what is best for him.

My brother and I each got a good set of luggage from our parents that I still use. My ex got a TV from his parents.

I think a tablet would be a great gift. Find one that fits your budget.

Graduation "gifts"... all seem so expensive, or are, expensive.
High ticket items/trips/gadgets etc.
But as you said, you are a single Mom and working 2 jobs and no child support.
So some ideas might be:
If you have a family heirloom of some kind, that belonged to a loved Grandfather or even one from your childhood... then you can give him that.
It would be meaningful etc. and with family history to it.
Or, a loved book that you may have from your own personal collection. Or one from a grandparent etc. and you can sign it inside the book cover and note down the life event it is for and the date etc. My late Dad, had given me treasured books before. And I really value it deeply. I still have them and will pass it down to my own kids when they are older.
Or, perhaps, a nice framed photo of the 2 of you.

Grad gifts... do not have to cost a lot of money.
To me, the most significant gifts would be, one that means, something.
And if you and your son are close, and he is a good guy...then he will appreciate it... since he would know you work hard and are a single Mom.

For me personally... I really valued things that my parents handed down to me, at a certain age. It meant a lot. It meant, they trust me and that by giving me something of value from their own life or that it was a family heirloom... I was very honored to receive it.

I gave both my sons a hand written note and cash for their graduation gift. And get plenty of tissue, you will cry, and cry!!!

Your support and encouragement have lead your son to graduation:) Congratulations to you! WELL DONE!! I know you are so proud!!! Now days, especially being a single mom, are not easy getting children through the big moments in life.

my kids each got $100 in a card from me and hubby. and then when it was time to go to school in the fall we got some other stuff also like sheets, food etc for him to take with him.

we also had a big grad party. with family and friends and my sons friends.

My grandfather gave my older sister and I a $250 savings bond when we graduated high school.

My parents gave the older 3 of the 5 of us computers. That's because we were going straight to college and needed them, but it was still our gift.

As far as college goes:

My older sister got a week in Florida (hotel and park tickets)
I got a right hand diamond ring.
My brother got a week at a house in OBX (for which he was kind enough to invite the entire family!).

Graduate school:
I got a very nice DSLR camera.

Basically my parents asked us what we wanted and gave us what they could.

Do what you can, I'm sure he will appreciate anything. Can you get him other soccer tickets? What's your price range? What does he like? Have you asked him? High school or college?

YEARS ago when I graduated, I got a Senior trip with a group to the Bahamas and had a blast.

My daughter graduates this year. 2 good ideas are a new car and a good laptop, neither of which she needs right now because she is already set with that.

We plan to give her a nice chunk of cash for her to do whatever she wants with and let her choose a set of luggage. We are also paying 100% of her college education so she will graduate debt free. She is well aware of sacrifices made in order for us to do this for her and she has excelled with her academics in order to get in to a good school and excel in college as well. She is most appreciative for her opportunity to go to college and not worry about how to fund it so she can focus on her academic goals and career.

I believe a handwritten not of how much you appreciate and love your son would be special as well.

If he's going to college...
- New computer or tablet for school
- Nice watch (maybe engrave the back)
- Good leather wallet (with a little spending money tucked in)
- Weekend away with mom before he heads off to school

If he's going directly to work...
- shopping trip for "work clothes"
- watch or wallet

Make sure to include a handwritten letter telling him how proud you are of him. My parents do this on any special occasion and I have a box of cards and letters from them that mean the world to me.

What did they give me?
HS: Computer (needed it)
College: No gift, but they had a huge party where I received gifts... my tuition was $32,000 a year (in 1997) so they had done more than enough
Masters: Diamond Necklace
Post Graduate Degrees: Dinner out and $250 in cash

My son graduated in 2009 and we got him things he needed for college (sheets, towels, etc) and threw him a big party with family and friends. We aren't able to fully pay for his college but we have supported him throughout (supplies, gas, car insurance, health insurance, any/all necesseties, clothing, etc) and we have paid the interest payments on his student loans while he's been in school. **Forgot to mention, we took a family check over Spring Break during his senior year because that timing worked better than doing it after graduation**

He is about to graduate college and he ordered his ring. I paid for it for him so that is one gift. We are throwing him a party. Before his party, he wants to have a huge group go paintballing. I set that up and got a huge deal on it (but most are paying me back). Technically he still has to do an internship so we are still supporting him throughout the summer as well.

My mom gave me a ruby and yellow gold ring (that I've never worn as an adult because it's as tacky as can be), and flowers.

I want to give my boys memories when they graduate. A kickass vacation over the summer that they'll never forget. We love camping, fishing, and float trips down the river, so it'll probably be something like that.

A laptop/iPad/iPhone or a trip with a friend. What ever he'd like. I would've enjoyed a rented cabin so I can hike at Zion, Utah again. He may like a cruise but honestly, you are so happy to be out of school that anything is great!

Manchester tickets would've been awesome! Doing it right mom!

concert tickets and a scrapbook or slideshow. That's what we gave our son.

One of my friends kids was a soccer fan so I bought an old nightstand at a garage sale, sanded it and painted it with the Team logo. Cheap and memorable.

I received jewelry for my HS graduation. A bracelet from mom, earrings from grandma. My dad's gift was basically my college education. My mom had socked away all the child support for 6 years to pay for it. My dad took me for a really nice vacation before my junior year. I like the idea of the laptop, it is practical. If he's going away to college, a nice set of luggage could be good. I didn't really ask or want anything since I wasn't going off to college, I was staying local. If your son is staying local, I say take a nice vacation. Whatever you do, your support, love, and encouragement are the best gifts. Sounds like you've done a heck of a job so far!!! Congrats to you both!

If you are looking to give him an event, look for a different event or maybe offer "fancy dinner on me". When SS graduated college, we took some of his best friends out for Thai food. When SD graduated, we visited a friend and DH took SD and 2 friends to an under 21 dance club at the beach (and picked them up at a reasonable time). Is there something else you'd like to do with him or he might want to share with a best friend?

I don't have kiddos this old but I got a 13" tv from my parents . . .

Since he's going to college in the fall maybe stuff for his dorm room?

Well, I got luggage for my HS graduation and stuff for my dorm room (towels, comforter, HBA supplies, etc.). That would apply to a boy as well.

My niece & nephew got a choice between a backyard party or whole family out to dinner at a place of their choosing. Girl chise party. The boy the dinner out. ( I think the dinner bill was higher!)
They were also given college tuition so no loans.

My husbands niece chose a family vacation.

I think you know your son better than anyone. He'll probably be thrilled to hear just how proud you are of him!

I can't say. For one, I don't know what our financial situation will be at that point. I we can afford a car, or a semester of college, or something like that then we will give him that. If not, we will get him something nice that we can afford, but what will depend on him. I am assuming what he wants at 18 will be different then now while he is 9. If he is moving on campus maybe stuff to help set up his dorm room?