So my husband's nursing school graduation & commissioning ceremony is coming up next month. He is prior enlisted navy and is commissioning from the STA-21 program. His family and some of mine is traveling for the event and we have a whole weekend's worth of celebrations planned, but people have been asking me about gifts. I made him a little Amazon wishlist for our families to pick and choose off and get ideas, since a lot of the "traditional" gifts for commissioning he already has. Just stuff he's mentioned lately he might like to have. I have no idea what to get him myself though...
I know the parents usually do a gift of a sword, but he was already honored with one from his unit in the spring. I will be having his certificates and such framed for him for Christmas. He has a ton of things already framed though from his previous achievements while enlisted, so its not going to be a big deal to him to get yet another thing to hang on the wall. I want to give him something super special for his graduation and commissioning gift from me.
I am throwing him a party and I am baking him a pie (he says he wants that instead of a cake lol) but other than that I am having the worst time thinking of something special that will surprise him. The last 3 years have been so rough with his nursing school and then I had our daughter and it has been a huge struggle for us both... I want to show him that I appreciate him sticking it out and for doing so well. He really deserves this commission... and a super special extra awesome gift... because he went above and beyond at his unit and made it through nursing school with straight A's, he's graduating in the top tier of his class in Sigma Theta Tau... all with a cray cray wife and a new baby at home! What kind of gift can a person give that says, "Wow you are amazing and I can't believe you're mine?" Everything I think of doesn't seem special enough.
I need some ideas!
Re: Gift for Commissioning Husband?
While I am very sorry your husband's mom does not support him and his choice in career, this is hysterical. OP, I would not stress about finding the perfect present because honestly anything you give him or do for him will mean the world to him. Write him a letter to tell him how proud you are of him and the rest is extra credit. Maybe a couples massage and an awesome dinner out just the two of you?
TTC Since Summer 2011
BFP #1 11/5/11 EDD 7/22/12 MC 11/14/11
PGAL/PAL Always Welcome
I don't think I got any gifts for my commissioning.
There are your standard "Things Remembered" type gifts -- flasks, photo frames, scrap books, beer steins, what have you. I think most of this stuff, while nice, is just "stuff" that you will have to move each time you PCS.
A nice bottle of whisky/scotch would be good if he's into that. Or a nice watch? The rank boards/insignia for the formal uniform (we call it Mess Dress in the AF) is absurdly expensive, and most people will use it at some point in the first few years, so this makes a nice gift.