Grad (Re)Cap 🎓and Gown: A Parent’s POV
Now that the confetti has settled, we are looking back and capturing perspectives on both sides of the graduation experience. Our last post covered the grad party guest’s point of view and the challenge of selecting a fitting grad party gift.
(Spoiler: we determined money really does reign supreme for most grads.)
But since one of HeyDay co-founder Jill’s sons walked across the stage this year, we wanted to get a more personal perspective on the other side of the experience.
We had three main question for her:
What did your grad want most?
What did your grad receive?
How did the experience influence your gifting to other grads this year?
Here’s a round-up of Jill’s answers and takeaways.
What did your grad want most?
Money was his top gift wish, but this music-loving guy also wanted pianos. Maybe that’s where his money’s going! That tidbit led to a powerful aha for me. Just because giving money sounds impersonal to me, it’s allowing them to purchase or save for what’s personal to them.
Giving money is investing in them and their interests and dreams - in this case, a piano!
What did your grad receive?
Most guests have clearly caught on that money is the preferred gift. Her son’s card box was the MVP of the party, and he was blown away by guests’ generosity even though his mom tried to prepare him.
A couple guests got creative and brought him fun surprises to open. He got a nice fan, which was received really well. (If you haven’t experienced this fan favorite before, we highly recommend it. You can get them at Costco, Target, Amazon, etc.). Fans offer comfort and some gentle white noise that can come in handy in dorm rooms.
He also got a couple sentimental gifts. Her son’s heading to Indiana University, and you may have heard they had a pretty decent football season last year (understatement!). Family friends actually attended the Rose Bowl and brought him a limited edition IU commemorative rally towel handed out there. Does it get any cooler than that? Another family brought him IU rally towels they picked up locally, so he’s all set for the student section.
The other sentimental gift came from his mama. (Cue the tissues). She got him a t-shirt blanket made up of squares cut from all his old t-shirts from sports, vacation spots, shows he’s been in, and other special memories. When she asked him if he wanted that a few months prior, he told her he’d been counting on it. The morning after the party, she peeked in on him. He was covered up with the t-shirt blanket.
I warned you about the tissues.
There were other fun surprises outside of the party. The award for most-unexpected thoughtful gesture came from the nurse at his allergist office. She gave him a mug with a Starbucks card in it.
His voice lessons teacher also gave him a tumbler, and a friend gave him a signed copy of The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters book by Andy Andrews.
How did the experience influence your gifting to other grads this year?
We’re going to let Jill tell this one in her own words:
He had a few friends from the Counterpoints show choir whose graduation parties we weren’t invited to, simply because I didn’t know the families well enough. But these were kids who had been such a big part of his senior year, and I still wanted to do something meaningful for them.
I had the idea to give them engraved keychains. At first, I don’t think my son was completely sold on the idea, but once I explained what I had in mind, he got into it — and even started making requests.
The keychains included their initials, schools, and a phrase tied to Counterpoints. The “formula” was something like:
CP, let’s go! + Class of 2026 / AT – NCHS – IU + Make it count
We adjusted each one with his input, depending on the friend.
I also gave each of them a $25 IHOP gift card because going to IHOP late at night after competitions had become a Counterpoints tradition. I spent a long Saturday morning writing cards — and maybe shedding a few tears — telling them how much the past year had meant to me and how proud I was of them.
For the graduation open houses we were invited to, I gave a check and a card. But I still made every card personal — front and back, of course. It was honestly therapeutic, and I hope those kids know how special they are. I also threw in a $5 scratch-off for a few of them. Had to do my mama proud — LOL.
The Big Takeaway
Here’s where we’re landing on all of this (and why we’re so passionate about HeyDay).
It's most important to give something the receiver wants. If they want money or a gift card most, you can make it more meaningful and thoughtful by writing a personalized card that shares memories, tells them why you are proud, etc. You can also make it fun by including small items like photos, scratch-off tickets or their favorite candy. If you have the perfect gift and know the recipient will love it, go for it.
Good news! We’ll take the stress out of it next year.
You’ll have HeyDay to help with the personalization part so you can feel confident walking into that party. If you haven’t signed up for the waitlist, here’s the place to save your spot.
You may still want to bring the tissues though.