Prairie~Phlox Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Our only daughter will be 18 this month. I'm looking for suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Waffles (tradition), Sketch books, a Naussica watercolor art book, a Studio Ghibli movie (can't remember which one), and an Amazon gift card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gil Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 What does she like to do? Read? Watch? What is something that she's always wanted to try? What is something you think that she'd like? What is something that she always wanted but that you guys have never allowed/given? What does she want to do after HS or College? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Does she have "grown up" jewelry. For Christmas I gave dd18 pearl earrings and a pearl pendant. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 My parents gave me good quality luggage. It was a great gift! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 A trip to France, with me, for a choral festival. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 A checking account 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 A laptop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 A lap top, lap top bag, printer, and a quilt. Her birthday was one day before we graduated her so gifts for the two events were combined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyinva Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 A hope chest. I searched junktique shops for weeks and found a beautiful wooden chest, and my husband and I collected an assortment of new and used household goodies to put in it. She is 23 now, and I think it is still her favorite gift ever. She has really enjoyed using the items in it, too! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 We celebrated with a family (just us) dinner at a very fancy restaurant downtown. The tab was about $250 for the four of us. It was definitely a once in a lifetime birthday. For her 16th bday, we gave her 16 gifts. Each gift was numbered. She began at #16 and went down. Each gift had that many of whatever item it was, for example, a package of 16 mini donuts, a $15 gift card, 14 hair bands, 6 pairs of sock, 4 shirts, 2 pairs of earrings, and 1 $50 bill. It was really fun, and it can easily be adjusted to suit any age. Actually, I got the idea on these boards! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I gave my DD an iPhone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksr5377 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I don't have any that old yet, but for MY 18th birthday my parents sent me 18 roses with a card that read "A rose for every year of happiness you have given us." 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Are you looking for a memorable gift or just a birthday gift in general? For dd17 I took her to Ulta (makeup store) and bought her 5 premium pieces of make up. We haven't hit 18 yet, so I don't know what her gift will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Upennmama Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 What goes in a hope chest? I love the idea, but struggle with modern implementation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 My DS's 18th birthday was yesterday. He got a new laptop. He is taking college classes and needed one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 She has a laptop & iphone already, laptop she bought for community college this past summer, iphone is hand me down when dh upgraded. I was thinking a nice ring, but I need to ask her if it's something that she would like. She likes to read, likes plants, she works at a greenhouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErinE Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 What goes in a hope chest? I love the idea, but struggle with modern implementation. As stated by other posters, nice linens, good towels, throw blankets, basically household items that any person might need. Once it's in the recipients home, it's great for holding blankets and pillows. A family member got my great-grandmother's hope chest and I enjoy seeing it when I visit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) Edited: Sorry, I posted something she already has. Edited February 3, 2016 by mom31257 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 My parents got me a wooden cane with a brass duck head as a handle. I am not/was not lame. Don't be like my parents. Whatever you do, no canes. :/ If she loves jewelry, then real jewelry is nice. If she wouldn't want to pick out her own stuff, then the hope chest is nice (but some kids would really want to pick out their own stuff.) If she needs expensive electronics, then that. I was a pretty independent type of person at that age. I was aching to grow up and be my own person. I would have loved it if my parents got me tickets to some sort of event, like a play or comedy show---two tickets. One for me and one for my best friend. And then I could have felt all grown up going out to an event with a peer. It would have been a nod to my adulthood--that my gift was something I did alone with a friend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Theatre tickets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Tickets to see piano guys. And mom needs to come along too. Because, you know....she needs help parking or something. