High school graduation gift ideas?

RondackHiker · June 2014

My BIL is graduating high school tomorrow.

He is not going to college and he doesn't want to get more than a part-time job because his goal is to spend the year playing video games so that he can become a professional gamer.

My MIL is not pleased with this plan and has told us that she'd rather we not give him cash because he's not going to college or making some other reasonable plan for the future.

But... what do we give him? He's going to be living at home so he won't need supplies like he would if he was moving out or going to a dorm. He's really only into video games and baseball and I don't know what games he has so I can't really give him that kind of gift (plus if I gave him a video game I think my MIL would explode).

I realize it's rude of my MIL to try and say what we get him, but I'd like to avoid family drama if I can come up with something else. DH is working nights so it'd be just me dealing with it and I'm too tired to want to face that if I can avoid it.

Any ideas?

slednecksmomma · June 2014

Does a gift card count as cash? Maybe to somewhere that doesn't sell video games, like his favorite place to eat?

RondackHiker · June 2014

ChickenOnSunday said:

I'm lame and always give a towel set in the colors of the college/university the graduate is attending.

Yup. Usually I do a laundry basket with some towels and other supplies the grad will need... but he's not moving out so that won't work.

I like the idea of a gift card to a restaurant.

seahorse102410 · June 2014

Gift cards so he can eat I guess.

RondackHiker · June 2014

mrsmechanic1 said:

Maybe a gas card? We have grocery stores that have gas stations so if you give a grocery gift card, then they can choose if they want to get gas or groceries with it. I don't know how his parents will work it, but just because he's living at home doesn't mean he won't have to pay for his groceries necessarily either, or extras anyways.

I'm not sure either. I THINK my MIL would typically ask him for rent, but if she did BIL might go and live with his dad. I don't think she would risk that. He's her baby and she's not fully rational about him or her ex. So I'm thinking he'll be living at home free of charge.

I'm thinking gas card or just saying fuck it and giving cash. I mean, he's not moving on but he IS graduating. This is a graduation celebration, not a "you're off to college celebration". He should feel like he is celebrating a milestone, not like he's not being celebrated because everything thinks his life plan sucks (including me, to be honest... professional video game player? Really?).

plus12012 · June 2014

A gift card to GameStop or another video game store in your area.

[Deleted User] · June 2014

A swift kick in the pants?

That's hard. I wouldn't want to enable his laziness (yeah, I perceive this as lazy on his part) so I would do something sentimental or non-cash/gift card.

What price range?

RondackHiker · June 2014

@mrsmechanic1

People have. He's not interested. My MIL insists this is a "gap year". We'll see how this plays out.

I'm frustrated by the whole thing. If he didn't want to go to school and was planning on trade school or some other position where he could work his way up and support himself, I'd be more excited about this.

As is? Ugh. I feel for him in that DH was always "the smart one" and the middle brother is "the talented one" (seriously, he's like a musical genius), and BIL really struggles in school at a high school that's insanely competitive. But this plan of his is just so bad.

RondackHiker · June 2014

mrsmechanic1 said:

@RondackHiker
That is really frustrating. I could see it being a "gap year" maybe if he actually planned to go back. With no actual plans that he'll go back after taking a year off, I can't see it happening. Of course I don't know him, but I'm just speaking from statistics.
I get the whole mentality of siblings being "better" somehow at different categories, but still. That doesn't mean you should completely give up on trying. Tech/trade schools are so nice because it's shorter, you learn exactly what you're going to be doing, and open up all kinds of opportunities for yourself. But he's 17/18 years old. He's got time to figure it out yet. Maybe he'll actually go someday.

I hope so. I worry about him. DH and I think he's likely got some depression/ADHD issues but my MIL won't hear it and FIL is fairly hands off.

I hope he can find a way to support himself and be reasonably happy, however that is.

Helenahhandbasket · June 2014

A gift card for something specific?

Does he have a car? Gas gift card?

[Deleted User] · June 2014

stack of job applications?

Prime · June 2014

As crazy as his 'plan' sounds, there are people making serious money playing video games at homes. Tournaments pay out tens of thousands of dollars and people make money posting videos of them playing online and collecting ad revenue from people watching them. That being said, even as a video game player, I can't say I would be thrilled if my son decided to try this because it obviously is very risky with no guarantee of success.

As far as gifts go, I like the idea of baseball tickets. If you are truly worried about upsetting MIL and she isn't rational as you say then gift cards for food or gas could be construed as cash.

RondackHiker · June 2014

Prime said:

As crazy as his 'plan' sounds, there are people making serious money playing video games at homes. Tournaments pay out tens of thousands of dollars and people make money posting videos of them playing online and collecting ad revenue from people watching them. That being said, even as a video game player, I can't say I would be thrilled if my son decided to try this because it obviously is very risky with no guarantee of success.

As far as gifts go, I like the idea of baseball tickets. If you are truly worried about upsetting MIL and she isn't rational as you say then gift cards for food or gas could be construed as cash.

I'm sure people do make good money... but people also make good money playing football or basketball. It's not bad to have as a goal or a dream, but I think most people should have SOME form of back up plan. If he had something else going on, I'd worry less.

I looked at Red Sox tickets. I'd want to get him a pair, and they start at 60 bucks. That's out of our price range for this right now. If I hadn't lost my job, I'd do it.

Prime · June 2014

Any minor league teams in the area? They can be a lot of fun and will have crazy promotions from time to time.

RondackHiker · June 2014

Prime said:
Any minor league teams in the area? They can be a lot of fun and will have crazy promotions from time to time.

I'm looking into it now.

Otherwise it'll be cash and MIl can suck it.

RondackHiker · June 2014

ChickenOnSunday said:

RondackHiker said:

If I hadn't lost my job, I'd do it.

Did I miss the update on what you decided to do about your job? Details are fuzzy for me.

Really quick summary:

I took the lay off.

DS and dd are currently in daycare while I apply to jobs full time. Applying sucks balls and gets me down.

I haven't had any bites and will pull them July 1st (DH's semi-arbitrary date) and become a SAHM while sporadically applying.

I just got an email yesterday that my job may have a new contract in September and they want to bring me back on if it comes through... No idea what I'll do with that.

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