Graduation season

[breoni]

Greetings, everyone. I'm getting ready to attend another graduation party tonight (this one in another state). I think we had about a dozen invitations this year, scattered across the country. For most of them, we sent cards and included a Visa gift card as a present. However, the teens in my life said that they don't think gift cards or checks (or even cash) is what graduates want these days. They suggested we skip the card and just transfer money to the graduates via an app (like Venmo). The traditionalist in me feels that a money transfer is way too impersonal. But I'm not sure what this next generation really would like.

Do any of you have experience or insight with any of this? Do I need to get with the times and start using an app and forgetting about cards? Also, most of the graduation announcements came electronically (like through Facebook events). Is this the new normal?

 

[wvsandy]

It may be the new normal but that doesn't make it acceptable. If you are giving the gift, then do what makes you feel good. A money transfer is VERY IMPERSONAL. Money shows up but they don't even know too often who it is coming from. I'm afraid many of this generation have never learned to say Thank You or value a gift. I love my grandchildren and I think that they are worth teaching social graces even in this digital society.

 

[breoni]

I do agree with you, Sandy! I was that "mean mom" who made her children write thank you notes for birthday and Christmas presents to the family! LOL.

It's amazing to me how little experience the younger generation has with mailing letters. I've learned I can't take it for granted that my college interns understand how to address and affix postage to an envelope. For my high-school leadership programs, we have them fill out Thank You postcards for the co-ops who pay 100% of their expenses for these trips... and most of the teenagers have never filled out a postcard. I've had to develop an entire lesson plan on it. Oh my! At least they know how after they've been though the program.

 

[AJsRandom]

I had to do most of the work to get my high school (soon-to-be) graduate's announcements out the door. They don't have a long wish list, so I suspect they will get mostly gift cards, which I think they are OK with. They will write and send out thank you cards though, I will make sure of it. I agree that those apps are too impersonal and that kids aren't learning the social graces they need to. It's pretty sad, I think.