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 (edited) nm Edited July 22, 2016 by Katy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plansrme Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Luggage. She is studying abroad this summer. She loved it and is not easy to please. For her HS graduation, a t-shirt quilt made from mostly from competitoon gymnastics leotards and warm-ups and not t-shirts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 My mom did nicer jewelry for each of my "bigger" birthdays - 18, 25, 30. I'm trying to remember: pearl earrings sapphire necklace pearl necklace (can't remember the order) She got me pieces that she knew I'd like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhanaBee Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I have three girls, two of which have already passed their 18th birthday. For each girl I have given them 18 presents. Please understand, normally we aren't the type of people who give a ton of presents "just because", but when my oldest turned 18 I had a number of little things to give her and decided to go all out and make it 18 total. There is one big present [for one girl it was a digital camera] and the rest are little things. All girls love Disney, so each of them have [or will] receive a Mickey Graduation cap. One is a dancer, so I included a sewing kit, ribbons and air freshener amongst her presents. From their Grandmother, each receives a cedar chest. My parents give them stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 A checking account We gave ours money, because she was working on saving up a nest egg to make her big move to NYC. We also took her to the bank to set up her first "grown up" checking account. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggieamy Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 She has a laptop & iphone already, laptop she bought for community college this past summer, iphone is hand me down when dh upgraded. I was thinking a nice ring, but I need to ask her if it's something that she would like. She likes to read, likes plants, she works at a greenhouse What about a trip? Five days in London would be so memorable for a family. My parents got me a wooden cane with a brass duck head as a handle. I am not/was not lame. Don't be like my parents. Whatever you do, no canes. :/ That is too weird and too funny. I just don't understand the thought process behind that ... I was a pretty independent type of person at that age. I was aching to grow up and be my own person. I would have loved it if my parents got me tickets to some sort of event, like a play or comedy show---two tickets. One for me and one for my best friend. And then I could have felt all grown up going out to an event with a peer. It would have been a nod to my adulthood--that my gift was something I did alone with a friend. This is such a splendid idea. I like the idea of doing something like this at 16 even. Here's the car keys and here's some tickets to a play. Go and have fun. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 I'm hoping to take dd to a Broadway show for graduation. That might be good for 18bd. We'd take the bus to NYC and I know an inexpensive (for NYC) hotel walking distance to the theaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 I should also add, my dd has had a checking account since she was about 15 & a savings account since younger, she's a good saver and has worked since about 14. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 Someone's comment reminded me that I made a shadow box for dd's birthday. It included a baby outfit she wore, her hospital bracelet, a favorite pacificer, a newborn knit hat, etc. I decorated it with scrapbooking-type baby sticker/doodads. It is on her bedroom wall. I wanted 18 to be special, unique, not the usual stuff she might get for any other birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 She got an early present of a laptop, she needed it for DE classes. Then for her actual birthday, we took her on a cruise. I think she was free because she was still 17 when we started the cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PamelaKay Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Used car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 They both got a countdown to 18 type thing. State girl got a true count down 18 sets of 18-17-16-.... until down to 1 gift. It was little things pens, pencils, push pins, etc. Things she would need later at college. The 1 was the big gift - a bracelet from Tiffany's. Campbell girl got 18 little things related to symbols - compass so she would know where she was going, duct tape because it fixes everything, yarn because a cord of three strands is not easily broken, etc. Her last gift was a Dooney and Burke purse. They both picked out what that last gift was. I like the second 18 count better and I thought I had it right here but I can't find it now. But I did ask you guys for ideas. Actually I asked you for ideas and then how to pair it down to 18: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/547843-18th-birthday-gift-ready-to-go-but/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 When ours turned 18, we gave gifts that symbolized blessings. I can't remember everything, but a few things were: journal - to write your own story compass - to find your way chocolate - for life to be sweet steampunk skeleton keys - to unlock doors flashlight - to always have light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 We got our most recently turned 18 year old an ipad mini and case, because she was planning to spend the following year abroad and traveling a lot, and it seemed like something that could serve multiple purposes... Mostly, keeping in touch with us. 😄 We got another daughter a very nice high quality backpack. The kind you use instead of a suitcase, for traveling. When I turned 18, I got a nice set of luggage. I had it for many years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.