8th grade graduation gift

[TinklednPants]

I know I live in the Bible Belt, but an open bar at a celebration for a 13- or 14-year-old is just weird.

I don't see why when at least 80 of the 100 guests are of legal age. Are the adults expected to have sippy cups of apple juice at a party?

 

[tar heel]

QUOTE=TinklednPants;32125095]I don't see why when at least 80 of the 100 guests are of legal age. Are the adults expected to have sippy cups of apple juice at a party?[/QUOTE]

Even my kid who loved his sippy cup was off it by the time he "graduated" from 8th grade. How about a nice punch that everyone can drink? Does the kid really know these 100 people? Sounds like this is more an excuse to have a party than a celebration of the kid to me. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I've not been a Baptist for almost 30 years, but I guess that upbringing is still there in me.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

our school calls it moving up (elem to middle school) - not graduating. The kids have a nice assembly and the PTO does a nice themed party.

we will probably get DD a card, a small bouquet, and take her out to her restaurant choice for a nice end to the day

ETA: we will probably get her a Webkinz - but we do that any way at the end of school year.

 

[TinklednPants]

Even my kid who loved his sippy cup was off it by the time he "graduated" from 8th grade. How about a nice punch that everyone can drink? Sounds like this is more an excuse to have a party than a celebration of the kid to me. Does the kid really know these 100 people? Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I've not been a Baptist for almost 30 years, but I guess that upbringing is still there in me.

What is so wrong with everyone being able to have what they want to drink?
Milk for the very young. Soda and juice for those in between and adult beverages for the adults. I most certainly knew everyone at my party. It was mainly family (aunts, uncles, cousins) with some friends and neighbors as well. And if you look up celebration in a thesaurus guess what you get- PARTY!

 

[Niagara2]

My DS who is in a private catholic school will wear cap and gown at a mass in a few weeks. They have a buffet in the church hall after. His class is really going in all directions. Some onto the private high school next door, some to other catholic high schools, some to public. Most of the kids have been together since kindergarden.
Since it is a cap and gown ceromony it seems that we should mark the ocassion with a card and an immediate family dinner. Take some pictures and congratulate him that he is on his way to high school and enjoy the memories with him.
It is just a nice evening that the family spends together.
Today and tommorrow they are on their class trips to Great Wolf Lodge, and a day of local activities, movies, bowling, restaurant, lazer tag etc.
My other DS did this last year. He is in his first year of High School and was telling me that the senior class did a class prank on Monday - they school was full of chickens and ducks running around DS then turned to his friend graduating from 8th and says what can we do. Oh boy....
Anyway, the kids feel special for a day after much hard work, so we get to enjoy a few happy hours with them. Go and enjoy.

 

[maryisme]

My DD is graduating from 8th grade next week and we will be celebrating by going out to lunch prior to the evening ceremony. I also got her a gift for doing so well. She received 2 partial scholarships and was accepted into a performing arts high school that is very difficult to get into. Yes, she knows that I *expect* her to work to her potential but hey, its always nice to be rewarded for a job well done.

She has been attending the same catholic school for the past 10 years so it is a big deal for her and for me.

September 09 will bring a huge change in her life. She will be commuting to her new school via mass transit. She currently walks to school. It also represents the beginning of a new level of responsibility and independence.

These are all great things and I am very happy for her but I gotta say that its all a little scary for me . But anyway, sorry for the long monologue but that is why I am gift giving and celebrating the graduation.

Mary