I need some advice from your 15 and 16 year old DD's UPDATE POST 12

[clh2]

My DD turns 16 this week. She will propbably be getting her license soon. We have an old vehicle for her, but needed to put some $$ into it (DH and my expense - brakes are definitely a safety things!). We will also pick up her insurance for the first year - as long as there isn't anything that raises her rates.

So - while I would love to spend a ton on her brithday - we aren't. DD knows this, and is OK with this. She does realize the value of having a car, as well as knowing what the brakes and insurance cost.

So - all we've gotten her are a "specific college" lanyard keyring. She REALLY wanted this. But then for her "main" present, we got her 2 lawn chairs. Nothing fancy...but they are the kind that she can lay out in the backyard on. I got 2 because I am assuming that if she has a friend over, they could each have one. The were only $30 each...so not breaking the bank.

(We have NO patio furniture, so if she wants to go outside - she uses a towel and lays on the deck, or less desirably - she will lay out on the grass on a towel. I don't encourage the grass - since we have a dog - enough said.

So - I am second guessing the chairs now. DD didn't ask for this, and hasn't really complained about the current "sunning accomodations" at our house. Is this an "OK" gift??? DD hasn't really asked for anything as a main present, since she knows about the expenses related to driving.

What would your 15-16 year olds think about this as a gift??? I want her birthday to be special...but kind of on a budget!

thanks a bunch!

 

[golfgal]

Given the car situation, my DD would love the lawn chairs. She really likes our hammock. As an "only" gift, no I wouldn't do that but to basically supplement a car, they are fine.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would tell dd that the car expense is their present and that is it.

We always go out to dinner on someone's b-day and have cake and sign happy b-day. I never "spend a ton" so it is a non issue at my house.

 

[iwrbnd]

Yes, she'll be thrilled with the car. That's definately enough!

 

[DisneySaver28]

I would also buy her a toy car and put a bow on it! (One of the $1 tiny cars)

 

[lucyanna girl]

Since it is her sweet 16 maybe add a small keepsake type gift?

When my daughter turned sixteen two years ago one of her gifts was a small engraved box I found at Things Remembered. It is in the shape of a heart and I had one of her favorite Walt Disney quotes engraved on it, "If you can dream it you can do it." and the date of her birth. She loved it.

I think she will be thrilled with the keyring and chairs.

Happy Birthday to your daughter, enjoy her!

Penny

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My DD 16 just got her first car. The only other thing we got her (in addition to the $900 maintenance from the Volkswagen dealership) was this:

http://www.catholiccompany.com/cath...ever-Drive-Faster-Than-Your-Angel-Visor-Clip/

My daughter is pretty spoiled (my fault) but she got the car of her dreams (a Jetta, it's a 2000, but very pretty) and this clip. She was VERY happy.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Since it is her sweet 16 maybe add a small keepsake type gift?

When my daughter turned sixteen two years ago one of her gifts was a small engraved box I found at Things Remembered. It is in the shape of a heart and I had one of her favorite Walt Disney quotes engraved on it, "If you can dream it you can do it." and the date of her birth. She loved it.

I think she will be thrilled with the keyring and chairs.

Happy Birthday to your daughter, enjoy her!

Penny

I love the engraved box idea...and the quote from Disney!

 

[clh2]

I love the angel clip idea!

DD doesn't really like clutter in her room - so we always steer clear of things like "little engraved boxes".

The car isn't really going to be "hers", DH has been very specific about that. This is a family political thing - so I need to respect DH's wishes on this. (But if you do the math - there are 3 people in our house and 3 cars...)

The question really was directed to your 15-16 year olds...are they still sleeping this morning? FWIW - mine is still in bed What do your 15-16 yo's think of this idea???

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I love the angel clip idea!

DD doesn't really like clutter in her room - so we always steer clear of things like "little engraved boxes".

The car isn't really going to be "hers", DH has been very specific about that. This is a family political thing - so I need to respect DH's wishes on this. (But if you do the math - there are 3 people in our house and 3 cars...)

