Graduation gift for DGD's boyfriend. . .

[monsterkitty]

First time I ever heard of grandparents giving their GD's boyfriend a graduation gift.

I understand that it does sound different or strange that grandparents are giving their DGD's boyfriend a gift for graduation. However, in the area I teach, it would not be strange at all. At my school, we have almost 50% of our students being raised by someone other than their parents. Most of these are being raised by grandparents. I don't know if this is the case in the OP's case, but if it were, it would be like a parent giving their DD's boyfriend a gift for graduation.

OP, I suggest a hoodie of the college he might be attending. That and a laundry basket containing detergent, drier sheets, and instructions on how to do laundry (this part would be for humor!).

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I honestly mean absolutely no rudeness whatsoever, because I think it is so nice of you to want to get him a gift. But honestly, I would keep it simple and cheap because the chances of them staying together once he starts college are slim to none. I would rather not throw a ton of money for a gift for someone who probably won't be in the picture for much longer.

Once again, I do mean anything rude by this, but the reality of the situation is that he is going to be away at college. I think we all know what that means lol

Just being honest here too...my grandmother gave my Senior boyfriend a graduation gift in 1993. I was a Junior at the time - because of the timing of our birthdays, he was one year ahead of me in school. Had his birthday been 17 days earlier in the year, he would have graduated when I was a Sophomore.

Then she gave him a birthday and Christmas gift every year after until 2014 when she passed away. The only difference is, after 1998, I started to call him my husband and our kids call him Dad.

You just never know.....

bottom line - I have yet to be updated on the ettiquette of basing the thoughtfulness of a gift on whether you think you will still see the recipient a few years down the road. Heck, if I used that standard, I would have given a $25 Applebee's gift card to the "happy" couple of about 60% of the weddings I've attended in the past 25 years. Now THAT was predictible!

 

[anneboleyn]

Just being honest here too...my grandmother gave my Senior boyfriend a graduation gift in 1993. I was a Junior at the time - because of the timing of our birthdays, he was one year ahead of me in school. Had his birthday been 17 days earlier in the year, he would have graduated when I was a Sophomore.

Then she gave him a birthday and Christmas gift every year after until 2014 when she passed away. The only difference is, after 1998, I started to call him my husband and our kids call him Dad.

You just never know.....

bottom line - I have yet to be updated on the ettiquette of basing the thoughtfulness of a gift on whether you think you will still see the recipient a few years down the road. Heck, if I used that standard, I would have given a $25 Applebee's gift card to the "happy" couple of about 60% of the weddings I've attended in the past 25 years. Now THAT was predictible!

That is wonderful about you guys being together that long! I love hearing stories like that.

But they probably are going to break up. It is just the sad truth. And I agree that it is nice that she wants to buy him a gift, and ultimately it is her choice to do it, but I definitely would not be buying an expensive gift for someone who will more than likely never be seen again after they break up.

And I remember seeing a thread that OP wrote where she doesn't like DGD's boyfriend at all, so I think that is an even better reason not to get him an elaborate gift lol

 

[maxaroni]

My da18 also, but he is very picky - I couldn't even buy him a watch.

\

Same here. His ex girlfriend gave him a watch when he was in HS. He has since built his collection...

 

[Lilacs4Me]

That is wonderful about you guys being together that long! I love hearing stories like that.

But they probably are going to break up. It is just the sad truth. And I agree that it is nice that she wants to buy him a gift, and ultimately it is her choice to do it, but I definitely would not be buying an expensive gift for someone who will more than likely never be seen again after they break up.

And I remember seeing a thread that OP wrote where she doesn't like DGD's boyfriend at all, so I think that is an even better reason not to get him an elaborate gift lol

True, but my mom said the same thing to my relatives. And for a good reason, too - Even I didn't know at the time he would still be around almost 30 years later (I was a teenager after all!). So, I get it! And I see where you are coming from with the Op's previous posts! But if he has been around for a while already, it's OK to get him something thoughtful.

 

[anneboleyn]

True, but my mom said the same thing to my relatives. And for a good reason, too - Even I didn't know at the time he would still be around almost 30 years later (I was a teenager after all!). So, I get it! And I see where you are coming from with the Op's previous posts! But if he has been around for a while already, it's OK to get him something thoughtful.

You are probably right. I may be underestimating the seriousness of their relationship

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't think I have seen a kid wearing a watch in many years- even as an adult there is no need for me to wear a watch anymore, cell phone has the time on it and that is always with me.

my 17 year old wears a watch

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My teen boys and my husband all wear watches. I never do because I use my phone.

I actually know a lot of people who started dating in high school and are married or still together after many years. It surprises me. I always think once they graduate it won't last, and then they prove me wrong. My 3 siblings all married their high school sweethearts. I'm the only one out of the 4 of us who broke up with my boyfriend and moved on.

As for grandparents giving a gift, I don't think that's unusual. I gave my nieces boyfriend a gift when he graduated high school even though I still thought they would break up since they went off to different colleges. He had been at all the family get togethers and over to my house for dinner many times over the years so I felt like he was part of the family. The two of them just graduated college, and they are still together, once again proving my prediction wrong.