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There is no way to sugarcoat this: It sucks. My son is 17 years old and a high school senior. His graduation is merely a week away and I'm still trying to figure out what insert to put into the graduation announcements that we got a week ago. After all, people can't come to the graduation, which is historically a really big deal here in Hawaii.
My son is pretty good about rolling with the punches but he has expressed disappointment in about this whole "graduating during COVID-19" — he knew it was important for his great grandmother to come and see him, graduate. So much for the best-laid plans.
Instead, his graduation looks like this: we're driving through the parking lot where he grabs the diploma, drive to another spot in the lot and he gets out, walks the stage, gets a picture, and pops back in the car. Only one parent is allowed in the car, though I wonder how many will stick to that rule. Gotta admit, after 17 years of doing everything to raise a good kid, I feel a bit cheated that I don't get to gawk proudly from the stands.
If you're like me, trying to figure out how to make this year special, here are some 2020 graduation gifts to think about along with some creative ways to celebrate this unprecedented graduation season.
2020 graduation gift ideas
Obviously graduation presents should be personal and fit the needs and personality of the graduate. There are a lot of great ideas to get someone preparing to head off to college — even though it might be delayed in some ways, they're still going.
Here are great ideas for graduation presents for 2020 graduates:
1. Roku Ultra: A compact and comprehensive streaming device to make dorm living even more entertaining
2. UV-Clean Phone Sanitizer by HoMedics: Graduates might still be concerned about viruses when they leave home; this helps keep their phones sanitary
3. Apple AirPods Pro: Who doesn't want EQ capabilities that automatically tune music to your ear shape?
4. Smart Bottle by LifeFuels: Syncs to your phone to help you monitor daily water intake and infuse your water with timely flavor packs
5. Online graduation cards: I have to admit that the online graduation card thing doesn’t really make me feel great about "doing something special" for a graduate. But it does allow people to keep social distancing from having to go out to buy cards, maybe even saves a trip to the post office. So I'll get over myself on this one.
What makes a great online gradation card is the meaning behind it. It could involve a collage of pictures with inside jokes or fond memories. Since we all can’t get together to reminisce about the graduate’s upbringing and crazy adventures, make sure the graduation card is personal and expresses how proud you are of the kid.
Virtual grad party
With stay-at-home orders still in effect, a real party for our graduates is completely out of the question. This is where families must get creative to share the joy of this milestone accomplishment into adulthood.
6. A virtual party: To host a virtual grad party you need people, an online video conferencing room, decorations, and food. Get family together and ask them to put up some decorations for the graduate.
Give everyone a chance to congratulate the graduate while everyone enjoys music and food. Have the graduate open presents and acknowledge those who gave them. Don't forget to record the virtual party as a final present for the guest of honor. The bright side of not having live parties is there will be fewer drunk driving issues on grad night.
7. Time capsule: Make the virtual grad party a little extra special. Mom of four — with one pandemic graduate — Olga Szakal told Mom.com that she is going to, "make a big dinner and celebrate him by listening and writing down his dreams. We will create a time capsule for him to open in four years after college." Ask friends and family to drop off mementos to add to the time capsule to get everyone involved — with the appropriate social distancing of course.
Preparing for college
In all of this, it's important to remember that graduation is a stepping stone for our kids. If we do things right for our grads in this crazy time, we might raise one of the more resilient and empathetic crews in recent decades.
"It's important for us to remind new graduates that America and the world have been through terrible times before, including the Great Depression, 9/11, the Great Recession, and now COVID-19," San Francisco teacher Joseph Glatzer told Mom.com.
Glatzer goes on to remind us that while dreams and goals are important, family is foremost. "This is the time to get closer with family and friends, even if not physically in person, and work together to support each other," he said. "This is an opportunity to change the way we look at society and what is truly important."
I couldn't agree more which is why my son's nearly 102-year-old great-grandmother will likely be riding in the car with us — whether allowed by the school or not.