The question really was directed to your 15-16 year olds...are they still sleeping this morning? FWIW - mine is still in bed What do your 15-16 yo's think of this idea???

Mine are in bed, of course. I have one DD who will be 15 April 18 and the 16 year old DD. I have to admit, the angel clip was more for my sake. I'm so worried about her driving, I saw this clip and HAD to get it. And you can't beat $5. Oh, and it doesn't look cheap at all. It's a very nice clip.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have a 16yo who DIDN't get a car for her 16th b-day. In fact, she didn't get anything "big" and was fine with it. She would most certainly be fine with having a car to drive (even it it was not technically hers) and a keychain from the college of her liking (which she did get a lanyard one from her college of choice at 15 and still LOVES) and the lawn chairs.

Mine's up but gone right now but she would not think your gift lame at all.

 

[Stitchfans]

I would tell dd that the car expense is their present and that is it.

We always go out to dinner on someone's b-day and have cake and sign happy b-day. I never "spend a ton" so it is a non issue at my house.

Same for us. The car would be the main gift. And as said cake, dinner and a card. DD knows we are tight with the money right now due to past problems so she would be fine with that.

 

[clh2]

Geez...I feel so STUPID.

I totally forgot that DH and I purchased a luggage set for DD back in February. This was something that DD really wanted.

So - the fun present will be the UW-Madison keyring. The thing she really wanted was a set of luggage. The lawnchairs I think she will love, but if she doesn't - the luggage is more the main gift anyway. And - she ALWAYS gets an itunes GC for b-days and other gift-giving holidays.

So - we had a family party on Sunday (totally planned last minute, but her "driver's license cake" was so stinking cute - we felt the need to have some cousins over. Her actual b-day isn't until Wednesday...so I won't know for sure if she will like the lawn chairs until then...but at least I do not feel panicked about them.

Thanks for the help! I really do appreciate it!!!

 

[cheermom1]

I think the car is enough. I did get my dd a car for 16th but she didn't like and said she "wouldn't be caught dead in it" so I took it form her and sold it and told her that if she wanted a car she could buy it!

I know it wasn't the prettiest but it ran and drove great plus it was safe and would have lasted a long time! I don't know about anyone else but I know if that car had been giving to me I would have been jumping up and down with freaking joy!! It was paid for and I was paying the insurance. GEEZ. I don't get it.

 

[clh2]

I think the car is enough. I did get my dd a car for 16th but she didn't like and said she "wouldn't be caught dead in it" so I took it form her and sold it and told her that if she wanted a car she could buy it!

I know it wasn't the prettiest but it ran and drove great plus it was safe and would have lasted a long time! I don't know about anyone else but I know if that car had been giving to me I would have been jumping up and down with freaking joy!! It was paid for and I was paying the insurance. GEEZ. I don't get it.

DD is not getting the car as a b-day present. She would love it, don't get me wrong, she would love it. We have been very specific about this with DD, so there won't be any issues/disappointments. DH has been very specific that this will "not be her car...but will be available for her to drive under the right circumstances."

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Geez...I feel so STUPID.

I totally forgot that DH and I purchased a luggage set for DD back in February. This was something that DD really wanted.

So - the fun present will be the UW-Madison keyring. The thing she really wanted was a set of luggage. The lawnchairs I think she will love, but if she doesn't - the luggage is more the main gift anyway. And - she ALWAYS gets an itunes GC for b-days and other gift-giving holidays.

So - we had a family party on Sunday (totally planned last minute, but her "driver's license cake" was so stinking cute - we felt the need to have some cousins over. Her actual b-day isn't until Wednesday...so I won't know for sure if she will like the lawn chairs until then...but at least I do not feel panicked about them.

Thanks for the help! I really do appreciate it!!!

