Graduation Gift

[Lilith]

A good friend of mine in her 40's is graduating from college late in life like I will be in Decemeber. I am trying to find a nice gift that is appropriate. I was thinking a super nice pen (cause it's traditional) or something she can use to teach.

Does anyone have any good suggestions? Do any of you have a preference of writing instruments?

[cowgirltease]

How about a very nice bag for her to carry all her teaching stuff in?
Then slip a nice pen inside to get her started. :)

[wyndhy]

maybe she could do with a little relaxing instead... gift certificate for a spa day, perhaps. a nice dinner catered at her home?

a frame for her cerificate?

maybe a subscription to a discipline specific professional magazine, journal or newsletter.

if you go with the pen, have it engraved with a little something personal. i think that's always a nice touch.

[lonelyarmywife]

If she's going to teach, cowgirl's bag idea is a great one. Also, a day planer or organizer of some sort will come in handy as well. Or a gift card to an office supply store. Or a lifetime supply of aspirin and whiskey.

:)

LAW

[Lilith]

LOL! Great suggestions! Especially the aspirin and booze :p

[maddy]

My graduation gift of choice... which you could add to is Dr Suess' Oh the Places You Go. I've given this to every graduate I know with a note scribed by me in the front cover commending them on their accomplishment and that this is only the beginning of their fantastic voyage. The pen is a lovely idea, I gave one as a gift once with engraving, I think it was well received.

[fzzy]

Rose colored glasses ?!?!?! :) I love the pen idea ... but then I love nice pens ... I've never spent so much as what a Mont Blanc costs, but all the people I know who have them .. complain that they leak very bad ... so I'd suggest something other than that ... I love my cross pen ... not the traditional gold one (though I have a few of them as well) but it's a plastic outer one ... bought it at one Staples or Office Depot a few years ago for $20 ... and have had several people comment on how much they like the way it feels in their hand and the balance of it.

I love the idea about the Dr. Seuss ... Places You'll Go book .. I love that one and it's such a great idea for a graduation or moving forward in life type of gift ... I'm going to remember that one!

[Lilith]

Funny...she gave me Dr Seuss' Many Colored Days to celebrate us finishing our first year together.

I have a pen thing too and once bought my MIL a $150 fountain pen and a notebook of handmade paper when she said she wanted to write a book about their family. Mr. Lil wanted to skin me alive :p

I'll definitely find her a book...oooooooooo maybe I can look for a signed children's book by someone I know she loves. When we went to a conference she and I had fun getting our books signed by the authors.

[Master Scribe]

Lil I have a suggestion...........

One of the nice things given to me when I graduated was a nice briefcase. Inside was a year long planner, a set of Cross pens and pencils. I also found a nice selection of highlighters as well as grading pens and a couple of boxes of pencils ( the goods ones not Dollar Store ). Also there was teachers starter kit consisting of a small bag with the following inside: a breath mint, a chocolate kiss, and eraser, a smiley button and a butterfly. The not explained that the mint was to make sure the kids did not have to face after lunch breath, the kiss was a stress releiver the button was to make sure I smiled everyday and the butterfly was a reminder that the most beautiful things in the world often do not start that way ( refering to looking for the beauty in every child), the eraser was to remind me that all mistakes can be corrected ( mine or the kids)

I really enjoy this gift and while it may seem like a lot I looked at that little back for 10 years and smiled..I also still have the briefcase!!!

Robert

[Teddy Bear]

I guess I'm not as practical as the rest of you.

I'm thinking of a charm bracelet with a single charm on it, (like a graduation cap or an apple or something else to signify teaching) and have something engraved on the charm. (the date, or a quote she likes or some thing meaningful to the both of you)
This is something she'll have forever and everytime she wears it she'll think of you.

[Lilith]

I make jewelry but I always figure people are sick of getting it :p

[WildIrish]

How about a super fancy red marker for correcting papers?

And a set of stamps, like "Super Job", "Terrific", or "Write Neater!" :D

A case of tennis balls, so all the kids start off the new year with clean tennis balls on the feet of their chairs!

[FussyPucker]

If it's to help her teach maybe a large cane that should keep the little buggers in order :D

[wyndhy]

lol^^

we had a teacher who had a paddle with holes in it...apparently the holes minimized wind resistance :eek:

[Lilith]

and makes a lovely sound ;)

[cowgirltease]

ROFL! I feel sorry for your kids or is it the hubby who gets to test the hole pattern? :D

[Kaelynn]

I am not sure what grade she is teaching but what I got for my sister that she really loved was the whole book set by Shel Silverstein. He wrote "where the sidewalk ends", "a light in the attic", and "falling up." It is a collection of peoms that children love. Now if she is a highschool math teacher this idea is no good... So scrap it...

Anyway, good luck finding the good/best gift! :)

~Kaelynn~

[Glyndwr]

If she's going to be a teacher I suggest it's her partner that needs the gift :)

[wyndhy]

how about a gift certificate to a proffesional school/teacher's supply store. teachers end up spending sooooooo much of their own money decorating and improving their classrooms. especially new teachers. they are so exited to be setting up a classroom for the first time they always go above and beyond. it can get VERY expencive.

[txgrneyes]

When I was teaching (2 yr olds) at a daycare. One of the moms gave me a tote bag with pockets for pictures. Inside the bag was a thoughtful card explaining all the items inside. Inside was:

Spearmint & eucalypts candle- to promote relaxation
Smiley face stickers- after all they were 2 yr olds.
A candy jar full of hershey's kisses- for the extra energy I needed
A couple of book marks- to remember where I am
A lapel pin of a guardian angle - to remind me I am guarding there angels
And a small spatula magnet- for me when I needed to be scraped off the ceiling.

This really meant alot to me. So I am sure anything you get her will be right for the occasion.

Natalie