Oh don't you dare feel stupid. Here's what's stupid: I was at work when my DH took my daughter to get her license. She called me and told me she got it. Right in the middle of work, I burst out in tears. Not from joy, either.
I have been dreading that day for years. I even vented on here about how scared I was (and still am). But I'm doing better. I love the idea of a drivers license cake...thats SO clever. Wish I had thought of it! Oh, and don't feel like you didn't get her enough. Just show her the insurance bill when you get it in the mail.
She should never ask for anything again! Our car insurance, every six months, is now 3 times the price of our mortgage. I mean, don't let that scare you, we have a very low mortgage...it's just the thought, you know.
Anyway, Happy Birthday to your DD!!! By the way, I got luggage from Kohls at a really good deal for each of my DD's right before our last Disney trip, and they use it way more than I ever imagined. Nothing fancy, one set was pink, the other purple. They have both used it for cheer camps and DD16 used hers again for the schools Washington DC trip and DD 15 will use it for her DC trip when she is a sophomore. I never thought luggage would be so handy for teenagers. This set should def last thru college. So smart thinking on the luggage Oh, and I pray we can afford the cruise we booked this summer, things are really tight right now because I have had some medical issues and I'm currently out of work. We will go eventually, we have a credit for our deposit that is good for a cruise within 2 years of cancelling the current trip. So, there is another use (I HOPE) for the luggage~

 

[cheermom1]

I think the car is enough. I did get my dd a car for 16th but she didn't like and said she "wouldn't be caught dead in it" so I took it form her and sold it and told her that if she wanted a car she could buy it!

I know it wasn't the prettiest but it ran and drove great plus it was safe and would have lasted a long time! I don't know about anyone else but I know if that car had been giving to me I would have been jumping up and down with freaking joy!! It was paid for and I was paying the insurance. GEEZ. I don't get it.

DD is not getting the car as a b-day present. She would love it, don't get me wrong, she would love it. We have been very specific about this with DD, so there won't be any issues/disappointments. DH has been very specific that this will "not be her car...but will be available for her to drive under the right circumstances."

Oh I see well I think what you got is great. One thing i did was get 16 little things I knew she would love like lip gloss and nail polish (she requested neon colors) all were things she would want and/or needed and wrapped them as she HAD to open 16 presents

 

[clh2]

Seriously...16 presents sounds like fun!!!

Can I count the luggage as 4 presents? The lawn chairs, key ring and itunes is another 4...I would need 8 more...maybe a couple of candy bars...

I even have about 1.5 hours to shop tomorrow night while she has practice...I should check out the dollar spot at target! Too bad she just stocked up on her flip flops for the summer

 

[cheermom1]

Seriously...16 presents sounds like fun!!!

Can I count the luggage as 4 presents? The lawn chairs, key ring and itunes is another 4...I would need 8 more...maybe a couple of candy bars...

I even have about 1.5 hours to shop tomorrow night while she has practice...I should check out the dollar spot at target! Too bad she just stocked up on her flip flops for the summer

I counted even the car. I wrapped the car keys.

yep I was going to suggest flip flops but I see you have that covered. Wait, how many pieces of luggage did you get??? Yep I'm that mean I would wrap each piece of luggage! MMMWWWAHHHH

 

[EllaM]

My mom hired a singing chicken to serenade me at a very small (5 people) after school party. It was corny but very sweet. I had told her one classmate (a girl I didn't really know) had been surprised by her parents at a school assembly with a singing pink gorilla.

As for cars and licenses, my mom told me what her father told her... "you don't get one until you get a job and can pay for it". I didn't get my driver's license and a car until after she died. In fairness, she was terrified of my driving and I needed a lot of very expensive adaptive controls to account for a disability.

I kinda hate parents who overindulge their 16 year olds. (That Sweet Sixteen show on MTV makes me want to vomit what with all the hubris of the overly spoiled girls.) It's more than enough to mark the day and acknowledge that your little girl is growing up. But please, keep her off the street while I'm trying to drive. I have quite enough problems dodging cell phone talkers, drunk drivers and general idiots. The last thing I need is to run into one of these darlings too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I54mlK0kVw&feature=player_embedded